Visit to Boston

Running shoes left at Boston Marathon memorial site.

"You, the current Fulbright Canada scholars, are the vanguard of our efforts to further the diplomacy of knowledge," said His Excellency. "You are true knowledge diplomats, and because of that, I’m honoured to be in your company. That’s also why I’m so pleased to be the recipient of the inaugural Fulbright Canada Award for Outstanding Public Service and delighted that Fulbright Canada has set up a special scholarship in tandem with the award."

The New England-Canada Business Council is comprised of more than 275 members from New England and Eastern/Atlantic Canada, and organizes several annual conferences and networking activities to encourage cross-border business links. Ms. Henrietta Davis, Mayor of the City of Cambridge, participated in the question period. Question period with Henrietta Davis, Mayor of Cambridge

His Excellency later delivered a keynote address to the New England-Canada Business Council and local business leaders. The New England-Canada Business Council works to advance the understanding of business, political and cultural issues between Canada and the United States, and to promote the entrepreneurial networking of its members.

"The scientific and intellectual relationship between Canada and the United States is unrivalled," stated His Excellency. "In fact, I think it no coincidence that our two countries enjoy one of the strongest bilateral relationships in the world, with countless good things flowing from it. Our shared commitment to learning has been a constant and has helped to show us the way on broader issues."

That morning, His Excellency received an honorary membership in the local Phi Beta Kappa chapter at Harvard University. By welcoming to its ranks the highest achievers in each graduating class, Phi Beta Kappa has recognized and promoted academic excellence at Harvard since 1779.

Each year, an invitation is extended to a small number of alumni attending their class reunion as candidates for this honour, which recognizes lifelong service to the liberal arts and sciences. This year will mark the 50th anniversary of His Excellency’s graduation from Harvard University.

Their Excellencies, accompanied by Senator Stan Rosenberg, Massachusetts Senate Majority Leader, and Mr. Tom Grilk, Boston Athletic Association Executive Director, visited the Boston Marathon memorial site.

Their Excellencies laid flowers at the Boston Marathon memorial site in commemoration of the victims of the April 2013 bombings.

That afternoon, the Governor General attended a Fulbright Scholar Program discussion at Harvard, where he addressed the guests and received the inaugural Fulbright Canada Award for Outstanding Public Service.