Visit to Waterloo Region

During a one-day visit to the Waterloo region, His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, delivered a speech at the Home Hardware Stores Limited Annual Fall Market. In his speech, he will underscore Home Hardware’s ongoing commitment to serving local communities across the country.

Later in the evening, the Governor General attended the Rotary Club of Waterloo’s 50th Anniversary Celebration, where he delivered an address on the Rotary Club’s impact within the community of Kitchener-Waterloo and abroad, and how its motto of “Service Above Self” provides a model for all Canadians in building a smarter, more caring nation.

His Excellency had the opportunity to meet and interact with 30 of the world’s most-promising master’s-level thinkers as they pursue knowledge through physics and sharpen their scientific skills for future areas of endeavour.

In the afternoon, the Governor General proceeded to the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics where he previewed exhibits being featured in the upcoming BrainSTEM Festival, which will take place at the Institute and online from September 30 to October 6, 2013 (for the general public).

These new cutting-edge exhibits aimed at young Canadians visually demonstrate the importance of pursuing STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and math) in developing critical thinking skills and an entrepreneurial approach to all new careers of the future.

The tour of the exhibits will be followed by a visit to the Institute’s highly regarded Perimeter Scholars International training area, in the Stephen Hawking Centre, where His Excellency will have the opportunity to meet and interact with 30 of the world’s most-promising master’s-level thinkers as they pursue knowledge through physics and sharpen their scientific skills for future areas of endeavour.

His Excellency also presented the Governor General's Caring Canadian Award to Yvette Ward from Welland, Ontario. Yvette Ward has dedicated much of her life to making Welland a better place to live. Credited by her peers as being “the mother of the festival industry”, she was an executive member of the Welland Rose Festival for over 40 years, past chair of the Canadian Association of Festivals, and founder of the city’s annual Heritage Folklore Festival. She established the Welland Heritage Council and Multicultural Centre in 1976, and has also served as an executive member of the Ontario Folk Arts Council. Her list of achievements is seemingly endless.

His Excellency presented the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award to Patricia McCraw from Guelph, Ontario, during a ceremony at the Waterloo Inn. At 84 years old, Patricia McCraw is still deeply committed to the betterment of her community. A volunteer for the past 50 years, she was a founding member of the Guelph Women of Distinction Awards, the Guelph Community Foundation, and the Guelph chapter of the Canadian Federation of University Women. She is also a past president of Family and Children’s Services of Guelph and Wellington County, and of the national board of Save the Children Canada. She is also committed to advancing the status of women, serving the Zonta Club of Guelph for 31 years. She was a public member of the Ontario College of Pharmacists.

Following his address, the Governor General toured the Fall Market area to meet with Home Hardware dealers to talk about the philanthropic initiatives in which they are involved.

The event was held at the company’s head office in St. Jacobs, Ontario.

The Rotary Club of Waterloo is an organization of dedicated men and women who give freely of their time and talents to help those in need in the local and global community. It raises funds through various activities in the community that are donated to the many organizations they support. The Rotary Club of Waterloo was chartered in 1963.