Ottawa, Ontario, Friday, January 23, 2015

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Thank you for inviting me here to help launch the 150 Alliance.

I am pleased to see so many of you united under this common cause, to encourage all Canadians as we approach the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017.

In fact, this alliance, made up of like-minded organizations, represents what Canadians do best: working together to find new and exciting ways to better this nation.

It is something we have always done throughout our history.

Moreover, as you participate in these discussions, I hope that you take inspiration from our past.

We gather, for example, on the traditional territory of the Algonquin Nation. First Nations have a long and special link with this land, and have much to teach us about co-operation.

Or perhaps we can draw lessons from the way the Fathers of Confederation came together, wholly dedicated to the spirit of compromise and collaboration, to lay the foundation for the country that Canada has since become.

I recognize that same spirit in these gatherings and in all of you.

In this room are the front-line thinkers of 2017, those whose influence will be essential to our celebrations. I encourage you not only to think creatively, but also to be visionaries.

Our 150th anniversary is more than a party; it is an opportunity to project an image of what kind of country we are and what we want to be in the future. It is a chance to say to Canadians and to the world that we are proud of our history and our people, and that we are just getting started.

Doing good deeds, changing and improving the lives of those in need: that is what you do every day. And when you join forces, when you share resources and ideas and goals, you amplify your impact across this nation.

That should be, and no doubt will be, the end result of the leadership you have all shown throughout this process.

Yet, there is still much to do and much to discuss before 2017. And many questions to answer.

What will our gift be? How much of a lasting legacy will we leave with what we do here? What are the most pressing concerns and how do we address them? What can we do, as individuals and as organizations, to strengthen our communities? How will we reach out to Canadians and to the world to invite them to participate? What can we do that will make people stand up and take notice?

In late 2010, I was invested as governor general and began speaking of the great opportunity that was afforded to us by the approaching sesquicentennial. Now, almost five years later, we are nearly there, only two short years away.

That is why the conversations you are having are so important. There is precious little time remaining to decide what our gift will be to Canada, and how we will use that gift to create smarter, more caring communities, and a stronger nation.

It is time to transform our talk into action.

By engaging Canadians in local, national and international initiatives, we will honour 150 years of Canada, working together to better ourselves and the opportunities we present to subsequent generations of Canadians.

Pierre Berton once called 1967, the 100th anniversary of Confederation, Canada’s last good year. With your help, 2017 can be Canada’s next great year.

I wish all of you a fruitful, productive day. What a wonderful way to give back to our nation!

Thank you.