Rideau Hall (via Google Hangout), Friday, October 9, 2015

Greetings to you all from Rideau Hall!

I’m glad that we’ve been able to connect virtually!

Today marks the beginning of an important and hopeful new chapter in the story of Lac-Mégantic.

I’ve visited your community twice since the tragedy of July 2013.

On each occasion, I was so impressed by the qualities of the people I met.

Courage.

Generosity.

Co-operation, determination, and imagination.

Those are qualities that characterize the people of Lac-Mégantic.

They’re also in abundance at your event today, and they’re at the heart of Centre Magnétique—a centre dedicated to helping this community reinvent itself.  

This centre can be a catalyst for new possibilities in Lac-Mégantic and throughout the entire region.

Today’s boot camp is a great example: you have come together under one roof to share ideas and dream of possibilities for the future.

And you’re finding ways to put those ideas into action.  

Time and again in my life, I’ve seen that remarkable things can happen when people come together in common cause.

Your cause is a very good one.

As all of you know, we live in a rapidly changing world—one in which creativity and collaboration are critical to success.

This is true for all communities today, not just Lac-Mégantic.

Together, we must build a culture of innovation to help us succeed in today’s world.

If change is the new constant, innovation is the new imperative.

The Centre Magnétique helps to create that innovative culture.

I’m so grateful to everyone who has worked together to organize this event and make this centre a reality.

This centre is so full of promise.

I hope you have a creative and inspiring day.