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Rideau Hall, Friday, May 4, 2007 We have come together today to welcome a few exceptional Canadians to the Order of Canada. The Order of Canada is the centrepiece of Canada’s Honours System and is this year celebrating its 40th anniversary. It is an honour that highlights and celebrates excellence. ...

May 6, 2007 “My husband Jean-Daniel Lafond and I were deeply saddened by the news of the terrible accident that occurred in Sinai, claiming the life of Corporal Benoit Chevalier, Control Operator from 3 Wing, Bagotville, Quebec. Corporal Chevalier belonged to the Canadian Contingent of the Multinati...

Rideau Hall, Saturday, May 5, 2007 It is a great pleasure to welcome you to Rideau Hall for this special event. Rideau Hall is a fitting venue for the launch of the Canadian Tulip Festival, that wonderful celebration of spring and international fellowship. Spring is a special time here. Every year, ...

May 9, 2007 “It was with great sadness that my husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I learned of the passing of Dwight Wilson at the venerable age of 106. When he was just 15 years old, his willingness to defend the values of justice and freedom compelled him to join the Canadian Forces during the First...

London, Ontario, Wednesday, May 9, 2007 Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for that very kind and warm welcome. I would like to begin this evening with a quote from Mahatma Gandhi, a quote that has always guided me; I hope it will inspire your willingness to act and be a source of hope for you during ...

CFB Gagetown, Monday, May 14, 2007 I am especially moved to be here with you today. I was absolutely adamant that this official visit to New Brunswick start with a visit to Gagetown. I wanted to come here in person to hear how you were doing. I take my responsibilities as commander in chief of the C...

Fredericton, Tuesday, May 15, 2007 Elizabeth Brewster, a New Brunswick poet, wrote that “people are made of places.” I can think of no better words to begin an address in a place that is filled with history and dedicated to the greater good. I cannot tell you how happy my husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond...

Fredericton, Tuesday, May 15, 2007 My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I would like to thank Their Honours Herménégilde Chiasson and Marcia Babineau for graciously offering to host this dinner in honour of my first official visit to New Brunswick as Governor General of Canada. I think it is fair to ...

Fredericton, Wednesday, May 16, 2007 We all know that family violence is a tragedy. But it should not be taboo to talk about it. When I was named Governor General of Canada, I decided I would try to break down solitudes. And I know that family violence is one of the worst solitudes. I have learned t...

Shippagan, Thursday, May 17, 2007 I was born by the sea, so I have dreamed of this trip for a long time. My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I are so proud to have arrived in Shippagan by sea, as so many fishers here do on a daily basis. We know that Shippagan is the commercial fishing capital of Ne...

May 18, 2007 I am delighted, on behalf of all Canadians, to offer greetings and best wishes to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, on the occasion of her official Canadian birthday celebrations, this Monday, May 21, Victoria Day. Although Her Majesty's natural birthday is in April, it ...

May 19, 2007 My husband Jean-Daniel Lafond and I are saddened by the news of the accident that took the life of Captain Shawn McCaughey, Canadian Forces Snowbirds Inner Right Wing pilot, whose aircraft crashed during a practice in preparation for an air show scheduled to take place today, in Montana...

Ottawa, Tuesday, May 22, 2007 Being a caregiver for an aging loved one can be a very rewarding experience. But as you know, it requires a lot of energy. And the challenge is even greater if our loved one is slowly losing their faculties. Anyone in this situation knows how difficult it can be to inte...

Rideau Hall, Thursday, May 24, 2007 It occurs to me that the most appropriate greeting might be “welcome back” to Rideau Hall, as I’m sure most of you have a long history with this place! And of course “history” is the right word when talking about the Canadiana Fund; since 1990, your organization h...

Rideau Hall, Friday, May 25, 2007 Before I begin, allow me to have a special thought for this Canadian soldier who lost his life earlier today in Afghanistan. I am sure that you all join me in expressing our undying gratitude to this soldier, his family and his loved ones for his unparalleled commit...

May 25, 2007 “It was with great sadness that my husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I learned of the death of Corporal Matthew McCully of the 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Headquarters and Signals Squadron, who was killed while on patrol with Afghan soldiers in a village near Kandahar. Our Canadi...

Montreal, Tuesday, May 29, 2007 Education is not a privilege. It is an acquired right in this country. Mind you, this concept is a relatively new one in our history. Historian Georges Langlois reminds us that at the beginning of the 19th century, country schools were set on fire in this province. An...

Rideau Hall, Thursday, May 31, 2007 This year we Canadians have a number of important anniversaries to celebrate. There is, of course, the most important one: the 140th anniversary of Confederation, Canada’s 140th birthday. At the same time, 2007 is also the 25th anniversary of the Charter of Rights...

May 31, 2007 “My husband Jean-Daniel Lafond and I were saddened to learn of the death of Master Corporal Darrell Jason Priede, an imagery technician, in a helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan. Like his comrades in the Canadian Forces and NATO’s International Security Assistance Force, Master Cpl...

Rideau Hall, Monday, May 28, 2007 The democratic health of a country depends in large part on the vitality of its parliament. And, I believe, that vitality is only possible with women and men who are committed to working tirelessly to improve the living conditions of not only their fellow Canadians,...