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September 3, 2008 OTTAWA— My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I are dismayed by the tragic news of the death of Corporal Andrew Paul Grenon, Corporal Michael James Alexander Seggie, and Private Chadwick James Horn of the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, based in Shilo, Man...

September 7, 2008 OTTAWA— A Canadian family, the men and women serving in our Canadian Forces and the whole country are mourning the tragic death of one of our soldiers during his mission in Afghanistan. My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I are deeply affected by this loss and the pain that comes w...

CFB Trenton, Wednesday, September 10, 2008 I would like to start by telling you how much I wanted to be with you today. You are about to join your comrades in Afghanistan to take part in security and reconstruction efforts alongside Afghan and international forces. I know that you are driven by a sp...

September 12, 2008 It was with tremendous sadness that I learned of the death of the Honourable Gérald Beaudoin. Known and respected as one of Canada’s eminent constitutional experts and universally appreciated for his availability to others, his kindness and his good humour, he was the quintessenti...

Ottawa, Friday, September 12, 2008 My husband Jean-Daniel Lafond, my daughter Marie-Éden and I are delighted to be able to join you to celebrate the 100th anniversary of an institution that is what it is today because of you. Especially since the Royal Canadian Mint and the institution I represent a...

The Citadelle, Saturday, September 13, 2008 This is a great day for the 1st Battalion of the Royal 22e Régiment. We have come here today, on the parade square of the Citadelle, not far from the resting place of one of my predecessors and one of the fathers of your regiment, General Georges Vanier, t...

September 13, 2008 My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I are deeply saddened by the death of Major Luc Racine. A member of the Embassy of Canada in Mali, Major Racine was serving with the Military Training Assistance Program (MTAP) at the Peacekeeping School in Bamako. Canada has lost a member of it...

Toronto, Tuesday, September 16, 2008 I am so happy to be with you tonight. We are the Americas: a unique mixture of colours, cultures and ideas; a cosmic community, to cite the Mexican concept, a cosmic community that stretches from the rugged terrain of Tierra del Fuego, Argentina all the way to th...

Rideau Hall, Friday, September 19, 2008 Welcome to Rideau Hall. If you only knew how honoured I am to welcome you to this ballroom, where official ceremonies are held. Particularly since today, we are unveiling this monumental work, born of the generosity and talent of one of our greatest artists, N...

Halifax, Saturday, September 20, 2008 It is a pleasure for me to join you today. Although I have had to limit my participation in public events due to the electoral campaign, I felt that it was very important for me to join you to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of parliamentary democracy in...

Halifax, Monday, September 22, 2008 The sea is part of my personal landscape. I was born on an island in the Caribbean Sea and spent my early childhood there. When my family and I left Haiti and “disembarked” in Canada, like so many other Canadians who came from abroad, only a map could give us a tr...

Ottawa, Thursday, September 25, 2008 It is a pleasure for my husband Jean-Daniel Lafond and me to be here with you this evening to recognize this important initiative in favour of emerging artists across Canada. In a world in which we are bombarded by images, we can become strangely blind to everyth...

City of Québec, Tuesday, September 30, 2008 I am so pleased to welcome such ardent champions of heritage to this city steeped in history, the City of Québec, rather appropriately known as the Gibraltar of North America, particularly as we celebrate this year the 400th anniversary of its founding by ...

Rideau Hall, Thursday, September 11, 2008 It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to Rideau Hall and to welcome our overseas guests to Canada. This public institution—which I proudly represent as governor general—is the oldest in the country and represents the historic ties that exist between Cana...

Rideau Hall, Monday, September 15, 2008 It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to Rideau Hall, particularly since Canada is in the midst of exercising one of the fundamentals of democracy. You will have a front‑row seat for debates on issues that are important to Canadians, and will have the oppo...

Rideau Hall, Monday, September 15, 2008 It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to Rideau Hall, particularly since Canada, as you know, is in the midst of exercising one of the fundamentals of democracy. The election campaign is in full swing. You will have a front‑row seat for debates on issues t...

September 3, 2008 by Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean The summer gave us a chance to recharge our batteries. After a non-stop spring filled with festivities surrounding the 400th anniversary of the founding of the City of Québec, including the official visit to France, numerous encounters, forums, disc...

September 18, 2008 by Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean Less than one year ago, in December 2007, we lost Norval Morrisseau, one of the most remarkable Canadian painters of the last 50 years. A source of inspiration to generations of artists and of pride for Canadians, his work is celebrated beyond our ...