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October 16, 2009 by Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean On October 20, at the request of the Prime Minister of Canada, we will continue where we left off in Slovenia, in December 2008, when our official visit had to be cut short because of the political situation here at home. You will no doubt remember t...

Launch of the Poppy Campaign Rideau Hall, Tuesday, October 13, 2009 Not a day goes by without the news reminding us of how lucky we are to live in freedom, while so many people around the world are affected by barbarism and misery. Defending this freedom against that which may restrict it demands a ...

Cultural evening organized a few days before leaving forthe Republic of Slovenia, the Republic of Croatia andthe Hellenic Republic Rideau Hall, Tuesday, October 13, 2009 In a few days, a delegation and I will be leaving to visit three countries in southeast Europe, a region of world also known as th...

Indian Residential Schools Truth and ReconciliationCommission “Witnessing the Future” Ceremony Rideau Hall, Thursday, October 15, 2009 What we are about to experience together, right here, in this room where we hold every official ceremony, is of paramount importance. I am pleased that we have gathe...

Reception in Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of InuitPrintmaking at Cape Dorset Rideau Hall, Friday, October 16, 2009 How wonderful to be able to offer you the same kind of hospitality that you extended to us when we visited Cape Dorset in April 2006 during my first official visit to Nunavut. As...

Message from Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, on the occasion of Citizenship Week October 19, 2009 OTTAWA — People all around the world see Canada as a country where anything is possible, a country where justice and harmony reign and everyone can realiz...

Formal Dinner Hosted by His Excellency Dr. Danilo Türk, President of the Republic of Slovenia Brdo Castle, Slovenia, Wednesday, October 21, 2009 There is talk in Canada of a Slovenian miracle. By miracle, people mean the extraordinary path that Slovenia has followed since it declared independence on...

Welcoming Ceremony by the Slovenian Military Ljubljana, Slovenia, Thursday, October 22, 2009 I wanted to come here to meet with you during my official visit to Slovenia as governor general and commander-in-chief of Canada. In 2006, some of you were awarded the General Campaign Star in recognition of...

Luncheon offered by the Ambassador of Canada to Slovenia and Discussion on the Role Women Play in Art, Culture and Civil Society Ljubljana, Slovenia, Thursday, October 22, 2009 I would like to thank Canada’s ambassador to Slovenia, Pierre Guimond, for giving us this opportunity to discuss the role t...

State Dinner Hosted by His Excellency Mr. Stjepan Mesic,President of the Republic of Croatia Zagreb, Croatia, Friday, October 23, 2009 For me and the Canadian delegation accompanying me, this State visit—which will take us from Zagreb to Vukovar, stopping in Dubrovnik and Split along the way—is an o...

Roundtable Discussion on Women’s Participation in Society Zagreb, Croatia, Saturday, October 24, 2009 I am delighted we are taking this opportunity to get to know each other better and to begin a constructive dialogue on the challenges we are facing, our accomplishments and our hopes for the future....

Reception with the Croatian Olympic and Paralympic Committees Zagreb, Croatia, Saturday, October 24, 2009 Canada has a passion for winter, and nothing embodies that passion better than snow and ice sports. In February and March 2010, this passion will be at its peak as Canadians welcome to Vancouver...

Art Matters Forum on the Role of Documentaries in our Society Zagreb, Croatia, Saturday, October 24, 2009 I am delighted to be here with you this evening for this Art Matters forum on the role of documentary film in our society. On the initiative of my husband, filmmaker and philosopher Jean-Daniel ...

Luncheon with the Mayor of Dubrovnik and the Prefect of Dubrovnik-Neretva County Dubrovnik, Croatia, Sunday, October 25, 2009 If you only knew how happy I and my delegation are to be here, in Dubrovnik, once known as Ragusa, which holds such an important place in the history and culture of Croatians...

Discussion on Preserving Culture and Heritage in an Open Society Dubrovnik, Croatia, Monday, October 26, 2009 I stand before you in one of the bastions of the rich heritage of the Adriatic Coast, a place renowned for its radiance, beauty and history. We are at the confluence of the Slavic and Medite...

Cultural Evening at the Meštrovic Gallery Split, Croatia, Monday, October 26, 2009 We have just arrived in your city and we already think it is magnificent! It gives me and my delegation great pleasure to be here today in Split-Dalmatia, a region of remarkable beauty. And what can be said about this...

State Dinner Hosted by His Excellency Karolos Papoulias,President of the Hellenic Republic, and Mrs. May Papoulia Athens, Greece, Thursday, October 29, 2009 The late Jacques Lacarrière, to whom you paid tribute following his death, Excellency, thought of Greece as an extraordinary brain in a small b...

Reception Hosted by the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Athens, Greece, Thursday, October 29, 2009 It is a privilege to be here in Athens, to continue this ancient tradition of passing the Olympic flame. We will soon be heading to Olympia, where there ...

Reception at the Vorres Museum Athens, Greece, Wednesday, October 28, 2009 I am delighted to be here with you this evening, in this place where tradition and modernity come together seamlessly in such perfect harmony. The poet Yannis Ritsos said that in Greece, “[translation] roots travel beneath th...

Art Matters Forum Athens, Greece, Friday, October 30, 2009 My husband, filmmaker and philosopher Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I are delighted to be here with you this evening for this Art Matters forum on the challenges in the promotion and distribution of the Canadian and Greek films abroad. On Jean-Dan...