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Rideau Hall, Friday, December 3, 2010 It is a pleasure to welcome all of you to this evening of music in tribute to one of the greatest Canadian composers, Glenn Gould. I am sure many of you know that Rideau Hall, specifically the Long Gallery, is home to one of Glenn Gould’s pianos, a Steinway Gran...

December 5, 2010 Message from His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston Governor General of Canada, on the Occasion of the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women OTTAWA— December 6 is an anniversary we wish didn’t exist. It is a black mark on our history, a day of ...

Rideau Hall, Monday, December 6, 2010 I am honoured to welcome you to Rideau Hall for the inaugural presentation of the Operational Service Medal. Her Majesty The Queen approved the creation of this medal a few short months ago, adding it to the Canadian Honours System. I am proud, as governor gener...

Ottawa, Wednesday, December 8, 2010 Thank you for this invitation to speak on a topic of great importance to me, and to all Canadians. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to those who have gathered here to discuss the changing landscape of volunteerism in Canada. I also want to thank Volunt...

Rideau Hall, Thursday, December 9, 2010 Welcome to Rideau Hall. We are here to honour those of you who will receive the Order of Military Merit for your exemplary service and tireless devotion of duty. I would like us to pause for a moment to reflect on the meaning of service and duty. How those wor...

Ottawa, Thursday, December 9, 2010 It is an honour to be here, in the halls of the Senate, at the unveiling of this beautiful carving of Her Majesty The Queen. In 2012, Canadians across the country, and indeed all people in the Commonwealth, will be celebrating Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee. Today, ...

New Year Message Recorded at Rideau Hall, Wednesday, December 8, 2010 As a new year dawns, we are filled with a renewed sense of hope. In my installation speech, I spoke of a smart and caring nation. A nation of neighbours helping neighbours. A nation where all Canadians develop their talents to the...

Rideau Hall, Friday, December 10, 2010 Let me begin by welcoming you to Rideau Hall, an ideal venue for this exhibition of artwork and objects from the Crown Collection. I am honoured to be part of this vernissage today. As you know, my wife, Sharon, and I have recently taken up residence in this wo...

Rideau Hall, Tuesday, December 14, 2010 My wife, Sharon, and I are pleased to welcome all of you to Rideau Hall for the presentation of the Killam Prizes. In 1981, Dorothy Killam provided the funding for this prize in memory of her husband, Izaak Walton Killam, ensuring that his legacy of building a...

December 19, 2010 Message from His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, on the death of Corporal Steve Martin OTTAWA— Our nation stands together in sorrow today, following the death of Corporal Steve Martin, who died after an improvised e...

Unveiling of the Michaëlle Jean Tulip Rideau Hall, Wednesday, May 12, 2010 First of all, on behalf of all Canadians, I would like to express my sincerest condolences on the loss of so many Dutch people in the recent plane crash in Libya. We would like to wish the one Dutch child who miraculously sur...

Presentation of the Vanier Medal to Dr. Gordon Smith Rideau Hall, Thursday, May 13, 2010 I would first like to welcome you, Dr. Gordon Smith, to Rideau Hall. We have gathered here today to recognize your exceptional contribution to public administration and your exemplary leadership. I would also li...

17th Meeting of the Gouverneurs des banques centrales des pays francophones Montreal, Thursday, May 13, 2010 Thank you, Mr. Carney, for your kind introduction. It gives me great pleasure to greet the governors and delegates of the central banks of Francophone countries. I am delighted to welcome you...

May 14, 2010 Message from Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, on the death of Private Kevin Thomas McKay OTTAWA—My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I were very saddened to learn that a Canadian Forces soldier died when an improvised ...

150th Anniversary of the Canadian Grenadier Guards Montreal, Saturday, May 15, 2010 Before I begin, I would like us to take the time to meditate on and honour the memory of Private Kevin Thomas McKay who paid the ultimate sacrifice while proudly serving in Afghanistan. I will be in Trenton tomorrow ...

100th Anniversary of the Armoury of the Fusiliers Mont-Royal Montreal, Saturday, May 15, 2010 Before I begin, I would like us to take the time to meditate on and honour the memory of Private Kevin Thomas McKay who paid the ultimate sacrifice while proudly serving in Afghanistan. I will be in Trenton...

May 18, 2010 Message from Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, on the death of Colonel Geoff Parker OTTAWA—We find ourselves once again mourning a tragic loss in the space of just a few days. It is with great sadness that my husband, ...

Presentation of Credentials (Belgium,Senegal, Indonesia, Tonga, DemocraticRepublic of the Congo, Principality of Andorra) Rideau Hall, Wednesday, May 19, 2010 It gives me great pleasure to see us gather today in a spirit of friendship and solidarity. Like you, I see diplomacy as a powerful tool for ...

Presentation of an Honorary Doctorate from the Royal Military College Kingston, Thursday, May 20, 2010 Before I begin, I would like us to take the time to meditate on and honour the memory of Colonel Geoff Parker of the Royal Canadian Regiment, who was killed two days ago by a suicide bomber in the ...

International Meeting for the Reconstruction of the Haitian University System Montreal, Tuesday, May 25, 2010 On January 12, 2010, at 4:53 p.m., Haiti was rocked by an earthquake. The grim toll: some 300,000 dead, according to the Haitian authorities, thousands of injured, communes devastated, a who...