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Ottawa, Monday, June 20, 2011 I feel very comfortable here at the Canadian Museum of Nature, where my friend Meg has just been appointed director. In fact, my first public engagement as governor general was here. I was just about to go on when the fire alarm went off. As a university professor, I’m ...

Ottawa, Tuesday June 21, 2011 What a pleasure it is for me to celebrate National Aboriginal Day with you. And what an honour to join with you to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the National Aboriginal Monument, and to reflect upon the sacrifices that thousands of Aboriginal men and women made fo...

June 21, 2011 Message from His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, on the Occasion of National Aboriginal Day OTTAWA— When we celebrate National Aboriginal Day, we are in fact celebrating the very foundations of Canada, as well as our shared future. For thousa...

Rideau Hall, Tuesday, June 21, 2011 It is my pleasure to participate in the announcement of the highlights of the first Royal Tour overseas by Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Sharon and I were delighted to represent Canadians at the Royal Wedding back in April. We had the h...

Rideau Hall, Wednesday, June 22, 2011 It is a great honour to conduct this annual inspection of the Ceremonial Guard, which marks the beginning of your summer duties in our nation’s capital. As you know, this is our first such occasion since my installation as governor general and commander-in-chief...

St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Thursday June 23, 2011 Thank you for that kind introduction. My wife, Sharon, and I are very pleased to with you today. Public service is very important to me. And I am sure you would agree when I say that it starts at home. As we look for causes right in our o...

June 24, 2011 Message from His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, on the Occasion of Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day OTTAWA— I am pleased to extend greetings to everyone celebrating Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day. The origin of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day festivities dates ...

June 25, 2011 Message from His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, on the death of Master Corporal Francis Roy OTTAWA—It is with great sadness that my wife, Sharon, and I have learned of the death, in Afghanistan, of Master Corporal Fran...

June 27, 2011 Message from His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, on the Occasion of Canadian Multiculturalism Day OTTAWA – As we celebrate Canadian Multiculturalism Day, I am so pleased to extend greetings to everyone who, from every background, from every c...

Rideau Hall, Thursday, June 30, 2011 It is a great pleasure for my wife, Sharon, and me to welcome Your Royal Highnesses to Rideau Hall and to Canada. We are delighted to see you again, and to have the opportunity to revisit our memories of your magnificent wedding last spring. It was a privilege to...

Ottawa, Friday, July 1, 2011 Allow me to wish a very happy Canada Day to everyone here, as well as to all those across the country who are celebrating in their own unique ways. My wife, Sharon, and I are so proud to be here with you today and are honoured to be in the presence of Their Royal Highnes...

Canada Day Message Recorded at Rideau Hall, Wednesday, June 8, 2011 Canada is a land of majesty, history and diversity. We are blessed with an abundance of resources and warm people. We are the envy of the world in so many ways, and I am proud to call myself Canadian. When I took on the role of gove...

Ottawa, Saturday, July 2, 2011 Thank you so much for welcoming me today, and for the wonderful musical performance. It is a pleasure to join you today for this presentation of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Awards in our nation’s capital. Our timing could not be better, given the recent arrival of The...

July1, 2011 Message from Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge OTTAWA— As Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, I am honoured to convey to the men and women of the Canadian Forces, here and abroad, and to all Canadians working in support of Canada's mission in Afghani...

Ottawa, Friday, July 1, 2011 In the name of Her Majesty the Queen, I welcome you to your citizenship ceremony. In just a few minutes, you will be sworn in as Canadian citizens. You will swear or affirm your oath to The Queen, which means you are swearing allegiance to Canada in her name. We are so f...

Maxville, Saturday, July 30, 2011 This is my first visit to the Games, but I’ve known about Glengarry for a long time. As a boy, I devoured Ralph Connor’s books, such as Glengarry Schooldays, The Man From Glengarry and The Arm of Gold. What a delight for Sharon and me to come to the place from whenc...

Halifax, Sunday, August 14, 2011 Good afternoon. Thank you for inviting me here to address you. I am a lawyer by profession, although my involvement has come mostly in teaching law at a number of Canadian universities and through public service in the context of the law. Put simply, I love the law. ...

August 12, 2011 Message from His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, on the Occasion of International Youth Day OTTAWA—I am delighted to extend greetings to everyone taking part in International Youth Day, the theme of which is as inspiring as ever: Change Our...

August 15, 2011 Message from His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, on the Occasion of National Acadian Day OTTAWA—I am delighted to extend greetings to everyone celebrating the traditions, heritage and folklore of Acadia on this National Acadian Day. Though ...

Iqaluit, Monday, August 15 2011 Let me begin by thanking you all for warmly welcoming my wife, Sharon, and me to your community. This is our first trip to Iqaluit and to Nunavut, and we have been very much looking forward to this visit. Commissioner Elias, I thank you once again for greeting us earl...