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Ottawa, Saturday, September 28, 2013 Good morning! Sharon and I are delighted to join you here today. Thank you to everyone for coming out to support this important event. And thank you to the Adoption Council of Canada—of which I am proud to be patron—and the Children’s Bridge Foundation for organi...

Kelowna, British Columbia, Sunday, September 29, 2013 Thank you for your warm welcome. It is an honour to be the first governor general of Canada to address the annual general meeting of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. This organization plays such an important role in the vitality of our business ...

Penticton, British Columbia, Monday, September 30, 2013 It is a pleasure to join you here for the launch of the Teen Esteem Project and to celebrate the release of your report. Let me begin by thanking all those involved. Both the Community Foundation of the South Okanagan/Similkameen and the United...

The Citadelle, Quebec, Thursday, October 3, 2013 Welcome, all of you, to the Citadelle for this presentation of credentials. And allow me as well to welcome you to Canada! You have all been chosen by your respective nations to represent the ideals of your homeland in this country. In addition, you h...

The Citadelle, Thursday, October 3, 2013 It is a pleasure to welcome all of you here for this presentation of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Since becoming governor general three years ago, I have had the privilege of meeting hundreds of young recipients of this award in cities across Canada. Hearin...

The Citadelle, Friday, October 4, 2013 I am pleased to welcome you to the Citadelle, one of Canada’s most historic sites, for this special ceremony. The Order of Merit of the Police Forces is among our country’s most prestigious honours, and with good reason. As my predecessor, the Right Honourable ...

The Citadelle, Friday, October 4, 2013 Sharon and I would like to welcome all of you to the Citadelle for this presentation of honours. Today, we recognize service, leadership, bravery and caring, all in the context of making Canada a better and stronger place to live. All of you—recipients of Brave...

The Citadelle, Saturday, October 5, 2013 Sharon and I are happy that all of you were able to join us here at the Citadelle today. Welcome! This is an historic site and a wonderful gathering place for the community. I am proud as governor general to call this place in the City of Québec home, just as...

October 7, 2013 Message from the Governor General of Canada on the Occasion of the 250th Anniversary of the Royal Proclamation OTTAWA—The 250th anniversary of the Royal Proclamation is an important occasion for all Canadians—Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal alike. Issued by King George III on October 7...

Gatineau, Quebec, Monday, October 7, 2013 Thank you for your warm welcome. Allow me to begin by acknowledging that this gathering is taking place on the traditional territory of the Algonquin Nation, which spans the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The 250th anniversary of the Royal Proclamation is ...

Rideau Hall, Thursday, October 10, 2013 It is with great pride that I accept the first poppy of the 2013 campaign. For the past three years, Sharon and I have welcomed people to Rideau Hall, home of the people of Canada. In that time, we have hosted many veterans of wars and conflicts that span the ...

Rideau Hall, Wednesday, October 9, 2013 Thank you, thank you very much for joining David and me at Rideau Hall, the “home” of all Canadians. This evening, creatively, we are all going to explore mental health together. For every Canadian, a healthy mind is as important as a sound and vigorous body. ...

October 13, 2013 Message from His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, on the occasion of Thanksgiving OTTAWA— Thanksgiving, which is celebrated throughout North America, is rooted in the European agricultural tradition. However, even before settlers arrived in...

Beijing, China, Friday, October 18, 2013 Thank you for this invitation to speak to this important assembly. It is wonderful to see you all gathered here together. Let me begin by paying tribute to life and work of Paul Desmarais Sr., a great Canadian business leader who was a founding member of this...

Shanghai, China, Saturday, October 19, 2013 Thank you for your warm welcome. Let me begin by thanking our consul general for being Canada’s invaluable point of contact in Shanghai, and for hosting this reception. I am delighted to be in Shanghai on this, the first night of the China Shanghai Interna...

Shanghai, China, Sunday, October 20, 2013 Thank you for welcoming Sharon and me so warmly. What a pleasure it is to meet with so many friends of Canada here in Shanghai. When I think of the friendship that exists between China and Canada, I think of Norman Bethune, a Canadian who is of course well k...

Nanjing, China, Monday, October 21, 2013 Thank you, President Chen, for your generous introduction. And thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for your warm welcome. I am very happy, as Governor General of Canada, to make this state visit to the People’s Republic of China and to join all of you here today...

Chengdu, China, Tuesday, October 22, 2013 Thank you for welcoming Sharon and me so warmly. What a pleasure it is to meet with so many friends of Canada here in Chengdu. When I think of the friendship that exists between China and Canada, I think of Norman Bethune, a Canadian who is of course well kn...

Chengdu, China, Tuesday, October 22, 2013 Thank you for your warm welcome. Let me begin by thanking President Xie and his colleagues for providing me with the opportunity to learn more about higher education in Southwest China. I am delighted to be here at Sichuan University for this discussion on i...

Chengdu, China, Wednesday, October 23, 2013 It is a pleasure to be here at the Western China International Cooperation Forum I am especially pleased to be in Sichuan, as there are so many ways Canada and this region have historically worked together. In fact, our relationship dates back over 120 yea...