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April 7, 2013 Message from His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, on the Occasion of Holocaust Memorial Day OTTAWA—When we teach young people about the Holocaust, we should aim not only to discuss the politics and the wider issues, but also to convey a sense ...

Ottawa, Ontario, Tuesday, April 9, 2013 I am so pleased to be with you here today to present Turnbull School with its coat of arms. One of the roles I assumed when I became governor general was head of the Canadian Heraldic Authority. In fact, I’ve presented coats of arms to a select number of organ...

April 9, 2013 Message from His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, on the Occasion of Vimy Ridge Day OTTAWA— Since 2003, Canadians have gathered on April 9 to commemorate the heroic actions and tragic losses of the Canadian Corps during the Battle of Vimy Ridg...

Gatineau, Quebec, Wednesday, April 17, 2013 Thank you for your warm welcome. I am pleased to join you at the outset of this important conference. I often find it worthwhile to begin with the seemingly simple questions, so let me ask: why are we here today? The answer, of course, is not simply that w...

Ottawa, Ontario, Wednesday, April 17, 2013 I am pleased to be here for the launch of this new book on the governors general of Canada, past and present! You may be familiar with Gabrielle Léger’s memorable quote on this subject. She said: “The most ephemeral thing at Rideau Hall is the governor gene...

Rideau Hall, Thursday, April 18, 2013 I would like to welcome each of you to Rideau Hall, the home of the people of Canada. Each of us in this room represents not only different countries, but also different languages, backgrounds and cultures. We may have many things in common with one another on a...

Ottawa, Ontario, Friday, April 19, 2013 Thank you for your warm welcome. As commander-in-chief, I have the great privilege of meeting with members of the Canadian Forces and honouring their service to our country. When doing so, I sometimes quote my predecessor General Georges Vanier, who was a foun...

April 21, 2013 Message from His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, on the occasion of National Volunteer Week OTTAWA— There is a saying that volunteers are paid in smiles, and while this is true for some, many volunteers work behind the scenes, without acknow...

April 22, 2013 Message from His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, on the Occasion of Earth Day OTTAWA—Canadians are quite fortunate for a number of reasons, not least of which because we live in one of the vastest and most beautiful countries in the world. I...

Rideau Hall, Monday, April 22, 2013 Welcome to Rideau Hall, and thank you for being here for this important and timely discussion. Allow me to start by thanking those individuals from the MasterCard Foundation who worked closely with Rideau Hall staff in organizing this event. I would also like to a...

Rideau Hall, Tuesday, April 23, 2013 Welcome to Rideau Hall, the gathering place of the Canadian people. Our fellow citizens meet here regularly to share ideas, learn from one another and honour service, bravery, ingenuity and creativity. Tonight, in this beautiful ballroom of this grand old buildin...

Pembroke, Ontario, Tuesday, April 23, 2013 Good afternoon, everyone, and thank you for your warm welcome. I am delighted to be in Pembroke and to be making my first visit as governor general to the beautiful and historic Ottawa Valley. It was just east of here, on Morrison Island, in fact, that Samu...

Ottawa, Ontario, Wednesday, April 24, 2013 I would like to thank you for inviting me to speak to you here at the National Conference of the Canadian Association of Family Resource Programs. The theme of this conference—family well-being—is not only vital, but also very personal for me. As a mother o...

Rideau Hall, Thursday, April 25, 2013 It is our pleasure to welcome all of you today to Rideau Hall, home of the people of Canada, home of all caring Canadians. This week, we mark National Volunteer Week, and I can think of no more fitting way to celebrate than by honouring some of this country’s be...

Rideau Hall, Sunday, April 28, 2013 Welcome to Rideau Hall, the home of the people of Canada. For almost 150 years, Canadians have gathered here to exchange ideas and dreams for our country, and to discuss our role in the world. And tomorrow, on National We Day, thousands of young Canadians will lik...

Amsterdam, Netherlands, Monday, April 29, 2013 Thank you for your warm welcome. I am delighted to have this opportunity to meet with you during my short stay in the Netherlands. It is also of course an honour to be here representing Canada on the historic occasion of the investiture of King Willem-A...

Rideau Hall, Monday, November 25, 2013 I am delighted to welcome each of you to Rideau Hall and to Canada. Here in Canada, you may know we enjoy a long history of diplomacy, practised not just internationally with distant nations but right here at home. In fact, newcomers from Europe and Aboriginal ...

Montréal, Quebec, Tuesday, November 26, 2013 It is a pleasure to be here among such compassionate people for this presentation of Caring Canadian Awards. Your stories, simply put, are amazing. Each of you has done so much as a member of the PalliAmi team, giving not just to the organization, but als...

Rideau Hall, Thursday, November 28, 2013 My wife, Sharon, and I are delighted to welcome you to Rideau Hall, the home of the people of Canada, for this great literary occasion. It is a privilege to be in the presence of so many talented writers, artists and translators, particularly in light of the ...

December 6, 2013 Message from the Governor General on the Occasion of the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women OTTAWA—The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, established in 1991 by the Parliament of Canada, is a day on which our whole society...