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October 4, 2015 Message from Their Excellencies on the Occasion of Mental Illness Awareness Week OTTAWA— Whether it comes on as a sudden crisis or is an ongoing struggle that must be endured, mental illness can be terrifying. The simplest tasks become monumental; the day-to-day routine overwhelms. F...

The Citadelle, Quebec, Saturday, October 3, 2015 Welcome all of you to this fall celebration! The Citadelle is one of the wonders of this city and indeed of this country. History comes to life here, and I’m so pleased that so many of you are here to discover the Citadelle’s hidden treasures. This ha...

The Citadelle, Quebec, Monday, October 5, 2105 I’m so pleased to welcome such a diverse group of recipients to the Citadelle of Québec. What a wonderful place to recognize our very best! Sharon and I always enjoy the opportunity to stay here at the Citadelle and to soak in the history of this place....

The Citadelle, Quebec, Monday, October 5, 2015 I’m honoured to welcome all of you to the Citadelle today. How fitting that we’re here celebrating police officers in Québec, considering the history of this place. One of the first Canadian police forces was formed in this city in 1651. However, that g...

The Citadelle, Quebec, Tuesday, October 6, 2015 Thank you all for being here. You’re an inspiration! You come from towns and cities right across this country. You’re making those communities better places to live, work and play. Each of you has given generously of your time and your talents. You’ve ...

Rideau Hall (via Google Hangout), Friday, October 9, 2015 Greetings to you all from Rideau Hall! I’m glad that we’ve been able to connect virtually! Today marks the beginning of an important and hopeful new chapter in the story of Lac-Mégantic. I’ve visited your community twice since the tragedy of ...

October 12, 2015 Message from the Governor General of Canada on the Occasion of Citizenship Week OTTAWA—Our society sets itself apart by its commitment to democracy, human rights and equality of opportunity. Regardless of our origin or ethnicity, we are all able to contribute in our own way to build...

Rideau Hall, Friday, October 16, 2015 My predecessor, the Right Honourable Roméo LeBlanc, once said: “Very few of us in this country share the same past, but all of us share the same future.” How very true! Each of you knows that Canadian history is nothing if not diverse. And, whether we realize it...

October 18, 2015 Message from the Governor General of Canada on the Occasion of Persons Day OTTAWA—Thanks to the profound convictions and perseverance of five extraordinary Alberta women who long campaigned to have women recognized as persons, an important battle was won on October 18, 1929. On that...

Rideau Hall, Thursday, October 22, 2015 Thank you all for being here. It is a great honour to wear the first poppy of the Royal Canadian Legion’s National Poppy Campaign. The poppy is a very powerful symbol. It symbolizes our debt to the more than 117,000 men and women who gave their lives for Canad...

Ottawa, Ontario, October 22, 2015 October twentieth and October twenty-second, two thousand and fourteen. It’s been one year. We continue to grieve. We continue to heal. To the families, friends and loved ones of Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent and Corporal Nathan Cirillo: my heart goes out to you o...

Rideau Hall, Wednesday, October 27, 2015 CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY What a delight to welcome each of you to Rideau Hall and to Canada. We have a long history of diplomacy in this country, of which you are now a part. At its best, diplomacy brings people together. It bridges differences. It builds on th...

Toronto, Ontario, Thursday, October 29, 2015 It’s wonderful to be here in Toronto to open the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Forum. I’m also pleased to see that so many of you have come to Canada to be part of this discussion. The last time Canada hosted this conference was in 1986. Twenty ...

Toronto, Ontario, Thursday, October 29, 2015 What a pleasure it is to be at this gala among so many bright, shining lights! I first attended this awards ceremony almost exactly five years ago, shortly after my installation as governor general. Now, as then, I’m inspired by the efforts of others to b...

Waterloo, Ontario, Friday, October 30, 2015 CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY What a pleasure to be back here on this wonderful campus for the official opening of this impressive new building. How exciting to think of the study of languages and culture taking place here! A grasp of languages and cultures is es...

Waterloo, Ontario, Friday, October 30, 2015 If you’re lucky enough to have visited St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, you may know that the tomb of Sir Christopher Wren, the great English architect who helped rebuild London after the devastating fire of 1666, is inscribed with the following words: “Rea...

Waterloo, Ontario, Friday, October 30, 2015 It is a special occasion for David and me to be on the Renison University College campus to open your newest building. It’s hard to believe that just five years ago, David was President of the University and I was running a horse farm called Chatterbox Far...