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Rideau Hall, Tuesday, October 29, 2013 “Whenever I don’t know whether to fight or not, I always fight!” Emily Murphy, the woman who uttered those words, was a fighter. So were Henrietta Muir Edwards, Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney and Irene Parlby. These five famous women were not fighters of arms....

Rideau Hall, Wednesday, October 30, 2013 I am pleased to welcome you to Rideau Hall and to Canada. First, let me say thank you for taking on these roles. Each of you has left your homes and friends and the familiar for a new adventure, one that is as important as it is exciting. Diplomacy, after all...

Toronto, Ontario, Friday, November 1st, 2013 It is an honour for Sharon and me to be here to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards in Canada. One of the privileges of being governor general is the opportunity to celebrate individual Canadian achievement. In the last three ye...

Rideau Hall, Wednesday, October 9, 2013 What a historic moment. I do not believe that we have ever had a fashion show at Rideau Hall. First, let me thank you once again for being here this evening for this unique and important event. Mental illness is among the most complex and pressing health issue...

Toronto, Thursday, November 7, 2013 I’m pleased to be here bright and early this morning among so many colleagues. I consider you colleagues having been a university professor, dean and president for nearly a half century myself. Like you, I have spent many wonderful, rewarding days consumed by thou...

Ottawa, Ontario, Wednesday, November 6, 2013 I am delighted to be here to help mark the 10th anniversary of this important initiative. The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences is truly an important and inspiring initiative. Mathematics, like music, is a universal language, and it is a languag...

Rideau Hall, Friday, November 8, 2013 Welcome to Rideau Hall, the home of the people of Canada, for this unique investiture. I use the word ‘unique’ with good reason. Each induction into the Order is different because of the individuals involved, because each of your stories is unique. You hail from...

Rideau Hall, Monday, November 11, 2013 My wife, Sharon, and I are pleased to welcome you to Rideau Hall, the home of the people of Canada. As governor general, as commander-in-chief of Canada, and as a father and grandfather, there is no more solemn day in my calendar than this one. But I can only i...

Toronto, Ontario, Saturday, November 9, 2013 Let me begin by thanking all of you for being here. Your presence is an indication of your commitment to higher education in this province and beyond. I would like do three things in my remarks today, to add my perspective to the questions you are asking ...

November 11, 2013 Message from His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, on the occasion of Remembrance Day OTTAWA— When the call to arms first sounded, thousands of Canadians took up the quarrel with a most terrible foe. The machine of war cut them down in thei...

City of Québec, Quebec, Wednesday, November 13, 2013 It is a pleasure to join you here to speak about a subject close to my heart: giving. One of the first instances of giving that I was exposed to came from my own family. My paternal grandparents were devout Methodists. They were also quite poor, a...

Gatineau, Wednesday, November 13, 2013 It is a pleasure to join all of you here for the presentation of a variety of awards. Although each award is diverse in its criteria, and all of the recipients we honour today have varied backgrounds and experiences, all of these medals are related to a very im...

Rideau Hall, Tuesday, November 12, 2013 Welcome to Rideau Hall, the home of the people of Canada. I am delighted to participate in this first-ever presentation of the Governor General’s Academic All-Canadian Commendation. This is an important distinction, and one for which each of the 2 695 recipien...

November 15, 2013 Message from the Governor General of Canada on the Occasion of National Philanthropy Day OTTAWA— Philanthropy is not merely an act of giving done by those possessing great wealth. Philanthropy is in every selfless, compassionate gesture made by one person towards another. A hot mea...

November 20, 2013 Message from His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, on the occasion of National Child Day OTTAWA—Children are contributing to our nation in real and meaningful ways. I have seen this throughout my travels; children willing and able to stand ...

Rideau Hall, Monday, November 18, 2013 Welcome, all of you, to Rideau Hall for the second Killam Prize Symposium. Last year’s discussion generated some very interesting debate, and I look forward to hearing from this year’s winners of the Killam Prize who are joining us here today. These thinkers an...

Rideau Hall, Tuesday, November 19, 2013 Welcome to Rideau Hall, the home of the people of Canada. It is a privilege to recognize some of Canada’s best and brightest students and teachers of history. These awards honour excellence in community programming, museum work, popular history, scholarly rese...

Rideau Hall, Friday, November 22, 2013 Welcome to Rideau Hall, the home of the people of Canada. The Order in which you are about to be invested or promoted was created in 1967, which was, of course, the 100th anniversary of Confederation. The timing was no accident. The Order of Canada was establis...

Montréal, Saturday, September 29, 2012 Today is a wonderful day for the Black Watch, which has been so steadfast in its service to Canada for so many years. In fact, this regiment predates Canada itself, having received its colours 150 years ago from Lady Monck, the wife of my predecessor as governo...

Official Designation of Black Watch Armoury as a National Historic Site Montréal, Saturday, September 29, 2012 I am pleased to be here on this very special day to celebrate the heritage of this remarkable building. One of the wonderful things about this armoury is the degree to which its history is ...