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Rideau Hall, Wednesday, May 8, 2013 Welcome to Rideau Hall, the gathering place of the Canadian people. The past 12 months have been special ones in the history of our country. Canadians of all ages and from all regions and backgrounds have joined together to celebrate the 60-year reign of Her Majes...

London, Ontario, Thursday, May 9, 2013 Thank you, Ian, for your kind introduction. And thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for your very warm welcome. I’ve anticipated coming to London for today’s luncheon. My family and I spent five wonderful years in the Forest City while I served as dean of the Facu...

Accra, Ghana, Tuesday, May 14, 2013 Thank you for your warm welcome. I am delighted to be in Ghana—Canada’s partner in the Commonwealth and truly one of Africa’s leading lights. Indeed, that status is reflected in the star at the centre of the Ghanaian flag—the symbolic lodestar, or guiding light, o...

Accra, Ghana, Tuesday, May 14, 2013 Thank you for your warm welcome to this country and to this wonderful university. I am delighted to visit this wonderful institution of higher learning and to take part in this discussion. Our topic today is one that is of considerable interest to me. Prior to bec...

Accra, Ghana, Tuesday, May 14, 2013 Sharon and I are delighted to be here with you today to celebrate our long-standing friendship. It is a pleasure to follow in the footsteps of my predecessor, the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, by undertaking a State visit to Ghana. In fact, this is not my first...

Kumasi, Ashanti Region, Ghana, May 15, 2013 It is a pleasure and an honour for Sharon and me to join you for this celebration of culture and friendship. Already during this State visit to Ghana, we have encountered so many people who are working together to build a stronger society and to improve th...

Accra, Ghana, Wednesday, May 15, 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 Ghana. Our two countries are partnering in a variety of ways. Indeed, there is a reason Ghana is a country of focus for Canada—there is so much ...

Gaborone, Botswana, Friday, May 17, 2013 Thank you for your warm welcome. I am delighted to have the opportunity to tour this impressive military education facility during my visit to Botswana. As governor general and commander-in-chief of Canada, I feel it is a special privilege to visit the Botswa...

Gaborone, Botswana, Friday, May 17, 2013 Thank you for giving Sharon and me such a warm welcome. We are delighted to be here in Botswana, a country with which Canada is excited to find opportunities for further collaboration. While in your country, I hope to meet with many of its people, to discover...

Gaborone, Botswana, Saturday, May 18, 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 Botswana. Our two countries are partnering in a variety of ways. Indeed, in Botswana there is so much potential for a greater and more pros...

Orapa Mine, Botswana, Saturday, May 18, 2013 Thank you for your warm welcome. I am delighted to have the opportunity to participate in this kgotla. As you know, the Kerowe Diamond Mine, which I have just visited, is owned by a Canadian company based in Vancouver, British Columbia. In Canada, meanwhi...

Cape Town, South Africa, Monday, May 20, 2013 I’m thrilled to be in South Africa among so many colleagues. I consider you all peers, having spent some 45 years myself as a university professor, dean and president. So even though I have a new role now, I’ll always remain a teacher at heart. Before I ...

Pretoria, South Africa, Wednesday, May 22, 2013 Thank you for welcoming me so warmly. I am pleased to have the opportunity to visit this modern stock exchange and to meet with business leaders during my State visit to South Africa. Those of you who have gathered for this luncheon are a reflection of...

Pretoria, South Africa, Wednesday, May 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 South Africa. Our two countries are partnering in a variety of ways. Indeed, in South Africa there is so much potential for a greater ...

Cape Town, South Africa, Tuesday, May 21, 2013 It is a pleasure for Sharon and me to be here in South Africa. We are so grateful for the warm reception we have received wherever we have gone. It is a testament not just to the kindness of South Africans, but also to the great friendship that exists b...

May 20, 2013 Message from His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, on the occasion of Victoria Day OTTAWA — As we make the most of this Victoria Day to celebrate our Sovereign’s birthday, it is an honour and indeed a pleasure to join with all Canadians in payin...

Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday, May 21, 2013 Thank you for your warm welcome. Let me begin tonight by offering greetings and best wishes on behalf of all Canadians and underline the friendship between Canada and South Africa. It is truly an honour to be invited to speak on the subject of Canada...

Rideau Hall, Friday, May 24, 2013 It is a pleasure to welcome to Rideau Hall—the home of the people of Canada—all of you, who serve and protect the people of Canada. Those of you being honoured here today as investees in the Order of Merit of the Police Forces have made outstanding contributions to ...

Rideau Hall, Friday, May 24, 2013 I would like to welcome all of you to Rideau Hall, the home of the people of Canada, for the opening of a new section of the Trans Canada Trail. This country has so many wonderful points on the map, so many great vistas and landmarks to discover. And with that comes...

Boston, Massachusetts, Tuesday, May 28, 2013 Thank you for your warm welcome and for this kind invitation to speak with you today. The focus of my speech will be the diplomacy of knowledge, and the special role that Boston can play in an increasingly connected and competitive world. First, let me sa...