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December 5, 2006 “The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, established in 1991 by the Parliament of Canada, is a call for action to all of us to eliminate all forms of discrimination towards women and to bring together women and men in the name of equality. The commemora...

Pretoria, South Africa, Tuesday, December 5, 2006 I would like to begin on a personal note, and say how meaningful it is for me to be here in South Africa. For as long as I can remember, I have looked forward to the day when I could make a pilgrimage to the cradle of humanity, this land of freedom. ...

Rideau Hall, Wednesday, December 13, 2006 I have just returned from a great adventure in the birthplace of civilization. In Africa, every thing I saw, every conversation I had, every person I met, everything I did, every sunset, was a story I wanted to tell. I wanted to tell these stories to preserv...

Presentation of the Governor General's Literary Awards Rideau Hall, Wednesday, December 13, 2006 CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY Last month, in conjunction with the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards, we held the first installment of Art Matters – Le Point des arts. Over two days, 30 audiovisual and n...

Rideau Hall, Friday, December 15, 2006 My husband Jean-Daniel Lafond and I are delighted to welcome you all to Rideau Hall for this ceremony to recognize excellence in our society. I have just returned from my first State visit, during which I went to five African countries: Algeria, Mali, Ghana, So...

Cape Town, South Africa, Thursday, December 7, 2006 I’m sure we all know someone living under the Sword of Damocles that is diabetes. The strict diet; the monitoring of blood sugar levels and the injections; the constant fear of blindness or the possibility of amputation. Diabetes diminishes the qua...

Casablanca, Morocco, Saturday, December 9, 2006 It is wonderful to be here with you. This is my first visit among our deployed forces. I think it is fitting that this inaugural visit is on one of Canada’s finest destroyers. The presence of this ship here in Casablanca, your participation in NATO exe...

Accra, Ghana, Monday, November 27, 2006 Ladies and gentlemen, I can’t tell you how pleased I am to be here today! First of all, it is wonderful to be in Africa, a land that I have wanted to visit since I was very young. Since my arrival almost a week ago, I have gained some understanding of the grea...

Recorded at Rideau Hall, Wednesday, December 20, 2006 Dear friends, Let me start by looking back at 2006, beginning with the year’s most recent events. I have just returned from my first State visit as governor general of Canada. I crossed the African continent from Algeria, Mali and Ghana to South ...

Calgary, Thursday, January 25, 2007 I am here today to extend my greetings and to recognize your efforts to make Canada a “citizen society,” that is, a conscientious society that is concerned about its fellow citizens all over the world. But I am also here to recognize and celebrate that same spirit...

Ottawa, Monday, January 29, 2007 It is a great pleasure to be with you today. I know that out of a total membership of almost 41,000, there are less than one hundred Honorary Fellows, and so I am mindful of the privileged company I have joined… …although, to be honest, I don’t know how I feel about ...

Ottawa, OntarioSeptember 27, 2005 Prime Minister, It is with tremendous pride and deep emotion that I am responding today to the call of destiny which sometimes takes us in a direction we might never have imagined. I am proud of the confidence you have placed in me by choosing me as the 27th Governo...

“I was very sad to learn of the violent earthquake that struck Afghanistan, Pakistan and India this weekend. The natural disaster has devastated regions of these three countries and brutally taken the lives of untold numbers of children, women and men, while many others have lost their loved ones an...

Winnipeg, Tuesday, October 18, 2005 I am delighted that my first official trip as governor general brings me here to Manitoba. My husband Jean-Daniel Lafond is also pleased to be here. A few earlier trips had already let me observe the remarkable drive of Manitoba residents. To find myself here agai...

Winnipeg, Tuesday, October 18, 2005 My husband Jean-Daniel Lafond and I sincerely thank Premier Gary Doer and his wife, Ginny Devine, as well as members of the Government of Manitoba, for hosting this dinner in our honour. I am touched by the welcome given to me by you and your fellow Manitobans. Ea...

Winnipeg, Wednesday, October 19, 2005 It's often said that Winnipeg is Canada's coldest provincial capital. Last week, I learned that snow had already fallen here while the temperature was still almost 30 degrees in Ottawa. And yesterday, people came to greet me in spite of the rain. What the weathe...

Winnipeg, Thursday, October 20, 2005 I am so pleased that you are the first students I am meeting as governor general of Canada because the adventure in which you are participating at this school is an example for many. My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, a former professor, is also delighted to be here...

Winnipeg, Thursday, October 20, 2005 My husband Jean-Daniel Lafond and I are pleased to be with you at this memorable moment when you officially join Canada's big family. We know how important for you is the experience you are going through today. It marks a culminating point in your own lives. As I...

Rideau Hall, Tuesday, October 25, 2005 Too often we forget that the freedom we enjoy in Canada is not shared by most people in our world. Those who came before us paid a high price for our freedom. Remembrance Day is especially for thinking about the incredible good fortune we have to live in a coun...

Ottawa, Wednesday, October 26, 2005 The view that history offers us is always incomplete, sometimes even very imperfect. From time to time we must return and cast new light on that picture. With the Aboriginal Spiritual Journey to the battlefields of the First and Second World Wars, at last we have ...