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Order of Military Merit Investiture Ceremony Rideau Hall, Tuesday, February 24, 2009 Welcome to Rideau Hall. This morning has brought us together to honour exceptional military careers. Many years ago, you answered a call: to don the uniform and become a part of the extended Canadian Forces family. ...

Presentation of Credentials (United Mexican States, Malaysia,Republic of Seychelles, Republic of Cape Verde) Rideau Hall, Thursday, February 26, 2009 I am delighted to welcome you, your families and your delegations to Rideau Hall. These days, everyone seems to be talking about one form of crisis or...

Announcement of the Recipients of the 2009 Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards Toronto, Monday, March 2, 2009 My husband Jean-Daniel Lafond and I are so pleased to be here with you today. Jean-Daniel and I share the belief that art is in itself a lesson in freedom. A lesson in freedom that is ...

Launch of the Michaëlle Jean Chair in Caribbean and African Diasporic Studies Toronto, Monday, March 2, 2009 Today, we are launching a new Canadian chair in Caribbean and African diasporic studies at one of Canada’s flagship institutions of higher learning, the University of Alberta, which celebrate...

Youth Dialogue on Women Shaping Democracy Rideau Hall, Tuesday, March 3, 2009 It is so wonderful to see so many young people here who are committed to defending the full recognition of the rights of girls and women, particularly with International Women’s Day less than a week away. To mark the occas...

March 4, 2009 Jean-Daniel Lafond and I were deeply saddened to learn that the explosion of an improvised explosive device, 10 km away from Kandahar, took the lives of three Canadian soldiers and seriously injured two of their comrades during their mission in Afghanistan. Despite great personal risk,...

Art Matters Forum on Music Toronto, Monday, March 2, 2009 Welcome to this Art Matters forum on the music that brings us together, this time, in the heart of Toronto, a multicultural city like no other. Wherever there is music, walls come down, new possibilities are born, and hope is reignited in our...

International Colloquium on Women’s Empowerment,Leadership Development, International Peace and Security Monrovia, Liberia, Saturday, March 7, 2009 International Women’s Day is a call for solidarity that each of us, here and elsewhere in the world, sends out to the four winds. Of course, in this cas...

March 5, 2009 OTTAWA— In Canada, we pride ourselves on believing in gender equality. On believing that women and men should share responsibilities and obligations. On believing in the full emancipation of women and girls, so that they are able to work and give the best of themselves, in every sphere...

Art Matters Forum on Music Toronto, Monday, March 2, 2009 This is the 35th Art Matters public forum, and for the first time we are holding it here in Toronto. During our travels through the provinces and territories of Canada and abroad, the Governor General and I like to hold such forums because th...

March 8, 2009 OTTAWA—My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I were deeply saddened to receive word of the death of Trooper Marc Diab with The Royal Canadian Dragoons, based in Petawawa, and of the injuries sustained by four soldiers from a roadside blast during their patrol in the Sha Wali Kot District...

March 9, 2009 Commonwealth Day serves as a reminder not only of our past, but also of our growth as a nation. Today is a day to celebrate the unique ties that we share with countries around the word and the history that binds us. Throughout our history in the Commonwealth, Canadians have remained pr...

March 13, 2009 It was with great sadness that my husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I learned of the terrible helicopter accident that occurred yesterday east of St. John’s, Newfoundland. The 18 people on board, including two members of the Cougar Helicopters flight crew, 14 workers from the Sea Rose ...

March 20, 2009 An important part of my responsibilities as governor general is to travel on official, State and working visits abroad. This sustained exercise in diplomacy on the world stage gives me the opportunity to see the degree to which Canada is renowned worldwide as a model of social cohesio...

March 19, 2009 OTTAWA— An expression of diversity and dialogue, of co-operation and understanding, Journée internationale de la Francophonie reminds us that around the world, in a language at once colourful and precise, poetic and learned, strong bonds of friendship and solidarity are being forged t...

March 20, 2009 OTTAWA—My husband Jean-Daniel Lafond and I are sorry and deeply saddened to learn that four members of the Canadian Forces and the Afghan interpreter accompanying them were killed, and eight of their comrades in arms wounded under tragic circumstances in Afghanistan. Master Corporal S...

Art Matters Forum Held in Conjunction with the Presentationof the Governor General’s Awards in Visual and Media Arts Rideau Hall, Tuesday, March 24, 2009 We are delighted to welcome you to this edition of Art Matters, created as a space for dialogue, sharing and reflection on the arts and culture. T...

Opening of the Spirit of Place: British Columbia Young Artists Exhibition Rideau Hall, Wednesday, March 25, 2009 Welcome to Rideau Hall for the opening of this exhibition by very young artists from British Columbia, who have translated into colour and light the spirit of the place they inhabit and t...

Presentation of the Governor General’s Awards in Visual and Media Arts Rideau Hall, Wednesday, March 25, 2009 It is such a joy to welcome to Rideau Hall women and men who are among some of the greatest artists of our time. In this residence, which houses a permanent collection of works by Canadian p...

Art Matters Forum Held in Conjunction with thePresentation of the 2009 Governor General’sAwards in Visual and Media Arts Rideau Hall, Tuesday, March 24, 2009 Igniting an electrifying and unifying atmosphere around the visual and media arts. The theme of today’s forum stems from the discussion we had...