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December 5, 2005 Geneviève Bergeron Hélène Colgan Nathalie Croteau Barbara Daigneault Anne-Marie Edward Maud Haviernick Barbara Klucznik Widajewicz Maryse Laganière Maryse Leclair Anne-Marie Lemay Sonia Pelletier Michèle Richard Annie St-Arneault Annie Turcotte Because they challenged the status quo...

December 18, 2005 "It was with great sadness that my husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I learned that Sol, the beloved magician of words, has passed away. Marc Favreau, like no one else, made a joyous and singular contribution to the genius of the French language. Over the years he captured our heart...

December 20, 2005 The coming of a new year is a time to take stock and look to the future with hope. We make resolutions, develop projects, follow new dreams. Above all else, we hope to live life to the fullest and spread joy to those around us. For Marie-Éden, Jean-Daniel and me, 2005 has been a ye...

December 20, 2005 “The death of Mark Bourque, yesterday in Port-au-Prince, was a dreadful shock to my husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and me, particularly since we had met Mr. Bourque at Rideau Hall just last October. He was here with twenty or so of his colleagues from the Royal Canadian Mounted Polic...

January 5, 2006 “Irving Layton was able to touch the depths of people’s souls through his works. His skills with the pen earned him the Governor General’s Literary Award and the Order of Canada, as well as many other forms of literary recognition around the world. Yet his most precious legacy lies i...

January 15, 2006 “My husband Jean-Daniel Lafond and I were deeply saddened to learn of the death today of Glyn Berry in a terrorist attack in Afghanistan, which also left three of our Canadian soldiers wounded. Mr. Berry, a Political Director from Foreign Affairs, had been posted to the Provincial R...

January 26, 2006 “My husband and I wish happy Chinese New Year celebrations to all those Canadians who are welcoming the Year of the Dog. A brand new year brings with it new hopes, new ambitions and new opportunities. Canadians everywhere will gather together to celebrate their heritage and keep ali...

January 31, 2006 “It is with pride that I extend my warmest greetings to all Canadians celebrating respect, equal opportunity, and sharing throughout Black History Month. Each year, the many activities that highlight these celebrations provide us with opportunities to learn more about our fellow cit...

February 1, 2006 “It is with much sadness that Jean-Daniel Lafond and I have learned that a great voice for equality, human rights and freedoms has fallen silent. Coretta Scott King, widow of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, was a woman of remarkable resolve. Guided by her convictions, she always fo...

March 2, 2006 “I was very sad to learn of the accident which claimed the life of Corporal Paul James Davis and injured seven others. My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I want to express our deepest sympathy to Cpl. Davis’ family, friends and colleagues. May we all take comfort in knowing that he se...

March 5, 2006 “It is with much sadness that I learned of the passing of Master Corporal Timothy Wilson, who succumbed earlier today to the injuries he sustained in Afghanistan on March 2, 2006. My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I would like to express our sincere condolences to MCpl Wilson’s famil...

March 7, 2006 “Today, while our laws guarantee equal rights, opportunities and responsibilities for women and men in every aspect of life, a gap persists. Wherever they are, whatever their nationality, race or culture, women continue to face serious problems, including violence and poverty. Even in ...

March 10, 2006 “It is a great pleasure for me to join with all Canadians in this year’s celebration of Commonwealth Day. The theme for 2006, “Health and Vitality—the Commonwealth Challenge”, is a test on both an individual and global scale. On a personal level, there is much we can do to improve our...

March 17, 2006 As you know, it is so important to me that we break down solitudes, regardless of which barriers stand in the way: age, gender, ethnicity, language, religion, poverty, to name but a few. Racism and discrimination, which continue to be problems in our society, sink their insidious root...

March 29, 2006 “Jean-Daniel Lafond and I were deeply saddened to learn of the attack which took the lives of Private Robert Costall, as well as an American soldier, and a number of our Afghani allies. Private Costall died defending his fellow soldiers, and will always be remembered for his bravery, ...

April 20, 2006 On behalf of all Canadians, it is my sincere honour and great pleasure to offer Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II my congratulations on the occasion of her 80th birthday. The connection between Her Majesty and Canadians is an enduring and deeply rooted one. The Queen’s devotion to Canada...

April 24, 2006 “Thousands upon thousands of Canadians, women and men, young and old, have the boldness to dream big dreams and the determination to act for the good of all. They support their fellow citizens in a myriad of ways, including their involvement in sports, arts or community initiatives. V...

April 22, 2006 “It was with deep emotion and sadness that Jean-Daniel Lafond and I heard from Cape Dorset, Nunavut, of the terrible tragedy which took the lives of four Canadians serving in Afghanistan. Corporal Matthew Dinning, Bombardier Myles Mansell, Lieutenant William Turner and a fourth soldie...

April 25, 2006 "A man hides in a forest with his family. They forage what they can to survive, hiding from detection because of their religion. Despite the man’s caution, and to his horror, he returns from a search for food to discover his wife, his child and other family and friends taken from him ...

May 17, 2006 “It was with deep emotion that I learned, upon my return from Haïti, of the death of Captain Nichola Kathleen Sarah Goddard in a firefight in Afghanistan earlier today. Captain Goddard’s death reminds us once again of the risks that our Canadian troops, both men and women, face every da...