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May 6, 2007 “My husband Jean-Daniel Lafond and I were deeply saddened by the news of the terrible accident that occurred in Sinai, claiming the life of Corporal Benoit Chevalier, Control Operator from 3 Wing, Bagotville, Quebec. Corporal Chevalier belonged to the Canadian Contingent of the Multinati...

May 9, 2007 “It was with great sadness that my husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I learned of the passing of Dwight Wilson at the venerable age of 106. When he was just 15 years old, his willingness to defend the values of justice and freedom compelled him to join the Canadian Forces during the First...

May 18, 2007 I am delighted, on behalf of all Canadians, to offer greetings and best wishes to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, on the occasion of her official Canadian birthday celebrations, this Monday, May 21, Victoria Day. Although Her Majesty's natural birthday is in April, it ...

May 19, 2007 My husband Jean-Daniel Lafond and I are saddened by the news of the accident that took the life of Captain Shawn McCaughey, Canadian Forces Snowbirds Inner Right Wing pilot, whose aircraft crashed during a practice in preparation for an air show scheduled to take place today, in Montana...

May 25, 2007 “It was with great sadness that my husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I learned of the death of Corporal Matthew McCully of the 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Headquarters and Signals Squadron, who was killed while on patrol with Afghan soldiers in a village near Kandahar. Our Canadi...

March 2, 2008 We are very saddened to learn that Canadian Trooper Michael Yuki Hayakaze, of the Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians), based out of Edmonton, Alberta, died today near Kandahar while taking part in a re-supply operation. His team is in shock at having lost such a highly regarded m...

March 7, 2008 OTTAWA—Simone de Beauvoir would have been 100 years old this year. What a wonderful opportunity for us to measure the progress we have made since this committed woman published the iconic book that forever changed the way we see women’s roles in society. Not only did The Second Sex ope...

March 10, 2008 On this Commonwealth Day, I join Canadians across the country in reflecting upon our history and the ties that we share with our partners in 52 countries around the world. I have spoken a great deal during my mandate of breaking down the solitudes that exist between Canadians, but it ...

March 11, 2008 OTTAWA—It was with great sadness that my husband Jean-Daniel Lafond and I learned of the death of Bombardier Jérémie Ouellet, of the 1st Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, stationed at Shilo, in Manitoba. The mission being carried out by our soldiers in Afghanistan is in many re...

March 17, 2008 OTTAWA—My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I are deeply saddened to learn that Sergeant Jason Boyes from the Second Battalion of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry based out of Shilo, Manitoba, died in Afghanistan, while on patrol. This is a very painful reminder of the dange...

March 20, 2008 We came from Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. We enriched Canada with our accents and our contributions. We are privileged to have roots that run deep in these vast lands that were home to the Aboriginal people who welcomed us. And in return, we were given a country of unlimite...

March 21, 2008 Last year, I marked the 200th anniversary of the end of the transatlantic slave trade by organizing a forum at Rideau Hall to discuss the history of slavery and racial discrimination to the present day. That forum gave specialists in the field of racism and discrimination, students, m...

April 4, 2008 OTTAWA—Canadians join together in grief today as we mourn the loss of Private Terry John Street of the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, who was killed in the Panjwayi District, in Afghanistan, the victim of an improvised explosive device. My husband, Jean-Dan...

April 28, 2008 Canada is greatly admired around the world for so many reasons. One reason in particular is the unsurpassed generosity and social commitment of Canadians. We believe in helping one another and in reaching out to those most in need; we are always ready to respond in times of crisis, to...

May 2, 2008 We often say that we have rights, but we have responsibilities as well. Take, for example, the right to know so that we may better understand and learn. With this right comes the responsibility to remember, to look to the past and to hold on to the stories of those who have lived it. Som...

May 6, 2008 It was with great sorrow that my husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I learned of the death of Corporal Michael Starker, of 15 Field Ambulance, in Afghanistan. During a patrol with Afghan National Security Forces in the Pashmul region, Cpl Starker’s cooperation team had to respond to enemy ...

June 2, 2008 I am pleased to send my warmest greetings to all of the women and men currently serving at home and abroad today, on Canadian Forces Day. Today’s young Canadians are driven by a powerful sense of compassion and a broad view of our global community. Rather than merely observe, the women ...

June 3, 2008 OTTAWA—My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I have just learned of the death of Captain Richard (Steve) Leary of the Second Battalion of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry based in Shilo, Manitoba. We are saddened by this tragic news. Captain Leary lost his life while on patrol ...

June 21, 2011 Message from His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, on the Occasion of National Aboriginal Day OTTAWA— When we celebrate National Aboriginal Day, we are in fact celebrating the very foundations of Canada, as well as our shared future. For thousa...

June 24, 2011 Message from His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, on the Occasion of Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day OTTAWA— I am pleased to extend greetings to everyone celebrating Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day. The origin of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day festivities dates ...