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Rideau Hall, Tuesday, October 24, 2006 Allow me to begin by sharing with our guests that very special connection that you have to Rideau Hall, or at least to one of its former occupants, which you reminded us of this morning. Many of you here this evening may be surprised to learn that this was once...

Rideau Hall, Wednesday, October 25, 2006 We need only take one look at the world map to realize that we cannot take our freedom for granted. Though we are privileged to live in a country where freedom is a deeply held belief, with that privilege comes a responsibility. The responsibility to help wom...

Gatineau, Wednesday, October 25, 2006 I am very pleased to join you on such a special occasion. I think it is wonderful that the Saidye Bronfman Award is going to become part of the Governor General’s Awards for Visual and Media Arts. The change makes perfect sense. Since it was first presented in 1...

Toronto, Thursday, October 26, 2006 I am so pleased to join you this morning at the Ontario Children and Youth Summit. As you are probably aware, when I was nominated 27th governor general of Canada, I decided to make youth one of my main priorities. I embarked on an exciting journey, crisscrossing ...

Toronto, Thursday, October 26, 2006 Looking through the list of recordings that have been recognized by the MasterWorks program over the years, it is difficult not to see symbolic milestones in one’s own life. Films like Mon oncle Antoine, or Les bons débarras; the music of Starmania, Gilles Vigneau...

2006 MasterWorks Gala Toronto, Thursday, October 26, 2006 CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY “The Future of the Past is found in Memory” So wrote French writer Paul Valéry, indeed a fitting summary of what is at stake for culture in the 21st century, which depends so much on audiovisual memory. Without question...

Calgary International Film Festival Calgary, Sunday, October 1, 2006 CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY The camera is like a razor blade. It slices into what’s real, taking samples to piece together what could be called the language of reality. The camera produces an illusion of what’s real. It depicts what may...

Edmonton International Literary Festival Edmonton, Saturday, October 14, 2006 CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY THERE IS NO SINGLE TRUTH One day in 1997, Fred Reed returned from Iran full of enthusiasm with a challenge to my pessimism about that country. A new wind of hope had sprung up, he told me, with a ton...

Rideau Hall, Friday, October 27, 2006 With the approach of Remembrance Day, I have found myself reflecting on the meaning of duty, and courage, and sacrifice. An illustration of these noble ideas can be found in the work of combat engineers during the D-Day landings in Normandy. As you know, the dut...

Presentation of the Governor General’sPerforming Arts Awards Rideau Hall, Friday, November 3, 2006 CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY Since the beginning of this mandate, my wife and I have wanted to create a forum for cultural dialogue, which we felt was a vital part of the presentation of the awards for perfo...

Rideau Hall, Friday, November 3, 2006 I have always believed that the arts and artists themselves should be given a vital place within any community. Vital, because the arts provide a unique outlet for the hopes, fears and desires of so many. Vital, because the arts are the realization of years of s...

Ottawa, Saturday, November 4, 2006 What is the purpose of this gala? Why have we gathered here this evening? Why should we celebrate artists? Why? Because the arts have a vital role to play. Because years of study and hard work deserve to be recognized. Because the arts and artists enrich our lives,...

Ottawa, Sunday, November 5, 2006 The monument we are unveiling today represents four centuries of history. No small undertaking! The choice was narrowed down to fourteen individuals who helped to shape our country. Women and men whose heroism set them apart, from the seventeenth century colonial war...

Ottawa, Monday, October 30, 2006 Good afternoon! It’s wonderful to see so many of you here today. Thank you Mr. Greenhill, CIDA, and, in particular, the youth action unit, for receiving me so warmly at this youth forum on international development. We are living in a world in which rapid advances in...

November 7, 2006 “A symbol of the tremendous dedication and valiant courage of our fallen soldiers, the poppy is worn today as a sign of remembrance of the terrible price paid on the battlefields to ensure our precious freedom. It is a simple flower worn close to our hearts, for we have not forgotte...

Montreal, Friday, November 10, 2006 I am delighted to be here with you today to continue the tradition according to which the Governor General of Canada is your “visitor.” McGill University is one of our oldest and most prestigious institutions of higher learning. Its influence has far exceeded our ...

November 10, 2006 “It is with great sadness that we have learned of the sudden passing of our colleague and friend Mary Percy, as the result of a heart attack on November 7, 2006. We all carry the heavy burden of this very sad news. Even in retirement, Mary contributed immensely to the success of ou...