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Toronto, Thursday June 5, 2008 Thank you for joining me this morning as we launch together an exciting initiative to the 40th anniversary of the Order of Canada. When I began to prepare for this celebration, I wanted to raise the profile of the Order. I wanted more Canadians to understand the value ...

City of Québec, Tuesday August 12, 2008 Let me begin by saying how thrilled I am to be with you on this International Youth Day. It also gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the magnificent City of Québec, which is celebrating its 400th anniversary this year. Yesterday’s rousing opening ceremon...

Banff, Sunday, June 8, 2008 This past weekend has given us many opportunities for intense reflection. We pondered ideas that were at times inspiring, at times shocking. It has been my immense privilege to share this experience with you, to be with you as the speakers shared with us their wonderful i...

Edmonton, Tuesday, June 10, 2008 Thank you, thank you so much for the great honour you do me in conferring upon me the degree of Doctor of Laws. I am especially moved by this gesture because it comes from an institution that, since it first opened its doors a century ago, has always endeavoured to p...

Ottawa, Friday, June 20, 2008 Your presentations have been illuminating, often very moving, surprising, always passionate. I enjoy these enriching debates about ideas that bring out new perspectives and bold new ways of thinking about the world. I love it! I am proud of you. You are the difference. ...

Rideau Hall, Saturday, June 21, 2008 How wonderful it is to meet you and welcome you here, to Rideau Hall. You know, I was born on an island, Haiti, where legends shape our relationship with the universe. Haiti means land of many mountains in the language of the Arawaks who were the first people on ...

The Citadelle, Saturday, June 28, 2008 “Si j’avais les ailes d’un ange, je partirais pour Québec!” If I had angel’s wings, I would fly to the City of Québec. So begins the song “Les ailes d’un ange” by Québécois singer-songwriter Robert Charlebois. And who could blame him? The City of Québec has nev...

August 13, 2008 OTTAWA— My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I were devastated to hear of the deaths of two Canadian humanitarian aid workers in Afghanistan. This sudden and brutal attack is another cruel blow to our nation as we continue to grieve. Canada is recognized the world over for its compass...

August 21, 2008 OTTAWA—As we continue to mourn and deplore the recent loss of generous and courageous Canadians, members of the military and civilians, who had gone to Afghanistan to give the very best of themselves, we find ourselves once again cruelly faced with the tragic deaths of Sergeant Shawn...

September 3, 2008 OTTAWA— My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I are dismayed by the tragic news of the death of Corporal Andrew Paul Grenon, Corporal Michael James Alexander Seggie, and Private Chadwick James Horn of the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, based in Shilo, Man...

September 7, 2008 OTTAWA— A Canadian family, the men and women serving in our Canadian Forces and the whole country are mourning the tragic death of one of our soldiers during his mission in Afghanistan. My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I are deeply affected by this loss and the pain that comes w...

CFB Trenton, Wednesday, September 10, 2008 I would like to start by telling you how much I wanted to be with you today. You are about to join your comrades in Afghanistan to take part in security and reconstruction efforts alongside Afghan and international forces. I know that you are driven by a sp...

September 12, 2008 It was with tremendous sadness that I learned of the death of the Honourable Gérald Beaudoin. Known and respected as one of Canada’s eminent constitutional experts and universally appreciated for his availability to others, his kindness and his good humour, he was the quintessenti...

Ottawa, Friday, September 12, 2008 My husband Jean-Daniel Lafond, my daughter Marie-Éden and I are delighted to be able to join you to celebrate the 100th anniversary of an institution that is what it is today because of you. Especially since the Royal Canadian Mint and the institution I represent a...

The Citadelle, Saturday, September 13, 2008 This is a great day for the 1st Battalion of the Royal 22e Régiment. We have come here today, on the parade square of the Citadelle, not far from the resting place of one of my predecessors and one of the fathers of your regiment, General Georges Vanier, t...

September 13, 2008 My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I are deeply saddened by the death of Major Luc Racine. A member of the Embassy of Canada in Mali, Major Racine was serving with the Military Training Assistance Program (MTAP) at the Peacekeeping School in Bamako. Canada has lost a member of it...

Toronto, Tuesday, September 16, 2008 I am so happy to be with you tonight. We are the Americas: a unique mixture of colours, cultures and ideas; a cosmic community, to cite the Mexican concept, a cosmic community that stretches from the rugged terrain of Tierra del Fuego, Argentina all the way to th...

Rideau Hall, Friday, September 19, 2008 Welcome to Rideau Hall. If you only knew how honoured I am to welcome you to this ballroom, where official ceremonies are held. Particularly since today, we are unveiling this monumental work, born of the generosity and talent of one of our greatest artists, N...

Halifax, Saturday, September 20, 2008 It is a pleasure for me to join you today. Although I have had to limit my participation in public events due to the electoral campaign, I felt that it was very important for me to join you to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of parliamentary democracy in...

Halifax, Monday, September 22, 2008 The sea is part of my personal landscape. I was born on an island in the Caribbean Sea and spent my early childhood there. When my family and I left Haiti and “disembarked” in Canada, like so many other Canadians who came from abroad, only a map could give us a tr...