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December 27, 2008 OTTAWA—The year is drawing to a close on a sad note. We have just learned that another of our soldiers, Private Michael Bruce Freeman, was killed by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan, and that three of his comrades were injured. Our thoughts turn to the parents, family ...

December 28, 2008 OTTAWA— Still reeling from the shock of yesterday’s announcement, we have received further heart-wrenching, painful news today, again from Afghanistan. It was with great sorrow that we learned that Warrant Officer Gaétan Roberge, from the 2nd Battalion, The Irish Regiment of Canada...

Declaration on the Occasion of the Inauguration of the 44thPresident of the United States of America, Mr. Barack Obama Rideau Hall, Tuesday, January 20, 2009 On March 21, 2007, on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, in this very place, at Rideau Hall, ...

Reception at the Canadian Embassy in Haiti Port-au-Prince, Friday, January 16, 2009 My husband Jean-Daniel and I are delighted to be back in Haiti. The country where I was born. The country where our daughter was born. The country that Jean-Daniel fell in love with, where he found inspiration as a f...

Presentation of Credentials (India,Portugal, Uruguay, Yemen) Rideau Hall, Wednesday, January 21, 2009 Excellencies, I am delighted to welcome you, your families and your delegations to Rideau Hall. As a new year dawns, we begin to look to the future. I recently returned from Haiti, where an already ...

Presentation of the Public Service of Canada Outstanding Achievement Award Rideau Hall, Friday, January 23, 2009 I am delighted to welcome you to Rideau Hall to pay tribute to three people—a woman and two men—who embody excellence within the Public Service of Canada, and because one woman is equal t...

Reception for the Diplomatic Corps Rideau Hall, Thursday, January 22, 2009 Welcome to Rideau Hall. I am delighted to welcome you at the start of a new year. We saw 2008 come to a close in the midst of crisis. An economic crisis, a food crisis, humanitarian crises brought about by natural disasters, ...

YMCA Fellowship of Honour Ceremony Ottawa, Tuesday, January 27, 2009 I am delighted to be here with you today. Thank you for such a warm welcome. We have come here to pay tribute to eight exceptional people for whom civic engagement can be summed up in four letters: YMCA. Four letters. Four letters ...

The Citadelle, Sunday, October 19, 2008 I have just spoken with the Secretary General of La Francophonie, President Abdou Diouf, who is at this moment confined to bed, a result of the fatigue and stress of the past few days, he said. He had been looking forward to hearing and receiving in person the...

Rideau Hall, Monday, September 15, 2008 It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to Rideau Hall, particularly since Canada, as you know, is in the midst of exercising one of the fundamentals of democracy. The election campaign is in full swing. You will have a front‑row seat for debates on issues t...

“Multicultural Dialogue” Conference on the Integrationof Minorities in the Urban Centres Prague, Tuesday, December 2, 2008 My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I are delighted to join you this morning as you reflect on the challenges posed by diversity in the Czech Republic. Many of the issues you ar...

City of Québec, Monday, August 11, 2008 Let me begin by saying a big thank you to all of you. Thank you to Peace Child International. Thank you to ReGeneration 2008. And thank you to you, the youth, for presenting me with this award, which is a great honour to me. Truly. I was born in a country in w...

Order of Military Merit Investiture Ceremony Rideau Hall, Friday, January 30, 2009 Welcome to Rideau Hall, where we have gathered to recognize the exceptional service performed by 56 men and women who have chosen to don the uniform and who have had a distinguished career in the Forces. As commander-...

January 31, 2009 OTTAWA— My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I were overwhelmed when we heard that another Canadian Forces soldier, Sapper Sean Greenfield from 2 Combat Engineer Regiment based at CFB Petawawa, was fatally wounded by an improvised explosive device while conducting a security patrol, ...

February 4, 2009 We celebrate Black History Month to remember and make people aware of the long march made by women and men—some famous, but most unknown—striving for the same ideal, pursuing a single goal: inclusion, that legitimacy that gives every woman, man and child the opportunity to distingui...

Presentation of Scrolls to New General and Flag Officers Rideau Hall, Thursday, February 5, 2009 It is a privilege for me to be a part of the extended Canadian Forces family and to assume the responsibilities conferred upon me as commander-in-chief. Working alongside our service women and men of eve...

Official Opening of Winterlude 2009 Ottawa, Friday, February 6, 2009 Once again, winter is acting very wintry and we are in the mood to celebrate as we launch Winterlude 2009 in Canada’s Capital Region! Skating on the Rideau Canal, admiring the ice sculptures, going tobogganing, exploring the ski tr...

Countdown to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver-Whistler Rideau Hall, Thursday, February 12, 2009 Hi, kids! Don’t you all look nice, with your eyes full of sunshine, your cheeks all red and your smiles from ear to ear! How are you? Are you having fun? Today, we are marking the countdown to t...

Presentation of Meritorious Service and Military Valour Decorations Rideau Hall, Friday, February 13, 2009 I am delighted to welcome to Rideau Hall men and women for whom service is synonymous with dedication and courage. We all know that military service rests on discipline and a sense of duty; tha...

Centennial Celebration of Canadian Aviation Ottawa, Monday, February 23, 2009 I had hoped to be in Baddeck today, but Canada being the northern country that it is, the weather conditions in Nova Scotia would not have allowed us to land. My thoughts and best wishes are with you and with everyone in B...