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 1977, the Award has established itself as Canada’s most prestigious award for achievement in the fine crafts.

Next year, we will be combining these two events which, I hope, will give new prominence to both and underscore the importance of fine crafts in Canadian culture.

Indeed, I believe today’s ceremony is an excellent opportunity to salute Canada’s craft artists and give them the recognition they so richly deserve.

Anyone who has had the opportunity to admire the pieces that you will see in a moment would be hard-pressed to draw a distinction between fine art and fine crafts.

One might even say that the artificial and unjustified boundaries that once separated the two are now almost completely eliminated.

We are able to enjoy artistic expression in numerous forms, whether paint on a canvas, a finely crafted silver box, a marble sculpture, a lifelike hunting decoy, a delicate watercolour or a bold and textured tapestry.

To say nothing of the beauty of the intricate beadwork on a pair of Mi’kmaq moccasins, the rich and elaborate patterns in a Newfoundland quilt, the painstaking attention to detail and unexpected bold lines of a Québécois cabinet. All of these works—some of them everyday objects—and many more remind Canadians of their rich past and the vibrant energy fuelling today’s creativity.

Over the years, Canada’s gifted craftspeople have extended the boundaries of what is understood by crafts, experimenting with new materials and innovative shapes, challenging our preconceptions and opening up exciting new vistas for us to explore.

And what of the future? I believe that our diversity holds great promise for the world of fine crafts. Our Aboriginal heritage is rich. And there are many other cultural sources to draw upon in this country. We have access to craft traditions from virtually every civilization on earth. Think about it!

Canada is a land where all these cultures meet and mingle, and Canadian artists have the opportunity to choose a wide variety of elements and weave them into their work.

As we study the pieces in this exhibition, and the many others in the Museum’s collection, it is clear that our craft creations reflect the rich diversity of our society.

I am certain that the numerous visitors who will soon discover these masterpieces will join me in thanking the Museum of Civilization for giving us this very “unique” window into a very important part of our collective heritage.

And finally, I want to mention the artists we are honouring tonight. I salute their great creativity, and on behalf of all Canadians I thank them for the beautiful works they have shared with us.

I wish all of you much success in the years ahead.

Thank you.