Toronto, Monday, February 20, 2006

I would also like to acknowledge the presence here this evening of my predecessor, the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, and her husband John Ralston Saul.

Thank you, Mr. Thorsell, for that wonderful visit.

You and your colleagues at the ROM are to be congratulated for the achievement represented by these awe-inspiring new galleries.

It is clear from these beautiful exhibits that the ROM is committed to maintaining itself as one of Canada’s premier cultural landmarks, and one of our country’s most important field-research institutions.

I would also like to thank Premier McGuinty and his wife for their generous hospitality this evening, and the Premier’s kindness today.

Premier, I have a great deal of admiration for your commitment to public service, and your dedication to this province, and its people.

I know, Mr. McGuinty, that you are a great supporter of the Francophone community here in Ontario, that in fact your mother is Franco-Ontarian. I know that it is an attachment that has also grown in part from your local neighbourhood, in Alta Vista and Canterbury in Ottawa, which is home to a vibrant French-speaking community.

Indeed, the French-speaking community in Ontario is the most important group outside of Quebec. Citizens concentrated in Eastern Ontario, the northern part of the province, the city of Windsor and elsewhere, communities that helped lay the foundation for this vibrant province.

Premier, I very much enjoyed our conversation this morning, and I hope that we have the opportunity to work together on issues that are close to both of our hearts.

Ladies and gentlemen, I must tell you that this has been an exhilarating day. It was fascinating to meet with MPPs, senior government officials, Justices and many Ontarians earlier today at Queen’s Park.

For me, there is no better way to learn about a place than to speak to its citizens. And what emerged in my discussions is that there is so much diversity in this province—not only regarding ethnocultural origin, but also in terms of geography, and regional attachments.

Instead of the monolithic “Ontario” we often hear about in the media, there are really many different aspects to this province.

At the same time, I get a sense from my discussions today that there is also a pride in being a part of this great province—it is a discreet pride, but very strong.

Later in the day, I had the honour of participating in a roundtable discussion with front-line staff working to deal with the serious issue of violence against women. These people are doing so much with so little, helping women and children in deplorable situations. They are the unsung heroes of our society, and I salute them for the invaluable work they are doing.

I also had the pleasure to visit the Evergreen Centre for Street Youth. I was very impressed by my discussions with the young people I met, who shared with me their concerns and their aspirations.

In the days and weeks ahead, both here in Toronto and across the country, I look forward to many more such meetings, on numerous issues, with Canadian men and women, children and youth, people of all ages and all walks of life.

There is a great deal we can teach each other, and I look forward to learning from the experiences of my fellow citizens.

As governor general, I am determined to reach out and foster a dialogue with Canadians, and among Canadians, to give voice to people’s concerns, and their ideas for our shared future.

It is my firm intention to help break down those solitudes that still divide us, and forge new bonds of friendship, of fellowship, and of co-operation.

I thank you all for the kindness you have shown me, and I would like to raise my glass to what I hope will be a very productive collaboration in the years to come.