Ottawa, Friday, April 20, 2007

It is wonderful to join you all today for the presentation of these very prestigious awards.

Since being launched in 1956, the Awards have made a difference in the lives of some 3 million young people who have taken up the challenge. Today, 121 countries around the world operate the Award program.

Here in Canada, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Young Canadians Program has operated since 1963. In that time, over 150,000 people from across the country have taken part.

They discovered, as you have, what makes this Award unique.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award recognizes personal development … personal growth.

Consider the key principles that guide this program.

It is non-competitive. Participants must make a free choice to enter the program, and commit their personal time to accomplish their goals.

Young people set their own goals and design their own programs, and they may take as long as they wish to complete an Award.

As recipients of the Gold Award, you have adhered to these principles. You have achieved your goals in all five required sections.

To do that took dedication, persistence, imagination, a sense of responsibility, and the ability to manage your time efficiently and effectively.

I have no doubt that you have all gained a great deal from your experiences. But perhaps most importantly you have learned a valuable lesson about yourselves, and your capabilities.

That lesson is a precious gift, and is one that you will never lose.

Years from now, when the memory of this special day has faded, your achievement will remain undiminished. You will know that you set ambitious goals for yourself, invested the time and effort needed to reach them, and, in the end, you were successful.

I have no doubt that your parents and Program Leaders played a critical role in your success, and they deserve to be recognized. But ultimately, success or failure depended on you. And you made it!

No one can ever take that away from you. Not everyone is so fortunate.

The achievement we recognize today can be the cornerstone of a lifetime of similar accomplishments. But that will be up to you.

If the experience of working toward a Gold Award has taught you anything, it is certainly that your destiny lies in your own hands.

That thought fills me with optimism, especially when I reflect on what you have achieved already.

Let me share with you a conversation I had with the Duke of Edinburgh himself. He told me how optimistic he is about youth. He feels education and a sense of responsibility are essential to personal development and collective growth.

And so, on this happy occasion, I am pleased to join your family and friends in congratulating each of you on this wonderful achievement.

You have shown your country and your community what you can do. Now the challenge is to go out and climb to new summits.

I wish you every success as you set off in pursuit of new goals.

Thank you.