Halifax, Tuesday, February 13, 2007

My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I are thrilled to be here, in Nova Scotia, with people whose generosity, compassion and courage inspire hope in so many of their fellow Canadians.

“Breaking down solitudes” is the motto I have chosen for my mandate. It is the image of Canada I want for all of us, and for generations to come.

By solitudes—and yes, there are more than one—I mean those that isolate too many of our sisters and brothers because of their age, race, language, ancestry, religion, gender, or abilities.

It is my sincere belief that the narrow “every man for himself” attitude—which marks people by excluding them, or pushes them to despair—has no place in Canada.

Not in a country that has been built, and continues to be built, on the values of respect, sharing and tolerance.

As governor general of Canada, I want to give those who are rarely heard the chance to speak: young people, those who are excluded, the voiceless.

And to recognize those who work so hard to “break the solitudes” around them and find countless ways to promote inclusion rather than exclusion, dialogue rather than indifference, openness rather than withdrawal.

In my travels across this vast country of ours, from east to west, south to north, I have met women, men and young people who dare to dream big and are determined to work for the greater good.

We are honoured today to be among six such exceptional people, people who represent the true wealth of our nation.

It is with great pleasure that I introduce them and thank them on behalf of the people of Canada.

To George Gabriel Aucoin, from Cheticamp, who, after a long career in the Canadian Forces, now spends his time helping the less fortunate in his community, I say thank you.

To Arthur “Sonny” Foster, from Amherst, who has shared his passion for baseball with so many young girls and boys and told them about the devastating effects of drug use, I say thank you.

To Gloria Goodwin, from Yarmouth, whose innovative ideas have greatly helped a number of community organizations, especially those dedicated to literacy, I say thank you.

To Laura Middleton, from Mount Uniacke, for her tireless work with disadvantaged children and families, I say thank you.

To Cecil R. Small, from Amherst, who has been promoting recreational sports, like baseball, in his community for over 50 years, as well as drug awareness campaigns, I say thank you.

To Doreen Joy Tillotson, from Wolfville, for her outstanding efforts to improve the social housing situation in her community and her commitment to housebound persons, I say thank you.

Thank you to each and every one of you, who remind us with such conviction that our hearts should be as big and boundless as Canada itself!