Youth Dialogue at École secondaire Vanier

City of Québec, Thursday, September 17, 2009

I have come here today because I believe in you, our country’s youth.

Because I believe in your ability to take action and change things for the better.

Because you, the students of École Vanier, École Boudreau and École Jean-de-Brébeuf, are an example of success, and I wanted to applaud your efforts.

You know, I, like many of you or your parents, am a Canadian who spent her childhood elsewhere.

I was born in Haiti, which my family had to flee to escape a regime of terror.

I know what it means to start a new life in another country, to start over from nothing.

It is a life changing experience.

But for all that, hope has never left me.

It is a hope rooted in the profound conviction that nothing is ever final, as long as we are alive and aspire to freedom and happiness.

It is a hope that you, our youth, rekindle in me every time you dream of possibilities and do whatever it takes to make them a reality.

We often say that the future depends on you, the youth of our communities, which is quite true.

But what about the present? Is it not as important as the future?

Well, I believe that the present depends on your well-being and your desire to discover and explore the world in all its dimensions.

That is what you have here, at school. The opportunity to open yourselves to the best the world has to offer.

My grandmother always said, “Education, my children, is the key to freedom.” And she was right.

It is the freedom to dream, to reach our full potential and utilize our talents.

The freedom to choose your destiny rather than simply accept whatever comes your way.

I believe it is important to give you every means and opportunity to thrive.

That is why, from the moment I took office as governor general of Canada, I wanted to make you my priority.

I have had the privilege of travelling from coast to coast to coast.

I have sought out young Canadians just like you. In your neighbourhoods, your communities, where you live. I have listened to you, reflected with you, collaborated with you on your projects.

I have been impressed by the creative ways that you have found to mobilize the people around you to make the world a better place.

You have solutions to propose to the major challenges we are facing. Solutions that, oftentimes, we had never even considered and that would bring about lasting change.

Unfortunately, many young people have told me that they feel as though they are not being taken seriously, as though they have nowhere in which to express themselves, make their opinions heard and have their perspectives taken into account with respect to the issues that affect them.

That is what inspired the idea to hold youth dialogues, which give youth a forum in which to express themselves, particularly those who tend not to speak up.

You have plenty of ideas, courage and daring.

I want you to tell me about your dreams and aspirations.

I want you to explain to me the challenges you are facing.

I want you to share your solutions with me to improve your school, your community, the world around you.

I’m here to listen.