Yellowknife, NWT, Thursday, December 8, 2011

It is my honour to be here on my first official visit to the Northwest Territories to present the Massey Medal to Mr. David Livingstone.

Let me share with you a story I read in Champlain’s Dream, by David Fischer. In France, at the beginning of the 1600s, Henri IV was fascinated with geography. He founded museums, sponsored the creation of a detailed atlas, and created a centre of study to develop new skills that would be useful in exploration and discovery.

One of those who worked at this centre was a man named Samuel de Champlain, who was described as géographe du roi, a geographer to the King. But to Champlain, this role was more than a job or a career, it was a calling.

Like Henri IV, Champlain was enchanted with the idea of the New World and yearned to go there. He gathered information from whatever source he could, and started to get an idea of this place he would soon call home. He got his opportunity to come to what would later be known as Canada, becoming our first governor in all but name. The rest, as they say, is history.

The Massey Medal, administered by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, is awarded to an individual to recognize outstanding career achievement in the exploration, development or description of the geography of Canada.

As we can see from the example of Champlain, geography is very important to our history.

Here in the North, the land is a sacred part of the life of every person. Mr. Livingstone knows this and has devoted his career to helping those in the North preserve their land while still being able to utilize the rich natural resources.

His dedication to serve and his love of the Northwest Territories have shown that although he was not born here, he is a true northerner. Like Champlain, he came here in pursuit of a dream, one that has taken him across this great land and earned him so much praise.

I am honoured to present this year’s Massey Medal to David Livingstone.