Sault Ste. Marie, Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Thank you for your warm welcome, and for this wonderful tribute. It truly is a great honour for me and Sharon to be recognized in this way on the 100th anniversary of our hometown.

This is a tremendous moment in time. It was 100 years ago to the day that my predecessor as governor general, Prince Arthur, the Duke of Connaught, visited Sault Ste. Marie to take part in the incorporation of the city.

In fact, a banquet was held in honour of the Duke and his daughter, Princess Patricia, at the Algonquin Hotel—just a stone’s throw from the Johnston home on Woodward Avenue, and not much farther from Sharon’s family home on Summit Avenue.

This city has a rich and proud history, and on a personal level, it is full of meaning and happy memories for me and Sharon and our five daughters, who spent their summer holidays here.

Anyone who returns to the place in which they grew up knows how the stories come flooding back. There are many memories for us in Sault Ste. Marie, and they are very precious to us.

This community made us who we are, and we will always be thankful for having grown up here.

The centennial anniversary we celebrate today likewise provides us with an opportunity to revisit the past, but together, as a community. Much in this city has changed over the course of the past 100 years, so allow me to highlight just one enduring and significant factor: your proud and generous community spirit.

That sense of community is what brings us together today, and it is the reason for the continuing vitality of Sault Ste. Marie. Our visit has already brought us into contact with some wonderful people who are doing great things for this city and this region, and we are looking forward to hearing more about your projects and plans over the next few days.

As governor general, I am privileged to be able to meet with Canadians in their communities and to speak directly about the challenges and opportunities we face. In so many ways, Sault Ste. Marie is a crucial hub of northern Ontario, and the success of this city is of great importance to Canada’s overall well-being.

You may be aware that Sharon and I have dedicated our mandate to fostering a smarter, more caring nation. In doing so, we have placed particular emphasis on supporting learning and innovation, volunteerism and philanthropy, and families and children. And I know that you, the people of Sault Ste. Marie, are working hard to improve our well-being in each of these spheres.

Like this anniversary, your achievements and hard work deserve to be celebrated. At heart, this centennial year is a testament to your successes and to those of your predecessors in building this great community.

I am delighted to see that—100 years on— Sault Ste. Marie continues to shine as a unique and progressive city. Your contributions are vital to the smarter, more caring Canada of which we dream, and that is why I am so proud to share my roots in this community wherever I go.

Thank you again for your warm welcome home. I wish you a wonderful celebration.