Sault Ste. Marie, Thursday, August 30, 2012

What a pleasure it is to be here for the dedication of this wonderful building.

As you know, Sault Ste. Marie is my hometown, and I am truly delighted to see this kind of convergence taking place at Algoma University.

I have long felt that one of the great strengths of smaller cities and institutions is their ability to bring together diverse talents in an intimate setting. The spirit of collaboration and innovation that exists in Sault Ste. Marie will only be strengthened by this centre.

Throughout my career in the academic world, and now as governor general, I have observed time and again the remarkable things that can happen when people join forces in common cause.

Invariably, such breakthroughs are the result of a number of key factors, including the ability and willingness to:

1. think big, see new horizons and be ambitious in setting goals;

2. be specific in choosing a particular sphere of study, without losing sight of its relevance to the big picture;

3. relentlessly share and communicate your needs and discoveries with partners;

And lastly, I want to highlight the importance of having the courage and the desire to lead. This building is the result of such leadership, and I would like to commend all who worked together to transform the dream into reality.   

It is impossible to overstate the significance of science and technology in our world today. The complex, interrelated challenges of the 21^st century demand that we work together, harnessing knowledge to wisdom in the building of smarter, more caring communities.

Congratulations on this wonderful achievement. I look forward to great things to come.

Thank you.