Rideau Hall, Friday, May 4, 2012

Welcome to Rideau Hall. Sharon, and I are so delighted to honour the work of some of Canada’s finest performing artists.

This year’s ceremony also represents an important milestone for the arts in this country, as it marks the 20th anniversary of the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards.

I would like to acknowledge the late Right Honourable Ramon John Hnatyshyn and his wife, Gerda—whom we are delighted to have here with us tonight—for affirming the role of the performing arts in Canada by establishing these awards two decades ago.

Many Canadians—and indeed many of my predecessors as governor general—share our belief in the power of performance. In fact, Lord and Lady Dufferin started a theatrical tradition at Rideau Hall in the 1870s, when they began staging plays in this very room.

These plays were hugely popular, and gave a major boost to the fledgling theatre scene in Canada’s early days.  

I too believe the performing arts hold a special place in our society.  Art is a form of knowledge, and performance has a unique power to engage our imaginations and to inspire us.

Each of you, the recipients of this year’s Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards, has devoted your life to provoking our emotions and stimulating our minds through performance. You have engaged creatively with our changing world, and you have shared the results through theatre, dance, film, broadcasting and music.

Your creativity, passion, humour and generosity have entertained and inspired audiences and artists here in Canada and around the world. Your work spans generations and transcends borders, and you have contributed to Canada’s sense of itself as an arts nation at home in the world.

Audiences worldwide know Canada by the brilliance of our performing artists. And like these awards, they recognize excellence when they see it. 

The recipients of these awards over the past two decades collectively represent the wonderful depth and diversity of the performing arts in Canada. I wish to thank past laureates, some of whom are here with us tonight, and I also want to offer my gratitude to past governors general and their spouses for encouraging excellence.

Allow me to close by congratulating this year’s recipients on their remarkable artistic achievements. We are truly fortunate to have such talented and dedicated artists, mentors and supporters of the arts in our midst.

On behalf of all Canadians, thank you for your hard work and generosity of spirit.

Bravo and encore to you all!