City of Québec, Quebec, Wednesday, February 13, 2013

It is wonderful to be here to help celebrate this exciting new partnership in caring.

The essence of philanthropy is the love of humankind, and the Institut Mallet is a leader in this community in helping people to show their compassion and their generosity towards others. It is also a wonderful example of the power of collaboration, and I would like to thank the Soeurs de la Charité de Québec, the City of Québec, the province of Québec and the Université Laval for showing such leadership and caring.

This partnership is made possible in particular through the generosity of the Soeurs de la Charité de Québec, who have offered part of this wonderful building for the Institut’s workspace. Maison Mère-Mallet has been a caring place for more than a century-and-a-half, reminding us of the rich tradition of giving to which we are heirs in this country.

In fact, your remarkable history also puts me in mind of another important milestone, this one in our near future: the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017.

As you may know, philanthropy is one of my pillars as governor general, and I have been challenging Canadians to find ways to build a smarter, more caring nation in honour of our 150th birthday. I know that each of you shares the desire to help those in need and to bring about a fairer, more just world.

Indeed, that is why you are here today.

Everywhere I go in this country, I see evidence of this impulse to lend a hand and help others, in ways both generous and practical.

I am particularly inspired by your leadership and by the rich history of this community, which offers so many examples of people working together for a better country.

It is so important that we do so, because the need in our communities is real—and it is growing, putting at risk the vulnerable among us.

And ultimately, this imbalance threatens one of our most cherished values as Canadians: equality of opportunity.

Prior to this event, I had the privilege of meeting with board members of the Institut Mallet. I was deeply impressed by their commitment to innovation and to broad collaboration in the field of giving.

Together, you aspire to set an example for all Canadians to follow.

As leaders in the study and practice of philanthropy, you know that success hinges upon our ability to work together in a spirit of partnership. Initiatives such as this one and the upcoming Sommet sur la culture de la philanthropie can lead to new ideas and approaches to giving, harnessing our creativity and energy in common cause.

With keener minds, kinder hearts and creative souls, I believe we can accomplish wonderful things together.

Thank you for dedicating yourselves to the greater good. I wish you the very best in your important work.