The Citadelle, Friday, October 4, 2013

Sharon and I would like to welcome all of you to the Citadelle for this presentation of honours.

Today, we recognize service, leadership, bravery and caring, all in the context of making Canada a better and stronger place to live.

All of you—recipients of Bravery and Meritorious Service decorations, of the Caring Canadian Award and the Northern Medal—come from diverse backgrounds. You have differing skills and talents and are being honoured here for a variety of reasons. Some of you for a lifetime of service, others for a single moment of heroism.

Today, it is that very diversity that unites you.

Canada was built from the ground up, by people living and working together in specific circumstances, cultures and environments. Indeed, Canada is nothing if not a bold experiment in diversity.  

And just as Canada’s history holds a plethora of multicultural traditions that add to the richness of our society, you have all added to the well-being of our nation in different ways.

In other words, it is your differences—particularly your differing approaches to problem solving and nation building—that bring you together.

What’s more, you have given back so much to the country you call home. Your actions—at home or overseas, knowingly or not—have made this a smarter, more caring nation.  

But your work is not yet done.

I know that you have every intention of continuing your work with the disenfranchised, of reinforcing your sense of duty and service to others, of building our smart and caring nation in myriad ways. It is something I have seen time and again from Canadians: their willingness to take their compassion and leadership one step further, to help our country succeed on the world stage or simply to help one person in the community.

I have always said that in a democracy, everyone has something to give, no matter how small.

How you give back and what you give back are up to you, but your efforts are now a matter of public record. For that reason, I urge you to share your story with others, to motivate your colleagues, friends and family to take up a cause near and dear to them or help someone in need.

I recently opened a travelling exhibit titled It’s an Honour!, which is crisscrossing Canada, visiting many communities and teaching people about our honours system, including the awards that we will be presenting today, and featuring many of the recipients. In this way, I hope that Canadians will be inspired to do good in their own way, as you have done, to make this a stronger Canada.

As I approach my third anniversary as governor general, I look back on all of the Canadians I have met who are transforming our country. I am proud to have honoured them, just as I am proud to honour all of you here today.

Congratulations on receiving these awards and decorations, and thank you for all that you do for this nation.