Rideau Hall, Wednesday, September 17, 2014

It gives my wife, Sharon, and I great pleasure to welcome Your Royal Highnesses to Rideau Hall.

We are delighted to see you and the entire Danish delegation here in Canada.

I understand that you have just been across the river in Gatineau, visiting the Canadian Museum of History; please allow me to now share something of the history of this location, and of Rideau Hall.

This residence and the city of Ottawa are both historic gathering places for all Canadians. Ottawa takes its name from the Algonquin term “adawe,” which means “to trade.” This should give you an idea of the long-standing significance of our geographical location, here at the confluence of three great rivers: the Ottawa, the Gatineau and the Rideau.

As for Rideau Hall, it has been the home and workplace of every governor general since 1867, the year of Canada’s birth. For almost 150 years, Canadians and their friends and partners from around world have gathered here to share ideas and dreams, and to discuss their role in the world.

And this is what brings us together today.

It is so important that we take the time to meet face-to-face like this, to celebrate and strengthen the relationship between Canada and Denmark.

I was delighted to note the diversity of the programme for your visit here in Canada. You will meet with Canadians involved in health care, education, business, culture and sports.

One stop on your itinerary will be the MaRS Discovery District, an innovation incubator located in downtown Toronto. I have visited this dynamic cluster of researchers and innovators myself many times, and I am certain you will find the work being done there most fascinating.

You will also be meeting with Canadian experts working in brain research and mental health. This is an area of particular interest for me and Sharon, and I am encouraged by the attention you are also paying to this urgent health issue.

Lastly, you will get a chance to see the brilliance of Canadian art during your gallery visits in Toronto. The magnificent collection housed here at Rideau Hall is a testament to the calibre of work being done in this country.

Canada and Denmark have so much to offer one another in a variety of sectors. Enhanced trade and investment ties, for example, are areas of common interest, and Canada thanks Denmark for its continued support in solidifying and expanding our economic relationship.

Increasing our mutual prosperity and well-being can also be achieved through collaboration in science, technology and innovation, which is why I am so delighted to a number of Canadian researchers and innovators to today’s discussion.

I am certain that we can all learn a great deal from one another in the science, technology and innovation fields. I would therefore like to encourage everyone to make the most of today’s gathering to begin meaningful exchanges and to discover areas in which we can work together.

Together, Canada and Denmark can foster greater collaboration to build smarter, more caring societies. Our countries have a great deal in common, so let us work together to strengthen our relationship, to the mutual benefit of our peoples.

Now, let us raise a glass to friendship and to the ties that bind our two countries. Thank you for coming to Canada. I wish you a wonderful visit.