Sept-Îles, Quebec, Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Good afternoon, and thank you everyone for your warm greetings.

My wife, Sharon, and I are delighted to be here in Sept-Îles for a visit which also coincides with Maritime Week, and for this celebration of the 25th anniversary of the HMCS Jolliet naval reserve division.

Let me say how impressed I am with the events that have been planned for this festive week. Your comportment and your dedication are truly admirable, and I am proud to serve as your commander-in-chief.

I would also like to say how nice it is to see a former member of the Rideau Hall family working in such close co-operation with this wonderful community. Some of you may know that before arriving here Commander François Levesque served as an aide-de-camp to my predecessor, the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean.

I am not one bit surprised to see Commander Levesque having such a positive impact on this reserve division and this community, just as he contributed to the success of Madame Jean’s mandate as governor general.

Such dedication would appear to be the norm around here. This is also no surprise, given the HMCS Jolliet’s motto: OMNIA PERRUMPIMUS, which colloquially means: “Nothing can stop us.”

That is a bold statement, but it accurately reflects this naval reserve division’s commitment to service and to fulfilling its critical role along the North Shore and beyond.

The impressive monument that we are inaugurating today is a symbol of the contribution made to this region by naval reservists. That the monument takes the form of an anchor is highly appropriate, not just for its maritime theme but because this reserve has served as an important anchor of this region for the past quarter-century.

Members of HMCS Jolliet have participated in dozens of significant missions through this province and internationally.

You have assisted with relief efforts following natural disasters such as severe flooding and ice storms, and you have provided emergency help to your neighbours through daring search and rescue missions.

Your members have also served Canada through overseas missions, including in the Persian Gulf and the Caribbean.

You are held in high esteem by the people of Sept-Îles and the North Shore. Indeed, this monument itself is the result of a partnership between the reserve, the Port of Sept-Îles and the Town of Sept-Îles.

Such collaboration is a wonderful tribute to the sense of community that animates the HMCS Jolliet naval reserve division.

So I say thank you to the members of the reserve, the town and the port of Sept-Îles, for working together so collaboratively for the well-being of the people of this region.

And to the volunteers and full-time members of HMCS Jolliet: happy 25th anniversary!

Thank you for your strength and creativity, and for your service to Canada.