Rideau Hall, Tuesday, May 13, 2014

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to Rideau Hall, the home of the people of Canada.

Of course, my wife, Sharon, and I always want Rideau Hall to look its very best for our guests, but this is particularly true on an evening such as this, when we have so many architects and designers in the house! 

We feel very privileged to have this opportunity to celebrate some of our country’s finest architectural talents.

I am often inspired by my predecessors, including Vincent Massey—the first Canadian-born governor general—who once called architecture, “the one inescapable art.”

That is certainly true, especially so in our increasingly urbanized society.

The public and private spaces we occupy are more than merely functional. They have a profound, sometimes unrecognized, effect on us.

Take this Ballroom, for example.

Built in 1872, with its high ceilings, its huge arched windows and doors, the proscenium arch at the back of the room—each of these features contributes to a sense of occasion, of grandeur, one befitting the State and ceremonial events that take place here.

I never fail to be awed when I enter this room. Indeed, it is no coincidence that we celebrate the very best in Canadian architecture in this space.

Each of today’s laureates fully grasps how architecture impacts our lives.

You have dedicated yourselves to creating truly beautiful and functional buildings and spaces. You understand that the question of architecture is not one of “form or function,” but rather “form and function.”

Working as individuals and as teams, you have shown exceptional creativity, sensitivity and vision. Your designs are cutting edge, while remaining compatible with their surroundings and existing landscapes.

It is no exaggeration to say that your projects have strengthened the fabric of the communities in which they have been built. In some cases, they are even contributing to the economic revitalization of entire neighbourhoods—an achievement that speaks to the profound effect that architecture can have.

The great Victorian art critic John Ruskin famously said, “When we build, let us think that we build for ever.”

This is a lofty aim, to be sure, and yet, if not for the architects who approach their work with the utmost dedication and seriousness, how impoverished would we be? Not far from here, on Parliament Hill, the strength of this country’s great institutions—Parliament, the Supreme Court, Library and Archives Canada—is reflected in the soaring strength and elegance of the buildings that house them.

Similarly, the communities in which you work have been made stronger and more confident by your architectural contributions.

In a democratic society, everyone has something to give. The smarter, more caring Canada we desire will be achieved through the combined efforts of many professions—in fields ranging from architecture to zoology.

I would like to give a special thank you to the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada and the Canada Council for the Arts for their unwavering support of architectural excellence in this country.

And to our laureates, thank you for your continued dedication, and for your extraordinary vision and skill.

Congratulations on this richly deserved honour.

Thank you.