April 23, 2026

Check against delivery

I am pleased to welcome you to Rideau Hall, which is situated on the traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation.

I am happy to stand with you during National Volunteer Week to celebrate your service and generosity.

Volunteerism is one of Canada’s quiet superpowers.

I grew up in a small community in the Arctic. I learned early on that strong families and communities are built by people willing to give their time to lift those around them.

Across this country, millions of people give their time, skills and compassion to help others—and today, we celebrate you.

You are mentors to youth and students.

You are advocates and caregivers for veterans and seniors.

You connect vulnerable people with vital resources: families facing food insecurity, athletes living with disabilities, patients confronting cancer or communities responding to emergencies.

You help keep diverse cultures and local history alive.

And you are rays of hope for refugees in Canada and for populations in need.

Volunteerism holds us together.

We live in a fast‑paced world with countless demands on our time—a world that, as anyone watching the news today would note, is too often marked by conflict and division.

That makes your choice to give your time and your care all the more meaningful. For that, we are deeply grateful.

That generosity can begin at a very young age.

I was moved to learn that one of the recipients we are honouring today, D’arci Sutton, from Spruce Grove, Alberta, began supporting people living with diabetes when she was just eight years old.

It is that generosity of spirit—shown early or later in life—that we celebrate today with the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers.

Congratulations on this well-deserved honour.