Visit to Greater Toronto Area

The Governor General delivered a keynote address on coordinating community efforts in advance of the arrival of Syrian refugees: " Canada’s diverse, tolerant, multicultural society is one of our great strengths and perhaps our greatest contribution to the world. That’s why it’s so important that we succeed in welcoming refugees.That, and simply because it’s the right thing to do."

During his visit to the Greater Toronto Area on December 15, 2015, His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, delivered a speech on the potential of machine learning at the Conference on Machine Learning and the Market for Intelligence. The event was hosted by the Creative Destruction Lab at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management.

The objective of the Conference is to examine the opportunities and challenges that will result from advances in machine intelligence for entrepreneurs, investors, and corporations—and the implications for society—over the next five years.

Following his speech, the Governor General attended a panel discussion on Machine Intelligence Ventures and Vision Statements.

Later in the evening, His Excellency attended a dinner hosted by the Oakville Community Foundation, presented in partnership with the Oakville Chamber of Commerce, on welcoming Syrian refugees to Canada.

His Excellency had the opportunity to meet with former Mayor of Mississauga Mrs. Hazel McCallion.

During the event, the national anthem was performed by students from the Sheridan Public School "ArtHouse" music program.

Following their performance, His Excellency joined them on stage for a group photo.