State Visit to Israel - Day 1

Founded in the late 1960s at the National Council of Jewish Women Research Institute for Innovation in Education, at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, HIPPY Israel is the most veteran of all HIPPY programs.

The Governor General and Chemi Peres, son of Shimon Peres, paused for reflection in front of the tomb of Shimon Peres.

The Governor General met with His Excellency Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of the State of Israel, to discuss key areas of Israel-Canada engagement.

The Governor General witnessed the signing of two agreements by the Canadian company Mitacs. The first was with the Canada-Israel Industrial Research and Development Foundation (CIIRDF) for industrial research collaboration between Canadian and Israeli companies via Mitacs’ Globalink Partnerships Awards, in the areas of cybersecurity, smart grid, big data, mobile health technologies, water resource management and neuroscience.

The second agreement was with the Israel’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Space (MOST) and establishes an academic research collaboration between Canadian and Israeli universities through the Globalink Research Award program.

The Governor General was the first Canadian to plant an olive tree as a symbol of peace in the Grove of Nations, home to many trees that have been planted by heads of State from all over the world.

The Grove of Nations is an integral part of the “Olive Tree Route” project in Israel.

Their Excellencies and the Canadian delegation then visited Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Rememberance Centre.

As the Jewish people’s living memorial to the Holocaust, Yad Vashem safeguards the memory of the past and imparts its meaning for future generations.

Established in 1953 as the world centre for documentation, research, education and commemoration of the Holocaust, Yad Vashem is today a dynamic and vital place of intergenerational and international encounter.

The Governor General went to Mont Herzel were he laid wreaths on the tombs of Theodor Hertzl and Shimon Peres, two of the State of Israel’s founders. Mount Herzl (or Har ha-Zikaron, the “Mount of Remembrance”), is the site of Israel’s national cemetery where presidents, prime ministers, speakers of the Knesset and other Israeli dignitaries are laid to rest. It is also the site of such national celebrations as the official State ceremony marking the conclusion of Memorial Day for Israel’s fallen and the commencement of Israel’s Independence Day festivities.

Upon his arrival, he laid a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Today, HIPPY Israel and its sibling early childhood programs serve some 3 000 families among Israel’s native-born Arab and Jewish communities and immigrant communities in Ethiopia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

As honorary patron of HIPPY Canada, Her Excellency met with Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) Israel leaders and mothers to discuss the services offered by the organization.

Their Excellencies were officially welcomed by His Excellency Reuven Rivlin, President of Israel, and by First Lady Nechama Rivlin, on November 2, 2016.

During the ceremony, the Governor General received military honours and inspected a guard of honour.

Following the welcoming ceremony, the Governor General and the President delivered statements to members of the media.In a world of instant, digital communication, face-to-face visits like this are so important. The Canada-Israel relationship is exceptional. It has economic, cultural, scientific, political and strategic dimensions, all of which are grounded in our people-to-people ties," said the Governor General.

The statements were followed by a meeting between the Governor General, members of the Canadian delegation, President Rivlin and representatives of the Israeli government to discuss topics of interest shared by Canada and Israel.

To mark their visit, Their Excellencies signed the guest book.

The Governor General visited the Israeli Legislative Assembly.

He then met with His Excellency Yuli-Yoel Edelstein, Speaker of the Knesset.

At Yad Vashem, Their Excellencies laid a wreath on a stone in front of the Eternal Flame to remember those who lost their lives.