Calgary, Friday, January 18, 2008

It is a pleasure for my husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I to be here with you.

This evening, within these walls of the Glenbow Museum, we find ourselves immersed in the universe of Emily Carr, a woman and an artist of great depth who uncovered the beauty of our wild spaces and infused them with her own spirit.

Emily Carr said that she wanted to paint in a “big” way, one that fit in with the “expansiveness of Canada.” The expansiveness not only of its nature and landscapes, but also of its people.

This expansiveness, which Emily Carr’s work has captured and which surrounds us here tonight, is also present in each of you, the members of the Order of Canada.

Created 40 years ago, the Order of Canada is intended to celebrate the generosity of spirit that you have demonstrated throughout your lives and that is the backbone of our society.

Your actions, ideas, daring and accomplishments inspire us, make us proud, and make us realize that we really can make a difference and that we must take chances. There is nothing worse than indifference or failing to act.

You who have received the Order of Canada are role models in every field imaginable.

Your actions, ideas, daring and accomplishments inspire us, make us proud, and make us realize that we really can make a difference and that we must take chances. There is nothing worse than indifference or failing to act.

You are a veritable treasure trove of knowledge and experiences that benefit the entire country, especially our young people, who want only to follow in your footsteps.

Jean-Daniel and I firmly believe that we have to build bridges between the generations so that they can enrich one another. We must build strong and constructive ties between the members of the Order and the youth of this country.

I dream of a mentoring program that would unite young people and members of the Order in a spirit of reciprocity, one in which the generations can learn from one another and grow together by creating relationships of trust and sharing.

We are, in fact, working on that right now and will be creating mentoring ties between twenty young people and twenty members of the Order of Canada by the end of the year.

We know that such a program is possible and feasible because there are already a number of members who are mentoring our country’s youth.

As I mentioned during the 100^th investiture ceremony on October 26, I also dream of a foundation, a foundation created and run by members of the Order, a foundation that provides support programs for young people and runs projects that promote the Order and its members.

I hope we can all work together on this. If even one of you were to take the initiative, this dream could easily become a reality. It would be an amazing legacy for the members of the Order of Canada.

I would like us to work together to raise awareness about the Order of Canada and incite more nominations.

Let us be the exploring minds who ensure that more of our fellow Canadians are recognized for their accomplishments.

I’m counting on you.

People often ask me and Jean‑Daniel where we got the beautiful pins we wear, this magnificent snowflake. I’m sure that must happen to you, too. It always makes me smile. It is a wonderful opportunity to tell people that it is the Order of Canada and to explain what that means.

When we bestow the Order of Canada on the women and men of this country, we’re not saying “you’re better than the rest of us.” What we’re really saying is “you reflect the best in all of us.”

You represent a sense of commitment, an ability to excel, caring for others, passion, a desire to dig deeper, and a willingness to see things through and explore knowledge and life in all its dimensions.

You are the strength of this country. During my stay here in Calgary, I have met with extraordinary citizens who are helping to make our communities more just and more humane.

Just earlier today, I had the privilege of joining Pat Nixon and his team, as well as support organizations, front-line workers, provincial and city representatives, and business leaders at the Mustard Seed Street Ministry. There, we participated in a fascinating discussion about the ways in which Calgarians are tackling homelessness.

As they told me about the impact of various programs and about their incredible ability to work together, I quickly understood why they are so convinced that homelessness can be eradicated. They are yet another example of the passion and devotion that animates so many people across our wonderful country.

People like Eve Elizabeth Keates, Ellen Morrell and Dory Rossiter, the women to whom I presented the Caring Canadian Award and who are shining examples of commitment to their communities.

People like the artists who perform during the High Performance Rodeo, who enrich our lives with a myriad of points of view.

And, of course, people like you, the members of the Order of Canada.

You are the backbone of our society. You ensure that our country stands tall, on a solid foundation.

Tonight, we are celebrating 40 years of excellence, expertise, ingenuity, creativity and altruism.

Let us rejoice in all that has been accomplished and ensure that future generations follow in these footsteps.

Thank you for accepting our invitation. Jean-Daniel and I are delighted to take advantage of our trip to Calgary to mark this important anniversary with you: the 40^th anniversary of the Order of Canada.