Vancouver, Wednesday, January 23, 2008

My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I are delighted to be able to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of the Order of Canada with you during our visit to Vancouver.

One of my goals for this anniversary year is to highlight the Order of Canada, its members and their accomplishments. Canada’s honours system deserves to be recognized.

People often ask me and Jean‑Daniel where we got the beautiful pins we wear, this magnificent snowflake. 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.

It is very important that Canadians understand the nature and significance of our country’s Honours System, which recognizes meritorious acts of many different kinds.

Its history is worthy of great interest.

As many of you know, honours in this country have a complicated and controversial background. Even the Order of Canada had to overcome numerous obstacles before it saw the light of day.

For example, in the course of its evolution, even its name wasn’t certain, with possibilities like the Order of the Beaver, the Order of St. Lawrence and the Royal Elizabethan Order being suggested at different times!

As well, when the final proposal for the new Order went to Cabinet in 1966, it was approved with only one level, not the three we know today. The idea of having three levels was rejected by some cabinet ministers, who thought the idea was elitist.

Today we know better. We know that it is not elitist to celebrate excellence. And 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.

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.

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.

It is the people who are this country’s greatest strength.

Throughout my stay here in Vancouver, I will be meeting with those people who are changing our society for the better.

Women and men who are involved in their communities, who are answering the call for help from those most in need.

Mayors who are looking for ways to put an end to poverty and homelessness, still so rampant in our neighbourhoods, our cities and our regions.

Francophones who are searching for their place in the sun and hoping to inspire a love of their language and culture in others.

And, of course, you, the members of the Order of Canada gathered here this evening.

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 to mark this important anniversary: the 40^th anniversary of the Order of Canada.