November 25, 2025
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It is an honour and a privilege to speak to you today on behalf of Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada.
We are gathered on the traditional territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe peoples, who have cared for these lands for thousands of years.
Today, we extend a heartfelt welcome to our new heads of mission from Hungary, Slovenia, Bangladesh, Ghana, Lebanon, and Brunei Darussalam.
You are stepping into your roles at a transformative moment for diplomacy.
In recent years, the world has witnessed rising tensions that strain economies and challenge stability.
Many communities are enduring the repercussions of escalating conflicts.
This moment calls for bold leadership and unwavering co-operation.
But above all, it calls for listening to and understanding one another.
This is not a new idea.
You may recall Lester B. Pearson—a Canadian statesman and Nobel Peace Prize laureate—who forged the concept of peacekeeping in the fragile post-war world of the 1950s.
He asked: “How can there be peace without people understanding each other; and how can this be if they don’t know each other?”
This question remains highly relevant today.
So, Excellencies, today I invite you to build on what binds our nations together.
Our peoples share deep cultural ties, academic partnerships, and alliances across every sector.
We share constructive values like democracy—and a commitment to peace and security.
Together, we have met the humanitarian needs of vulnerable populations.
We have championed open and free trade that benefits all.
We have strengthened international co-operation through NATO, the Commonwealth, La Francophonie and the United Nations, among others.
Let us continue this work.
You can count on Canada to remain a collaborative partner.
For those of you who have come with families, a special welcome.
May your time here be filled with rewarding experiences and lasting friendships.
And as hockey season is only beginning, some of you may discover or rediscover Canada’s favourite winter sport.
It reminds us that, on the ice as in diplomacy, collaboration is the key to success.
Welcome to Canada.