June 18, 2026

Check against delivery

Congratulations to all of you, and welcome to Rideau Hall.

These walls stand on the traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation, a proud people whose deep relationship with this land spans thousands of years.

It is such a pleasure for me to welcome you to Rideau Hall for the first time as governor general.

Many of you have no doubt been here before to cover a cabinet shuffle, a ceremony or a significant moment in our public life.

Tonight, the cameras may be turned on you, preferably at the least convenient moment, as we celebrate the excellence of Canadian journalism.

I belong to a generation that still reads the news directly through traditional media, rather than via the new platforms overtaking global audiences—as we discussed at the Michener panel this afternoon.

Although my grandchildren probably think that this is another sign of my technical incompetence, I insist that it is instead a deliberate act of quiet resistance.

Tonight, we celebrate something that has been at the heart of much of the work I have done throughout my own professional life. Journalists, lawyers, historians —with different tools, different objectives, different options and constraints— we share the same unwavering dedication to the truth.

You have investigated issues of public interest in Canada and around the world—from health and public safety to financial stewardship and breaches of trust.

You have held power to account, upheld transparency and reflected the concerns of Canadians.

You have also helped train the next generation of journalists so that they can better meet the new challenges facing the profession.

Above all, through your diligence and your unwavering commitment to fact-checking, you are ensuring information integrity—a cornerstone of public policy development and public trust in institutions.

In this age of digital confusion, where the lines between knowledge and belief, between truth and falsehood, are ever more blurred, I commend your work.

I wish you all lifelong curiosity, pride in the vital role you play and continued success.

Have a wonderful evening.

Congratulations!