Rideau Hall, Thursday, June 26, 2014

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It is a great pleasure to welcome all of you to Rideau Hall.

I am delighted that we are able to show our appreciation for all that you do for Canada and to mark the 75th anniversary of the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires’ Ottawa division.

During my time as governor general, I have come to know the commissionaires and to value everything they do. Here at Rideau Hall, and at the Citadelle in Québec City, commissionaires perform a vital role in keeping the residence up and running, as well as safe for and accessible to both the public and the employees who work here. Their dedication and willingness to take on specialized tasks ensure that the hundreds of events that take place at Rideau Hall and the Citadelle every year are a success.

In fact, I am sure you must have seen some commissionaires ably performing their duties as you got off the bus earlier this evening!

They are, as countless people will attest, invaluable to what we do.

And on a personal level, I am very aware that the commissionaires here have provided and continue to provide security and protection to me and my family. As a father and grandfather, nothing is more important to me than my family, and I am grateful to the commissionaires for providing us with peace of mind.

Many of you have served our country in other ways—as members of the Canadian Armed Forces or as officers in the RCMP—and even after leaving these roles, your instinct to serve the public was strong. Those who join the commissionaires do so because they believe in serving others, in helping others. They work as a team to make our country safer and they make our communities stronger by their presence.

You have come to Ottawa from all across this great nation not only to celebrate everything you have accomplished, but also to discuss important issues that are vital to the future of this organization. Issues such as diversification, seeking out new opportunities and doing more with fewer resources, will all have an impact on the future of commissionaires.

But tonight, I hope that you will simply have fun and celebrate all that you have accomplished.

And there is so much to be proud of!

All of you deserve our gratitude, as does every commissionaire across Canada. Please enjoy the evening and accept my very best wishes for a productive annual meeting.

Thank you.