Edmonton, Friday, May 5, 2006

Thank you for welcoming me, my husband Jean-Daniel Lafond and our daughter, Marie‑Éden, to City Hall, a place of gathering, dialogue and debate for the citizens of Edmonton. More than simply the “Gateway to the North”, Edmonton is Canada’s northernmost metropolitan centre and an integrated partner with the North.

Like Canada, your city emerged from the coming together of peoples with time‑honoured traditions: Aboriginal, Francophone and Anglophone. To these have been added cultures from every corner of the world. The wonderful showcase of talent you have prepared in our honour is a hymn to the cultural diversity that makes up the richness of your city and our country.

I am impressed by the cultural vitality of your city. I was thrilled to experience, first-hand, Edmonton’s rich jazz roots at a wonderful concert we attended with Senator Banks and Mayor Mandel on Wednesday at the Yardbird Suite. It was an unforgettable evening.

The world’s largest festivals, including the Fringe, are held here. The beautiful sunny days, when the summer sun barely sets, certainly have something to do with it. But you are also known as great innovators. And it was this spirit of innovation that drove the pioneers who came looking for adventure and new opportunities.

At home on these lands from time immemorial or drawn here by the fur trade, the Klondike gold rush, oil or other opportunities, your predecessors pooled their strengths to create a dynamic and prosperous city. This prosperity is one that you have earned and maintain through hard work, vision and perseverance. But let this not overshadow the difficulties certain people or groups are facing.

Just look at the young people floating adrift, the homeless with nowhere to go, immigrants unable to apply their skills, Aboriginal people seeking their rightful place in our society, senior citizens living in complete and utter isolation.

As governor general, I want to give a voice to those seldom heard: the marginalized, the excluded, the voiceless. The motto I have chosen is Briser les solitudes, which means “breaking down solitudes.” It represents the Canada that I want for generations to come. By solitudes, I mean those that confine certain people, or certain segments of the population, because of their age, race, origins, language, beliefs, sex or ability.

On future visits, I want to take more time to meet with you. I want you to share your concerns with me… witness your strengths… hear your solutions.

Yesterday, I had the privilege of meeting the wives of some of our military personnel deployed overseas. These women are making tremendous sacrifices out of respect for their spouse’s choice and for their country. Their contribution is rarely recognized in the way it deserves, and I was delighted to have the opportunity to thank them on your behalf.

As I have travelled across this country, I have met with women and men, young and old who have the courage to dream big dreams and the determination to act for the greater good. People dedicated to fighting indifference and giving their all in an effort to build a more just, more humane society. Together, their actions are one of our greatest strengths.

With us are five of these extraordinary people. It is an honour and a privilege for me to pay tribute to you today.

To Father William Allen Reynolds, of St. Albert, who has dedicated his life to serving the disadvantaged members of his community, I thank you.

To Roseanne and Walter Sczebel, of Legal, who are dedicated to helping local youth, I thank you.

To Dale William Smith, of Edmonton, an active member of the Optimist Club for 21 years, I thank you.

You touch lives, each in your own way. Without expecting anything in return, you give a part of yourselves to others and are enriched by a new experience. You are models of sharing and openness for us all, particularly our young people, who so desperately need positive role models.

We also have the privilege of having with us a great Canadian female athlete. Faced with injustice, Beckie Scott found the courage to take action to change the situation. Her efforts paid off when she was finally awarded the gold medal she so rightly deserved.

Beckie, I am delighted to present to you the Meritorious Service Medal for your extraordinary work as a champion for drug-free sport.

We have a collective responsibility to improve the lives of our fellow citizens and the world around us. And, as you have reminded us, every action, every word makes a difference.

On behalf of all Canadians, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for caring about your fellow citizens and for contributing to the betterment of us all.

I hope to see you again soon and to continue the open and constructive dialogue that we have begun on this first official visit.

In closing, may I add what a pleasure it was for me to bestow the Grey Cup upon the Edmonton Eskimos this past fall. And so that got me thinking… If the Oilers keep playing the way they have, perhaps they will also bring home another well-known cup named after one of my predecessors!

Thank you.