The Citadelle, Thursday, September 21, 2006

It is a great pleasure to welcome you here to the Citadelle, whose role within Quebec and Canada’s cultural and civic life we hope to strengthen.

Steeped in history, this place, overlooking the Saint Lawrence River and sitting high atop Cap Diamant, has been the second official residence of Canada’s governors general since 1872.

It is our hope that the people of Quebec and Canadians in general will have greater access to this historical site so that they may come to appreciate its heritage value and outstanding view, in the broadest sense of the word. For example, the works of art contained within its walls exemplify the creative spirit and talent of our artists, who are the true ambassadors of the cultural life in our country. Our wish is to open the Citadelle’s doors to everyone and to make this a place of thought, one of raised awareness, of gathering following events that will be held here.

Yesterday, for example, for the first time in the history of Canada’s governors general, we held here at the Citadelle a State luncheon, which brought together over one hundred people from all backgrounds in honour of the President of Latvia, who lived in Canada with her family for 40 years and enjoyed a brilliant career as a researcher and academic in Quebec. She is now the head of State in her country of origin and may soon succeed Kofi Annan as secretary-general of the UN.

This residence is also a place of celebration. And I can think of no better occasion than the recognition of the extraordinary work carried out by our everyday heroines and heroes, often behind the scenes. To my mind, reaching out to someone else is the most promising thing we can do and the greatest sign of hope. Every action taken to alleviate human suffering or to help another has the tremendous—I repeat, tremendous—power to change the course of a life.

I firmly believe that these are the actions that forge the bonds of fellowship, beginning locally, in our neighbourhoods, our communities, our cities, across our country and around the world. I like to think that openness to the world begins with an openness to the realities around you. In this way, we can—we must—each and every one of us humanize life, reinvent it, make it even greater.

This is how hope can become part of our daily lives and put an end to the feeling of powerlessness that leads others to despair and indifference. Hope can often rebuild the fragments of humanity and dignity as we make the most of our resources, ideas, opportunities.

I have no doubt that the true sense of helping one another can be found in that willingness to transcend individualism and the every man for himself mentality, to take to heart the needs of everyone. In this world where solitudes and inhuman situations are on the rise, as the recent events at Dawson College have brutally reminded us, we have within each of us that strength of resistance that allows us to take meaningful action so that our desire for humanity and a better world is more than just a pipedream.

As I have travelled this country, meeting with and listening to the many women and men who are deeply committed to their communities, I have seen these strengths in action, strengths that are so vital because they are the very foundation of our society.

From province to province, from one territory to the next, I heard the same concerns and saw men and women, young and old, taking similar action and finding solutions to problems that affect us all in the same way.

This is what I chose to focus on rather than the so-called differences that would keep us apart.

We must pool our efforts and our strengths. Just prior to this ceremony, we held a roundtable discussion on social engagement that brought together the women and men we are honouring today, who have dedicated their lives to helping others, and young people who, in their own way, are giving of their time and energy in this same spirit and with the same determination. Allow me to introduce them to you now and ask that they rise as I say their names.

I would like to thank the following people their participation:

Karina Asborne, from Maison Dauphine, who works with street youth.

Gabriel Bertol, who collaborates with TRAIC Jeunesse and also works with street youth.

François Morneau, from the Jeunesse Beau Port shelter, the only such organization for troubled boys aged 12-17.

Mélissa Perron, who is involved with PIPQ, making serious inroads into the prostitution phenomenon, including juvenile prostitution.

And finally, Florent Tanlet, who is involved with GRIS Qc, an organization that helps young homosexuals.

The six people being honoured today with the Caring Canadian Award share the determination to act for the greater good. Six people who are showing us what humanity means by giving freely of their friendship, their openness to others, their empathy for those around them. It is an honour and a privilege for me to pay tribute to you today.

To Melville Dusablon, of Trois-Rivières, who founded a food bank and is always ready to help those most in need, I thank you.

To Mervin F. Jones, of Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier, who has given of his time and energy to thousands of youths within the Scouting movement for nearly 50 years, I thank you.

To Vincent Plante, of Lévis, who brings hope to those around him and helps persons with disabilities to gain greater independence, I thank you.

To Éliette Baril Rondeau and Roger Rondeau, of Saint-Damien, who willingly share their knowledge to beautify and preserve the environment, I thank you.

To Ghislaine Savard, of Baie Saint-Paul, who recruits volunteers and organizes fundraisers for a number of social causes, I thank you.

You are all shining examples of commitment to your communities, for all of us and for future generations following in your footsteps and just as eagerly looking for ways to express their willingness to share.

Which leads me to one wish, if you will indulge me, and that is to see more young people joining you in receiving this award. Because since my appointment as governor general, I have met so many young people, right across this country, who are involved in a multitude of projects and activities to benefit their communities. While building the future, these young people are taking action today and deserve to be recognized. I am counting on you to help make this a reality. What a wonderful way to build bridges between generations.

On behalf of all of our fellow citizens, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for so generously and eloquently reminding us that there is no need to withdraw from others, that it is possible to imagine the world as something we all share, a gift that we must protect so that we may all live together in a more humane world.