Ottawa, Friday, February 16, 2007

Of all the citizenship ceremonies over which I have presided as governor general, this is a rather special and—I might add—solemn occasion.

Sixty years ago, on January 3, 1947, the very first citizenship ceremony took place right here at the Supreme Court of Canada, and Prime Minister Mackenzie King was given the first Canadian citizenship certificate.

I cannot take part in a ceremony such as this one without recalling the moment when I myself became a Canadian.

I remember the last day on my native island, Haiti, which had become a prison for my family because of a ruthless dictatorship.

I remember our arrival in Montreal on a cold, February night.

I remember our readiness to start again from scratch and to put all our strength into the effort.

Lastly, I remember our hope of seeing our story added to the collective memory of the country that took us in.

Today, you will add your own stories.

And each of our stories is unique.

Each of our stories broadens Canada’s horizons and enriches the lives of all Canadians.

People from all over the world come to Canada to explore new possibilities.

Some, like my family and me, take refuge here to make a fresh start, safe from tyranny and violence.

One thing is certain: Canada is the ideal of a society in which the rights of all citizens are equal.

This new citizenship comes with rights, of course, but also with responsibilities.

The health of our democracy depends on our willingness to take action, right in the place where we live and where we choose to put down roots.

In other words, in this generous country, where we have the privilege of dreaming big dreams, for the good of our loved ones and the entire community.

Our citizenship is also a bond of fellowship between all those who make Canada what it is.

And this bond of fellowship grows stronger every day because we live in an ideal of justice and freedom that is the envy of the entire world.

This bond of fellowship also requires that we continually reflect on the values that we consider to be essential.

The values that form the basis of our life together.

What are those values?

On this special occasion, I want to quote an excerpt from the first Canadian Bill of Rights, adopted and signed in 1960 by Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, who named Canada’s first Francophone Governor General, Georges Vanier:

“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I think wrong, and free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.”

That is what you have committed yourselves to today.

May happiness and success find you always.