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February 1, 2006 “It is with much sadness that Jean-Daniel Lafond and I have learned that a great voice for equality, human rights and freedoms has fallen silent. Coretta Scott King, widow of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, was a woman of remarkable resolve. Guided by her convictions, she always fo...

La Citadelle, Wednesday, February 8, 2006 It is with great emotion and pride that I find myself before you today on my first official visit to Quebec as governor general of Canada. I would like to begin by saying to you, the members of the Royal 22e Régiment, just how honoured I am to be here with y...

Montréal, Friday, February 10, 2006 I would first like to say how moved I am to be here with you in the Saint‑Michel district, where I lived as a teenager. Not for very long, it’s true, but long enough that its memories and impressions have stayed with me. I often joke that I could easily be a taxi ...

Montréal, Sunday, February 12, 2006 What emotion and what pride I feel to stand before you today as Governor General of Canada for this celebration of Black History Month. For us, the Black people of this city, this country, this continent and the entire world, the legacy of slavery still holds a ha...

Montréal, Monday, February 13, 2006 No award can repay what you do. Lighting a spark of joy in the eyes of a sick child; giving wings to a young person with a disability; comforting a teen in crisis; distributing food baskets; lending a hand to the immigrant family who has just moved into the apartm...

Montréal, Wednesday, February 15, 2006 Thank you for welcoming me here today. It might not be a place where you would expect to see the governor general of Canada. But as I said in my installation speech, I think it is very important to give young people all of the tools and every opportunity to rea...

Rideau Hall, Friday, February 17, 2006 I would like to begin by drawing your attention to a change in decor in this great hall, where our country’s highest honours are awarded. During my first official visit to Prince Edward Island last fall, I had the pleasure of rediscovering at the Confederation ...

Toronto, Sunday, February 19, 2006 It is with great pleasure and emotion that I join you today as governor general of Canada for the Second Chance Scholarship Awards. This event constitutes an excellent opportunity to highlight the achievements of youth who have come a very long way. They have surmo...

Toronto, Monday, February 20, 2006 It is such a pleasure to be here in Toronto, on my first official visit to Ontario, and I want to thank you very much for your warm welcome. My husband regrets that he was not able to join me as he is shooting a film at the moment in Québec City. I look around this...

Toronto, Monday, February 20, 2006 I would also like to acknowledge the presence here this evening of my predecessor, the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, and her husband John Ralston Saul. Thank you, Mr. Thorsell, for that wonderful visit. You and your colleagues at the ROM are to be congratulat...

Toronto, Tuesday, February 21, 2006 I am very pleased to join you all today, and I greatly appreciate the kindness demonstrated by the lieutenant governor. I must say that I feel I have found a kindred spirit. His Honour James Bartleman and I have had similar experiences in our lives. For example, w...

Visit to TOHU, la Cité des arts du cirque Montréal, Friday, February 10, 2006 I stand before you today as both a filmmaker and the life and travel companion of the Governor General of Canada. When I agreed to take on this role alongside my wife, I looked back over my life and the path taken by the i...

Torino, Italy, Friday, February 24, 2006 My husband Jean-Daniel Lafond, our daughter Marie-Éden and I are delighted to be here with you during the Torino Winter Games. Since arriving here this morning, we have been filled with a sense of pride. Pride in seeing our athletes excel and our Canadian del...

Torino, Italy, Saturday, February 25, 2006 My husband Jean-Daniel Lafond and I are honoured to be a part of this reception organized by the province of British Columbia. Yesterday, we had the pleasure of speaking with representatives of Vancouver and Whistler. I would say that their enthusiasm for t...

Rome, Italy, Monday, February 27, 2006 My husband Jean-Daniel Lafond and I are delighted to be here with you today. We could not come to Italy without stopping in Rome. After all, as the saying goes, all roads lead to this eternal city, the jewel of humanity. We are still pulsing with the excitement...