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June 3, 2007 "This year, we celebrated the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, a turning point in our country’s history. In many ways, we can say that the esteem in which we are held worldwide is due in large part to the courage and sacrifice displayed that day by the Canadian Forces. And ...

Toronto, Saturday, June 2, 2007 I believe that the true strength of a country lies in its citizens’ willingness to help one another. Those of you we are honouring today are further proof of that. When you alleviate distress, lend a helping hand, or help improve someone’s life you deepen our sense of...

Winnipeg, Tuesday, June 5, 2007 It is with great pleasure and humility that I would like to thank you for conferring upon me this honorary doctorate. It is truly an honour to receive this degree at a university with such a great reputation for academic excellence and innovative research. Your motto—...

Ottawa, Thursday, June 7, 2007 My husband, jean-Daniel Lafond, and I are delighted to be with you for the official opening of this exhibition celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Order of Canada. I’d like to begin by thanking Library and Archives Canada for the crucial role they have played in ma...

Rideau Hall, Friday, June 8, 2007 My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I are delighted to welcome you to Rideau Hall this evening to celebrate journalistic excellence in Canada. I once shared your profession, and, like you, I practiced it with conviction and passion. So I hope you will indulge me and...

June 12, 2007 “My husband Jean-Daniel Lafond and I were saddened to learn of the death of Trooper Darryl Caswell, yesterday in Afghanistan. Alongside their NATO Force partners, Canadian Forces units are tirelessly doing their utmost to establish security and stability in Afghanistan, despite the man...

Wunnumin Lake, Ontario, Tuesday, June 12, 2007 I cannot tell you how happy I am to be here with you today. It is a great privilege to meet you. Thank you very much for this warm welcome; and thank you especially to the young people who told me one of your community’s amazing legends. I was born in H...

Mishkeegogamang, Ontario, Tuesday, June 12, 2007 I am honoured to be with you today during the 33rd Conference of Ontario Aboriginal Chiefs, and I sincerely thank you, Chief Beardy, for your kind invitation. It is a great privilege for me to speak before a gathering of leaders like this, in the prov...

Rideau Hall, Thursday, June 7, 2007 My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I are thrilled to welcome you to Rideau Hall to mark the beginning of this next step in your career. You will soon be called to represent our country abroad, where you will embody our values and, you might even say, our personal...

June 12, 2007 “The strong presence of solidarity and diversity that exists throughout the public service reflects the importance these values have in the lives of Canadians. In the spirit of solidarity, thousands of public servants come together every day to achieve their common goal of ensuring the...

Rideau Hall, Wednesday, June 13, 2007 It is a pleasure to welcome you to Rideau Hall for this very special event. I would also like to offer a very special welcome to my predecessor, the Right Honourable Edward Schreyer. Here is a man who has done so much for the people of Canada, from his earliest ...

Rideau Hall, Friday, June 15, 2007 Throughout history, societies have looked to heroes to inspire their members to pursue noble goals. Societies need heroes, and fortunately there are some brave individuals who are prepared to step forward and answer the call. Modern-day heroes show us that when we ...

Whitehorse, Sunday, June 17, 2007 My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I are delighted to be here today as we begin the final stage of my official tour of Canada as governor general. Since my installation nineteen months ago, I have been all across this country, from east to west, north to south. In ...

Whitehorse, Sunday, June 17, 2007 When I was installed as governor general of Canada, I decided that I wanted to visit all four corners of this enormous and beautiful country of ours. And here we are. Nineteen months later, I can finally say, “Mission accomplished!” Today I crossed the sixtieth para...

Whitehorse, Monday, June 18, 2007 My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I are thrilled to meet up with you here in the Far North. This is my third visit north of 60 since my installation as Governor General of Canada. It is a great privilege to be here, as we know that very few Canadians have the oppo...

Dawson City, Tuesday, June 19, 2007 Jean-Daniel and I are delighted to be with you tonight. We would like to sincerely thank Commissioner Geraldine van Bibber for hosting this dinner to celebrate my first official visit to Dawson City as Governor General of Canada. We already know that we will never...

Dawson City, Wednesday, June 20, 2007 My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I would like to sincerely thank the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation for inviting the entire community to take part in this feast to celebrate my first official visit to Yukon. I had the chance earlier to speak with young people...

Whitehorse, Wednesday, June 20, 2007 My husband, Jean-Daniel, and I are delighted to be with you today. As Francophones, Canadian Fracophonie is of great importance to us. We were very excited to meet you because, as you may know, your reputation extends beyond your territory. People in other parts ...

Whitehorse, Thursday, June 21, 2007 At long last, the days of endless sun have replaced those of endless night. My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I are absolutely delighted to be celebrating National Aboriginal Day with you. Today we recognize the priceless contribution that Aboriginal people have...

June 20, 2007 “While in Yukon on our official visit, my husband Jean-Daniel Lafond and I were grieved to learn of the deaths of three Canadian soldiers, when their vehicle struck an explosive device near Kandahar City, Afghanistan. The loss of Sergeant Christos Karigiannis, Corporal Stephen Frederic...