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August 30, 2007 “My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I were grieved to hear of the unfortunate event that took the life of Major Raymond Ruckpaul, an armoured officer based at the NATO Allied Land Component Command Headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany, and who was serving in Kabul, Afghanistan with t...

Montreal, Wednesday, September 5, 2007 CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY I belong to all of the Americas. The history of these lands courses through my veins. It has been etched in my memory; it has left its mark on my body; it is in the beating of my heart. My African ancestors were dispossessed and forcibly ...

Discurso por ocasião da abertura do Congresso internacional da Associação de Estudos Latino-Americanos (LASA), Montreal, quarta-feira, 5 de setembro de 2007 VERIFIQUE DE ENCONTRO À ENTREGA Sou de todas as Américas. A história desse continente corre nas minhas veias. Ela se inscreve na minha memória,...

Discurso con ocasión de la apertura del Congreso internacional de la Asociación de Estudios Latinoamericanos (LASA), Montreal, miércoles, 5 de septiembre de 2007 COMPRUEBE CONTRA ENTREGA Yo soy de todas las Américas. La historia de este continente corre por mis venas. Ella está inscrita en mi memori...

Rideau Hall, Thursday, September 6, 2007 As governor general and commander-in-chief of the Canadian Forces, I would like to welcome you to Rideau Hall, which has been the official residence of every governor general since Confederation in 1867. My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I are delighted to ...

Quebec City, Monday, September 10, 2007 I am delighted to once again be among Scouts of all ages and from all backgrounds. It was an honour to be named Chief Scout by the Association des scouts du Canada. And do you know why? Because when I was a girl, I was a Scout just like you. The Scouts taught ...

Lévis, Wednesday, September 12, 2007 I am pleased to be in the company of those who are striving to continue the work of Alphonse Desjardins and keep his vision alive. Earlier this morning, while visiting the Maison historique Alphonse Desjardins, I thought that one of the most fascinating aspects o...

Quebec City, Friday, September 13, 2007 I firmly believe that the true strength of a community lies in its citizens’ willingness to help one another. Those of you we are honouring today are further proof of that. Your acts of compassion and solidarity deepen our sense of humanity. You remind us that...

The Citadelle, Saturday, September 15, 2007 Welcome to the Citadelle of Québec! My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I are thrilled to be with you on this magnificent autumn day, even if the weather isn’t cooperating. It is good to be in Quebec City. Look around you. The view from the Citadelle is un...

The Citadelle, Sunday, September 16, 2007 My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I are delighted to be able to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Order of Canada with you during our stay here at the Citadelle, which has become our workplace for 10 days. People often ask us where we got the beautiful...

Thetford Mines, Wednesday, September 19, 2007 It is with great emotion that I find myself back in Thetford Mines, the place where I took my first steps in my adopted homeland. Forty years ago, my parents, my sister and I came here to restart our lives, sheltered from injustice and horror, sheltered ...

September 25, 2007 My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I were deeply saddened to learn that Corporal Nathan Hornbburg of the King’s Own Calgary Regiment in Calgary, Alberta, was killed and that four other soldiers were injured under tragic circumstances West of Kandahar in Afghanistan. Everyday, the...

The Citadelle, Thursday, September 13, 2007 As you know, the role of Commander-in-Chief of Canada has been closely linked to the evolution of Canada, as well as to the history of the Canadian Forces. The Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada is responsible for encouraging excellence and ...

Rideau Hall, Wednesday, September 26, 2007 It gives my husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, our daughter Marie-Éden and me great pleasure to welcome you to Rideau Hall for an exceptional concert in this ballroom, which has always been central to the cultural life of this institution. Over the years, some of...

Rideau Hall, Thursday, September 27, 2007 CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY It is a great pleasure to welcome you to Rideau Hall, and to welcome our special guests to Canada. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada for her work as the Chair of the Or...

Rideau Hall, Sunday, September 30, 2007 It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to Rideau Hall for this forum, organized in conjunction with the National Arts Centre, which will help us reflect on and recognize the role women play in culture and our society. Since being appointed Governor General ...

Inaugural Lecture of the Stirring Culture Series -Thinking of Culture Calgary, Tuesday, October 2, 2007 CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY I am delighted to be with you this evening to think about culture, here in Calgary, where for more than a year, a few people have seen fit to “stir it up.” In the case of cu...

Prague, Sunday, October 7, 2007 My husband Jean-Daniel Lafond and I would like to extend our greetings to the people of the Czech Republic and to President Havel who has invited me to join voices with you. This is an amazing opportunity for us to take a step back together and to see the world in a b...

Rideau Hall, Friday, October 12, 2007 You, the men we are honouring today, have put your lives in peril in order to pursue peace and foster stability in the world. In order to defend freedom and justice. In order to save the lives of others. The lives of your team members, and the lives of women, ch...

Ottawa, Friday, November 2, 2007 I would like to begin this history forum by sharing an important part of my own personal history. A huge void has entered my mother’s life and erased her memory. Alzheimer’s disease has thrown her into a relentless downward spiral. But what troubled me about the irre...