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October 26, 2007 by Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean On Friday, October 26, Rideau hall hosted the 100th investiture ceremony of the Order of Canada, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. I encourage everyone to read the citations, which highlight the lives and accomplishments of the wom...

January 30, 2007 by Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean "We must stand together as a country and tell the world, in the words of the old Negro Spiritual, that we shall not be moved. We shall not be moved by the spirit of hatred that seeks to pit neighbour against neighbour. We shall not be moved by racial...

January 31, 2007 by Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean It is a tradition at Rideau Hall to celebrate winter at the beginning of February every year. Last year, we had trouble organizing events because of a lack of snow and ice. This year, we have our fingers crossed that we will be able to open the skati...

February 28, 2007 by Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean A few weeks ago, in Calgary, I took part in an extraordinary Engineers Without Borders event with 500 young engineering graduates from universities all across Canada. The room was alive with energy! Here were people who act on their ability to build...

March 8, 2007 by Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean I decided long ago that I wanted to spend this March 8, International Women’s Day, with Afghan women to show them how much I admire their courage and to tell them that their achievements inspire hope in women around the world. Throughout these dark, ter...

March 21, 2007 by Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean “I want to encourage artists and ensure that their contribution is recognized. I also want to give emerging artists the opportunity to be heard. What is important is to recognize that art—that free space where everything is allowed and everything becom...

April 11, 2007 by Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean Last week, on the occasion of the Canada Council for the Arts’ 50th anniversary, we took the opportunity to honour artists. Fifty years of support for artistic creation deserved to be celebrated, so we invited 50 laureates to Rideau Hall, people who ha...

April 19, 2007 by Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean April 22, 2007, is Earth Day. Earth Day was started in 1970 to make young people aware of the importance of respecting the environment. Nearly 40 years later, we see that ecosystems have deteriorated and the dangers caused by climate change have gotten...

May 9, 2007 by Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean My hectic schedule has unfortunately prevented me from responding to all your questions and comments right away, but after reading what you have written on the blogs and in the forums, I see that certain discussions require a few answers or some clarifica...

May 16, 2007 by Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean Our official visit here should have taken place last year, but provincial elections were called and we were forced to delay our trip. We decided to begin our trip two days ago by visiting with military personnel and their families at CFB Gagetown, which,...

May 25, 2007 by Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean We received an incredibly warm welcome in Fredericton, as I told you in my last blog, and met dynamic people who are extremely involved in their community. Among others, we met those working for associations trying to end violence against women. Over 20 ...

May 28, 2007 by Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean I am excited to join hockey fans from across the country who are cheering on the Senators. I would also like to welcome the Anaheim Ducks to Ottawa……… we look forward to seeing you in game six !!! I believe, Lord Stanley, a former Governor General, would...

May 29, 2007 by Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean Her Excellency opened The Order of Canada: They Desire a Better Country , an exhibition of photographs of recipients of the Order, in the main foyer of Library and Archives Canada, in Ottawa. 2007 marks the 40th anniversary of the Order of Canada, the re...

June 12, 2007 by Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean Two female journalists were killed in less than a week in Afghanistan. As a woman and former journalist, I was both terrified and outraged when I heard the news. I could not help but think of the fears and concerns expressed by several of the Afghan wom...

June 15, 2007 by Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean This week I will complete my first official tour of the country when I head to Yukon. We will be crossing the 60th parallel to witness the endless light of the summer solstice and discover what is left of the spirit of adventure that forged the characte...

July 6, 2007 by Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean On behalf of Canadians, and at the Prime Minister’s request, it was with great enthusiasm and a sense of responsibility that I agreed to go on an important, 10-day State visit to Brazil. You followed my State visits last November-December to five African...

July 26, 2007 by Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean It was almost like a dream, an intense visit packed with meetings that we will remember always. Brazil is obviously reaching a turning point, not only on the economic front and with regard to its place in the global market, but also on the human front. ...

September 4, 2007 by Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean After a few weeks of well-deserved rest upon my return from the State visit to Brazil, which was, as always, most intense. I must say that, taken as a whole, my schedule in recent months has been full of events and discussions across Canada with ass...

September 26, 2007 by Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean I have been very busy these past two years, and had the great honour of going out and meeting with thousands of people all across the country. I have listened to them and spoken with them, and I have heard all about their actions and experiences. I...

October 3, 2007 by Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean I could not have imagined a better way to mark the second anniversary of my arrival to the institution of governor general than the rich and dynamic chat we had on the evening of September 27. I was thrilled with your enthusiasm and enjoyed hearing al...