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Rideau Hall, Friday, February 22, 2008 My husband Jean-Daniel Lafond and I are delighted to welcome you here to Rideau Hall to recognize the excellence you have come to embody in our society. Forty-one years ago, Prime Minister Lester Pearson founded the Order of Canada to commemorate this country’s...

Kitchener, Tuesday, February 26, 2008 Thank you for your kind invitation to be with you today. Let me first pay a tribute to the famous French philosopher, Simone de Beauvoir, who would have been a hundred years old this year. I still remember how eager my mother was to introduce me to The Second Se...

Rideau Hall, Friday, February 29, 2008 As I read today’s citations, it occurred to me that reality can sometimes be more powerful than fiction. Books, movies and television often endow heroes with powers that others do not have. They can fly through the air, possess superhuman strength, see through ...

Niagara, Friday, February 29, 2008 It was with great pleasure and indeed conviction that I welcomed Jean‑Daniel’s proposal to create an award celebrating the nation’s table. Not just because the table serves as a meeting place, bringing people together, as Jean-Daniel has just reminded us. But becau...

Cuvée 2008 Niagara, Friday, February 29, 2008 A friend of mine is a chef. He was born in Europe but chose to live in Canada over 20 years ago. Once a month, he invites a few friends and other guests to join him around his table. They come from vastly different backgrounds, their origins as diverse a...

Toronto, Wednesday, February 27, 2008 We have come a long way. For our triumph over slavery has made freedom the cornerstone of modern democracy. Freedom to be who we want to be. Freedom to vote. Freedom to express our views. Freedom to be full citizens. Yet in this era of instant gratification, nar...

Ottawa, Friday, February 1st, 2008 How are you? Last year, we were a little short on snow, but this year, it looks like we’ve more than made up for it! Personally, I think winter should look like winter! Don’t you? What matters most is that we remain warm in our hearts. My daughter Marie-Éden and I ...

February 4, 2008 The history of Black people on this continent tells the story of our emancipation, of our long struggle for freedom. It is the story of all the pitfalls and injustices we overcame, but it is also the story of all the victories we won, victories that allowed us to dream of a world th...

Ottawa, Monday, February 11, 2008 The fight against dependency is not a fair one. For dependency is a ravenous beast. It stalks us at every turn, feeding off our fears, our anguish, our frailties. It devours us from the inside out. This is how dependency gathers strength, conquering reason, will, se...

Rideau Hall, Tuesday, February 12, 2008 Welcome to Rideau Hall. Jean-Daniel and I are delighted to welcome you to this historic site, where 26 governors general and their spouses have lived and worked before us. It is with great humility and enthusiasm that Jean-Daniel and I are continuing the work ...

February 26, 2008 by Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean Since being appointed as governor general, I have wanted to make the institution I represent a place of dialogue and ideas, where the citizens of this country can make their voices heard. In essence, I wanted it to be a place that is accessible to e...