Search

The Citadelle, Friday, June 27, 2008 It is an honour to welcome you here to the Citadelle, where some of the decisive pages in our military history have been written. This is the home of the Royal 22e Régiment, Canada’s only entirely Francophone infantry regiment. As we celebrate the 400th anniversa...

June 27, 2008 Diversity is at the very heart of Canadian history. Many different people coexisted all across this vast land for thousands of years, and there was an abundance of communities, ethnic groups, cultures and languages that we cannot even imagine. Tragically, colonization almost made this ...

Recorded at the Citadelle, Wednesday, June 25, 2008 Dear friends, For almost three years, I have served as governor general. This time with you has flown by! When I look back over the road I have travelled, I see it as a journey. A journey that has taken me from one end of this extraordinary country...

Rideau Hall, Monday, June 30, 2008 I am delighted to welcome you here to Rideau Hall, particularly since this is a time of great celebration for Canada. We are getting ready to celebrate our country’s 141st birthday. This is always a time of enormous pride for Canadians. As well, 2008 commemorates a...

The Citadelle, Monday, June 2, 2008 It gives me great pleasure to welcome you here to the Citadelle, the official residence of the governor general of Canada. From the moment I took office as governor general, I wanted to create a space in which young Canadians could express themselves and where the...

Québec, Tuesday, June 3, 2008 Cap sur les ports francophones! Today, we join together in a spirit of encounter and dialogue; in a spirit of celebration of the 400th anniversary of the founding of the City of Québec, an important chapter in our collective history here in Canada and proof positive of ...

The Citadelle, Wednesday, June 4, 2008 It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the Citadelle. Located high atop Cape Diamant, where the majestic St. Lawrence River narrows, as the Amerindian meaning of the word “Quebec” suggests, this military fortification is the only one of its kind that rema...

Toronto, Thursday June 5, 2008 Thank you for joining me this morning as we launch together an exciting initiative to the 40th anniversary of the Order of Canada. When I began to prepare for this celebration, I wanted to raise the profile of the Order. I wanted more Canadians to understand the value ...

Banff, Sunday, June 8, 2008 This past weekend has given us many opportunities for intense reflection. We pondered ideas that were at times inspiring, at times shocking. It has been my immense privilege to share this experience with you, to be with you as the speakers shared with us their wonderful i...

Edmonton, Tuesday, June 10, 2008 Thank you, thank you so much for the great honour you do me in conferring upon me the degree of Doctor of Laws. I am especially moved by this gesture because it comes from an institution that, since it first opened its doors a century ago, has always endeavoured to p...

Ottawa, Friday, June 20, 2008 Your presentations have been illuminating, often very moving, surprising, always passionate. I enjoy these enriching debates about ideas that bring out new perspectives and bold new ways of thinking about the world. I love it! I am proud of you. You are the difference. ...

Rideau Hall, Saturday, June 21, 2008 How wonderful it is to meet you and welcome you here, to Rideau Hall. You know, I was born on an island, Haiti, where legends shape our relationship with the universe. Haiti means land of many mountains in the language of the Arawaks who were the first people on ...

The Citadelle, Saturday, June 28, 2008 “Si j’avais les ailes d’un ange, je partirais pour Québec!” If I had angel’s wings, I would fly to the City of Québec. So begins the song “Les ailes d’un ange” by Québécois singer-songwriter Robert Charlebois. And who could blame him? The City of Québec has nev...

June 2, 2008 I am pleased to send my warmest greetings to all of the women and men currently serving at home and abroad today, on Canadian Forces Day. Today’s young Canadians are driven by a powerful sense of compassion and a broad view of our global community. Rather than merely observe, the women ...

June 3, 2008 OTTAWA—My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I have just learned of the death of Captain Richard (Steve) Leary of the Second Battalion of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry based in Shilo, Manitoba. We are saddened by this tragic news. Captain Leary lost his life while on patrol ...

June 18, 2008 by Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean They're off! On June 5, in Toronto, our team of 50 was launched: 25 young Canadians were paired with 25 members of the Order of Canada. You could feel the energy in the room: so much enthusiasm, generosity and excitement! I loved to see how well everyon...