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March 20, 2017 Message from the Governor General on the Occasion of the Journée internationale de la Francophonie OTTAWA— Every year, March 20 marks the Journée internationale de la Francophonie. As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of Canada, I am proud that our great nation is a member of the Int...

March 21, 2017 Message from the Governor General on the Occasion ofInternational Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination OTTAWA— On this International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, I am proud to highlight Canada’s enduring commitment to tolerance and inclusivity. We must...

Ottawa, Ontario, Wednesday, March 22, 2017 I begin with words of condolence for victims of the terrible attack in London today. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all who have been affected. One hundred years ago, Britain, France and Canada stood together in trying times. Our democracies were tested...

Rideau Hall, Thursday, March 23, 2017 I would like to begin by acknowledging that this gathering is taking place on Algonquin traditional territory. I’m proud to be patron of Indspire and to be part of this celebration of excellence. Just over a year ago, we held a very special celebration here at R...

Ottawa, Ontario, Friday, March 24, 2017 It’s a great honour and a privilege to be patron of Indspire and to be part of tonight’s celebration of excellence. I would like to begin by acknowledging that this gathering is taking place on Algonquin traditional territory. Yesterday, we hosted the recipien...

Rideau Hall, Monday, March 27, 2017 Welcome, all of you, to Rideau Hall. Today, we mark two notable occasions in the history of the Canada Foundation for Innovation. The first, of course, is the 20th anniversary of CFI. And the second is the departure of its outgoing president and CEO, Gilles Patry,...

Toronto, Ontario, Wednesday, March 29, 2017 CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY What a pleasure it is to be here today for this exciting announcement! This is an extraordinarily generous gift from the Arrell Family Foundation. And, wonderfully, it’s a donation that will be matched by the University of Guelph to ...

Rideau Hall, Tuesday, April 4, 2017 CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY I’m pleased to welcome all of you to Rideau Hall, where we so often honour our military men and women. Today, we celebrate acts of meritorious service and bravery. With these awards, we ensure two things: The first being that we can share yo...

April 9, 2017 Message from the Governor General of Canada on the Occasion of the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge VIMY, FRANCE—On this day a century ago, after months of careful planning and surveillance, through considerable innovations in tactics and technology, and after remarkable d...

April 9, 2017 Message from Her Majesty The Queen on the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge OTTAWA—The Governor General of Canada wishes to share a message addressed to all Canadians from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, on the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge. “Today, as peopl...

Rideau Hall, Thursday, April 6, 2017 At the centre of the Vimy Monument in France, beneath the towering twin pylons that reach into the sky above, stands the figure of a weeping woman. She is carved from a single, 30-tonne block of limestone—the largest in the monument. She is called Canada Bereft, ...

Arras, France, Friday, April 7, 2017 One hundred years ago on Sunday, the four divisions of the Canadian Corps went into battle together for the first time. Their objective was Vimy Ridge. It was 5:30 in the morning. All at once, 863 field guns and howitzers, 120 mortars and numerous mines fired. As...

Souchez, France, Saturday, April 8, 2017 The Battle of Vimy Ridge is perhaps the most famous battle in Canadian history. And yet, how many people know the extent and importance of the underground war? Thousands of Canadian soldiers toiled underground prior to the battle. They excavated an extensive ...

Loos-en-Gohelle, Saturday, April 8, 2017 As citizens of free and democratic societies, it is our duty to remember all those who served our countries in the First World War. For too long, the Battle of Hill 70 and its significance have largely been forgotten. Today, we help to change that. Today, we ...

Vimy, France, Saturday, April 8, 2017 One hundred years ago tomorrow, the clock struck zero hour and some 15 000 Canadian infantrymen went “over the top” in the first wave of attack. It was the moment of truth, but the attack on Vimy Ridge was anything but spontaneous. Months of planning and trainin...

Vimy, France, Sunday, April 9, 2017 On this day a century ago, as dawn broke over Vimy Ridge, the morning air suddenly exploded with an unholy roar. The noise has been compared to a physical assault, shattering the quiet of daybreak. It was the deafening sound of a thousand howitzers, field guns, mo...

Rideau Hall, Tuesday, April 19, 2017 What a privilege to welcome you to Rideau Hall and to Canada today. This is a small ceremony, but that doesn’t mean it’s lacking in significance! Diplomacy is of great importance in this complex, interconnected world. At its best, diplomacy brings people together...

Rideau Hall, Monday, April 24, 2017 “What is the essence of life? To serve others and to do good.” Those are Aristotle’s words. But they could just as well serve as a motto for recipients of the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers. You have served others. You have done good. And in doing so, you have i...

April 23, 2017 Message from the Governor General of Canada on the Occasion of National Volunteer Week OTTAWA— From the outset of my mandate as governor general, I have had the pleasure and great privilege of having access to an extraordinary platform from which to promote the culture of giving and t...

April 23, 2017 Message from the Governor General of Canada on the Occasion of Holocaust Memorial Day OTTAWA—On this Holocaust Memorial Day, I believe we have a responsibility to take a moment to pause and reflect on one of the darkest chapters in human history. The rights and freedoms we enjoy today...