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October 10, 2008 OTTAWA—My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I were saddened to hear of yesterday's crash of a 15 Wing Tutor training jet near the Moose Jaw aerodrome in Saskatchewan that resulted in the deaths of Captain Bryan Mitchell and Sergeant Charles Senecal of the Canadian Forces. We offer ou...

October 13, 2008 Whether Canada is our place of birth, a place of refuge, or a place of new beginnings—regardless of the circumstances and individual history of our Canadian citizenship—one thing remains: we know that this society to which we belong is built on a foundation of inalienable values tha...

October 27, 2008 OTTAWA—My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I were deeply saddened to learn of the accident which claimed the life of Gunner Arielle Keyes-Oliver, who was stationed with the 30th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery. Our thoughts are also with the four others injured in this acci...

November 5, 2008 OTTAWA—Ninety years ago, at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, the hostilities of the First World War came to an end. The Armistice had been signed six hours earlier, at Rethondes, in the Forest of Compiègne, aboard the train of Marshal Ferdinand Foch, supreme commande...

December 1, 2008 December 1, 2008, marks the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day. The theme of this year’s campaign is “Lead–Empower–Deliver”. On this day, it is important that we highlight the scientific progress that has been made over the past 20 years. This progress would not have been possible w...

December 5, 2008 OTTAWA—The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women is a sad reminder of the massacre of 14 young women at l’École Polytechnique de Montréal, on December 6, 1989. Our thoughts are with their families and loved ones, who will forever mourn this tragic loss. As...

December 5, 2008 OTTAWA—My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I were deeply saddened to hear of the tragic incident in Afghanistan that claimed the lives of three soldiers, Warrant Officer Robert John Wilson, Corporal Mark Robert McLaren and Private Demetrios Diplaros. All soldiers were from the 1st B...

December 14, 2008 OTTAWA—Today we are mourning the deaths of three soldiers, after a loss that saddened us deeply only a few days ago. In addition, one of their colleagues was severely wounded by the explosion of an IED while they were patrolling in the reconstruction zone close to the city of Kanda...

December 10, 2008, marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which opens with the assertion that “recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world...

December 29, 2008 As a new year dawns, we are filled with a renewed sense of hope. The days, weeks and months ahead may be whatever we imagine them to be and will be whatever we make of them. But let us be realistic: the challenges are considerable and have caused a great deal of anxiety. This past ...

December 27, 2008 OTTAWA—The year is drawing to a close on a sad note. We have just learned that another of our soldiers, Private Michael Bruce Freeman, was killed by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan, and that three of his comrades were injured. Our thoughts turn to the parents, family ...

December 28, 2008 OTTAWA— Still reeling from the shock of yesterday’s announcement, we have received further heart-wrenching, painful news today, again from Afghanistan. It was with great sorrow that we learned that Warrant Officer Gaétan Roberge, from the 2nd Battalion, The Irish Regiment of Canada...

January 31, 2009 OTTAWA— My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I were overwhelmed when we heard that another Canadian Forces soldier, Sapper Sean Greenfield from 2 Combat Engineer Regiment based at CFB Petawawa, was fatally wounded by an improvised explosive device while conducting a security patrol, ...

February 4, 2009 We celebrate Black History Month to remember and make people aware of the long march made by women and men—some famous, but most unknown—striving for the same ideal, pursuing a single goal: inclusion, that legitimacy that gives every woman, man and child the opportunity to distingui...

March 4, 2009 Jean-Daniel Lafond and I were deeply saddened to learn that the explosion of an improvised explosive device, 10 km away from Kandahar, took the lives of three Canadian soldiers and seriously injured two of their comrades during their mission in Afghanistan. Despite great personal risk,...

March 5, 2009 OTTAWA— In Canada, we pride ourselves on believing in gender equality. On believing that women and men should share responsibilities and obligations. On believing in the full emancipation of women and girls, so that they are able to work and give the best of themselves, in every sphere...

March 8, 2009 OTTAWA—My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I were deeply saddened to receive word of the death of Trooper Marc Diab with The Royal Canadian Dragoons, based in Petawawa, and of the injuries sustained by four soldiers from a roadside blast during their patrol in the Sha Wali Kot District...

March 9, 2009 Commonwealth Day serves as a reminder not only of our past, but also of our growth as a nation. Today is a day to celebrate the unique ties that we share with countries around the word and the history that binds us. Throughout our history in the Commonwealth, Canadians have remained pr...

March 13, 2009 It was with great sadness that my husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I learned of the terrible helicopter accident that occurred yesterday east of St. John’s, Newfoundland. The 18 people on board, including two members of the Cougar Helicopters flight crew, 14 workers from the Sea Rose ...

March 20, 2009 An important part of my responsibilities as governor general is to travel on official, State and working visits abroad. This sustained exercise in diplomacy on the world stage gives me the opportunity to see the degree to which Canada is renowned worldwide as a model of social cohesio...