Speeches

September 25, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba WINNIPEG FOLK FESTIVAL 50th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION Government House Thursday, September 25, 2025 (please check against delivery)   Volunteers, folkies, just plain folks – welcome to Government House for this celebration of half a century of creating community through music. As Lieutenant Governor, I acknowledge that this musical celebration of the banjo and the guitar is held on the land of the drum and the fiddle: on Treaty One land and on the homeland of the Red River Metis. Manitoba is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, and Dene nations and the homeland of the Red River Métis and on northern lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we are committed to opportunity and dignity for all people, and to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration, and celebrating all aspects of our province’s cultures. Manitobans have for many years been proud of their province’s cultural diversity, strong and caring communities, and passion for art and creativity in all forms. This 50th anniversary celebration is an opportunity acknowledge an organization and a group of volunteers who exemplify all of those virtues. The story of the Winnipeg Folk Festival is an inspiring tale of people with a passion coming together to create something that turned out to be bigger than they could have dreamed. It’s a story of volunteer work, of creative problem-solving, of risk-taking, and of the wonderful alchemy that happens when a dreamers and builders comes together. It is truly a story of vision becoming a reality. Over the last fifty years, as the Winnipeg Folk Festival has evolved, it has simultaneously remained true to its original vision, while embracing increasingly diverse musical expression. It has kept faith with long-time folk music lovers while attracting new generations. There are many here who were the original folkies, who come with young children and now their grandchildren are bringing them. Each summer, a prairie Brigadoon pops up as the third largest city in Manitoba. That remarkable transformation of fields and forests into a musical community is the work of 2,500 volunteers – and especially the long-serving volunteer co-ordinators we will recognize today. From that first weekend in 1975 to today, from the first load-in to long after the final note of The Mary Ellen Carter, the staff, volunteers and performers at the Winnipeg Folk Festival make Manitoba a healthier, better, more harmonious place. To all those who have made that possible, thank you. May your days ahead not just be happy; may they be Folk Fest Happy. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom to all.

August 21, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba GRAND OPENING CEREMONY OF THE SOUTHEAST EVENT CENTRE 321 Elmdale, Steinbach Thursday, August 21, 2025, 11:00 a.m. (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, friends of a wonderful new community gathering place – it’s a pleasure to join you for today’s celebration. As we celebrate an addition to the cultural life of Manitoba, I acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty One land and on the homeland of the Red River Metis. The province we share is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, and Dene nations and the homeland of the Red River Métis and on northern lands were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we are committed to human rights, to dignity for all people, and to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. I would also like to acknowledge the thousands of Manitobans who have been forced from their homes by wildfires this summer. We are grateful for the everyday heroes who continue to fight hard to protect communities throughout the province and provide support to those in need. For decades, Steinbach has played an outsize role in the economic development of Manitoba. With a diversified economy that creates employment in the agricultural, manufacturing, pharmaceutical and financial sectors – and more – Steinbach’s steady growth has fueled prosperity in southeastern Manitoba and beyond. At the same time, Steinbach has worked to maintain a strong sense of community and a lifestyle that offers opportunities for the whole family. With the development of the Southeast Event Centre, Steinbach has another great amenity that will further enrich life in this corner of the province. This facility will bring the people of Steinbach and the surrounding region together for sports, concerts, festivals, performances and gatherings of all kinds. It will attract exciting touring shows and inspire local performers to imagine their name in lights. A facility like this takes years of fund-raising and planning before the first shovels go in the ground. It takes visionaries who can look at an empty space and imagine a large multi-purpose event centre filled with smiling and cheering people. And it takes people with the passion and commitment to make those visions come to life. I would like to thank all of those whose generosity and work made this addition to our province’s cultural and sports infrastructure possible. And to all who will enjoy this centre, congratulations on this milestone in Steinbach’s history. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich and Shalom to all

August 4, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba ICELANDIC FESTIVAL OF MANITOBA Gimli Park Monday, August 4, 2025, 2:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, members and friends of Manitoba’s Icelandic community – it’s a pleasure to celebrate a remarkable 150-year adventure at this wonderful summer festival. As we gather in this beloved lake community – in Treaty One land and in the homeland of the Red River Metis – we acknowledge that Manitoba is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, and Dene nations and the homeland of the Red River Métis and on northern lands were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we are committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration and appreciation of all our diverse and thriving cultures. As we celebrate the spirit of community this weekend, we are also – with heavy hearts – thinking of family and friends from across Manitoba who have been forced from their homes by wildfires. And we are grateful for the everyday heroes who – like many among you – continue to fight hard to protect communities throughout the province and provide support to those in need. A century and a half ago, the first Icelanders arrived in Manitoba and worked to build a home in a new land. Faced with challenges brought by weather, by disease and by unfamiliarity, they persevered. A few decades later, they founded this festival as a way of preserving their stories, culture and identity. Since then, this festival has grown into one of Manitoba’s most popular summer events, with a wide range of music and games and attractions. At its heart is a connection to the spirit of those first builders of the Icelandic community. For 150 years, members of the Icelandic community have made contributions to our culture and economy in countless ways – the stories of their individual experiences and achievements like threads in a tapestry. And their efforts to keep the Icelandic language and culture thriving here in heart of North America have made both Canada and Iceland a part of that tapestry. As this festival’s theme puts it, our two countries have been Woven Together for 150 Years by generations of Manitobans who are passionate about their connections to Canada and to Iceland. May the loom that is this festival continue to pull and connect these beautiful threads. Thank you to all who support the Manitoba Icelandic Festival as staff, as volunteers, as sponsors and as enthusiastic participants. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom and Takk fyrir.

July 23, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba OPENING RECEPTION OF THE GIMLI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL Johnson Hall, Gimli Waterfront Centre Wednesday, July 23, 2025, 6:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans and lovers of the moving image – welcome to the 25th Anniversary of the Gimli International Film Festival. It’s a pleasure to join you here in this beloved lake community – in Treaty One land and in the homeland of the Red River Metis. As we celebrate a vital institution of our province’s arts community, we acknowledge that Manitoba is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, and Dene nations and the homeland of the Red River Métis and on northern lands were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we are committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration and in celebration of our diverse and thriving culture. Manitobans are justifiably proud of the exciting, creative and diverse arts and culture community we have built here. This year’s celebration of 25 years of the Gimli International Film Festival demonstrates the important role that film has here. For makers and lovers of film – homegrown or produced all around the world – a quarter century of this festival is truly something to celebrate. The same strong community spirit that has built festivals like this has inspired support for Manitobans affected by the worst fire season since records began to be kept. Firefighters and essential workers and families waiting for a chance to return to fire-threatened northern communities are very much on the minds of their fellow Manitobans. Concerns about social justice and the environment and the lived experience of Indigenous people and people of the north are, of course, a large part of the programming at this festival. The Gimli International Film Festival has provided a venue for voices and visions that we don’t often hear and see on our screens. It has supported local, films from the circumpolar world, films that take artistic risks and that explore issues in need of examination. And as we have seen for two and a half decades, this province has an appetite for a wide range of film – features and shorts, documentary and fiction. To all who have supported the growth of the Gimli International Film Festival and to all of those who make this weekend a personal summer highlight – congratulations on this special anniversary. Thank you for bringing light, action and, of course, cameras to Manitoba. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. And Shalom to all.  

July 10, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba HABITAT FOR HUMANITY – WOMEN BUILD BLITZ LUNCHEON Thursday, July 10, 2025 (please check against delivery)   Volunteers, fellow Manitobans, members of the Jones and Company team – it’s a pleasure to join you today as part of the Women Build Blitz. As we celebrate the building of a community of homes here in Transcona, and all the contributions made by Habitat for Humanity and especially the Women Build Committee, we acknowledge that this community is built in the heart of Treaty One land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. And we acknowledge and celebrate that Manitoba is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Red River Metis peoples. As we work to make this province a place of healthy and prosperous communities, we reaffirm our commitment to truth, reconciliation and collaboration. When we talk about a healthy community, it’s almost taken for granted that it’s a place where the people living there have a secure, healthy place to live. But we know that for too many people, such a home is out of their reach. That makes the work of Habitat for Humanity and its volunteers such an important contribution to our city and province. Habitat’s Pandora West development — with 55 new homes that will eventually house some 275 people, provides a picture of the scale of this organization’s commitment to helping families. Volunteering also confers many benefits on the volunteer. Volunteers learn valuable skills, make new friends, and develop new confidence. For the women participating in this Women Build Blitz. I’m sure it’s tremendously empowering for all of you to develop hands-on experience in construction – a field that not so long ago was entirely male. Until recently, young women were steered away from so many trades and professions and life experiences, and it was just assumed that most of them – most of us — would grow up to be homemakers. Well, as Women Build volunteers you literally are making a home. And it will be a lasting source of pride for each of you to see a new community that you helped to create. As part of the Jones and Company team, you can already be proud of your connection to a woman-led business that has been creating opportunities, serving its hospitality industry partners and delighting tastebuds for more than a quarter century. Now you’re making a better, more equitable province by giving your time and energy to address the need for affordable, quality housing for families. Thank you for your involvement with Habitat for Humanity. And thank you to all the sponsors and donors who have contributed to Habitat Manitoba’s nearly forty years of helping families have a place to call home. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

June 17, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba A & O – 68th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Qualico Family Centre, Assiniboine Park Tuesday, June 17, 2025, 9:00 a.m. (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, good morning and welcome to this opportunity to keep up to date on the work of a vital community agency. We’re gathered today in a special place for Winnipeggers – Assiniboine Park. And this beautiful patch of river forest and field that means so much to Winnipeggers is in the heart of Treaty One land and the heartland of the Red River Metis. This province we care about is built on the ancestral and treaty lands of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota and Dene nations and the home of the Red River Metis and includes northern lands that are and have been home to the Inuit. Manitobans are dedicated to partnership with Indigenous people and to building a future based on truth, reconciliation and understanding. While we gather today to learn more about the important work A & O Support Services does to enhance safety, security and quality of life for older Manitobans, we hold in our hearts the family and friends from across our province who are impacted as a result of forest fires. For older residents of communities in the path of the fires – primarily in northern communities – this has been especially difficult. A massive effort to fight the fires has been accompanied by an outpouring of support to assist and protect fire evacuees – because that is what people in a caring province do. That same spirit of compassion and willingness to get involved has fueled A & O Support Services for 68 years. As Honorary Patron, I am proud of the work done by this organization’s staff and volunteers, who work to meet the needs of older adults through A and O’s Three Pillars of counselling, safety and security and social engagement. The thousands of hours volunteers dedicate to A and O’s programs provide older adults with emotional, social and material support that enables healthy, independent living. Whether you are paid staff or a volunteer, whether your service is in person or online, whether you’re delivering information or food or gifts, raising funds or the spirits of older adults, you are helping to make our city and province the fair, equitable and compassionate place we know it can be. To all who make this organization and its work possible, thank you for your faith in a better society and thank you for your time, skills and energy. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

June 16, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba 2025 HUBBELL AWARDS Manitoba Legislative Building Monday, June 16, 2025, 6:30 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, cadets and supporters of the cadet program, welcome here today at the Legislative Building and this celebration of achievement and potential. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I would first like to acknowledge that we are gathered in the heart of Treaty One land and the homeland of the Red River Metis. The government that meets under this dome serves a province built on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota and Dene nations and the homeland of the Red River Métis; and on lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As we celebrate these young Manitobans and their promise for the future, we reaffirm our commitment to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. This year, with thousands of Manitobans from across the province being forced from their homes by wild fire, we express that spirit of partnership by offering support to all those affected by fire. And we express our admiration for the bravery and hard work of those firefighters, first responders and members of the military giving their all to support those in need. For anybody in school or anybody who can remember their school days, the month of June is usually a time of excitement, offering the promise of summer fun after our long winter. This month of graduation ceremonies is also a time of hope and optimism. It’s a time when families and communities gather to celebrate the hard work and achievements of young people completing a stage in their life’s educational journey. As Lieutenant Governor – and as somebody who has previously worked in adult education and as a school trustee – I have always treasured the opportunity to applaud young people on their learning. Canada’s Air, Army and Navy Cadet programs have long provided important opportunities for young people to learn about the armed forces, their communities, our country, and themselves. These programs have provided countless young people with the chance to develop confidence and leadership skills and take on special challenges on the land and water and in the air. So I am pleased today to celebrate 12 young Manitobans who have combined the challenges of cadets with achievements in the classroom and who are continuing their education at a university, college or technical institute. Each of you has had the opportunity to grow, to learn and to make new friends through Cadets. Each of you will carry with you for life the lessons of your time in Cadets. Congratulations on this recognition of your work and success. May the memory of this day encourage you in all your challenges and new opportunities to come. To all of those who support the Hubbel Awards and the Cadet program, thank you for making these experiences possible for Manitoba’s youth. The success of these award winners – and the success of all who benefit from Cadet programs – is your success as well. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

June 15, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba OUR WHOLE SOCIETY: FOSTERING HOPE IN A DIVIDED WORLD CONFERENCE Canadian Museum for Human Rights Sunday, June 15, 2025, 7:30 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, welcome guests, builders of understanding – it is a pleasure to join you as you nurture hope at a time when we need it. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I would first like to acknowledge that we are gathered in the heart of Treaty One land and the homeland of the Red River Metis and that our province is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota and Dene nations and the homeland of the Red River Métis; and on lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans look to the future with hope, we see a province that works in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. Hope is a powerful word – and it’s a word that sometimes gets a bad rap. We sometimes think of “hope” as synonymous with simply wishing for the best. We sometimes think of “hopeful” as another way of saying “delusional.” But it is a much more powerful and realistic attitude and emotion than that. We can be fully aware of the magnitude of all the challenges around us and still be encouraged. Hope can coexist – indeed it must coexist – alongside a clear-eyed acceptance of all that stands in the way of our goals. That, I know, is the kind of hope that motivates this conference and that has filled the hearts of the scholars and leaders and activists gathered here this evening. Here at the Canadian Museum of Human Rights we can learn about visionaries and leaders of thousands of years of progress in human rights. These men and women didn’t wear rose-coloured glasses. They knew the obstacles to freedom, justice and human dignity. And I know you are well aware of the challenges of polarization, misinformation, climate change, instability and war facing the world today. Faced with those, some may be tempted to throw up their hands and turn away. But you choose another pathway. You know that, as Joan Baez put it: “Action is the antidote to despair.” As we gather here, thousands of Manitobans from towns and villages and first nations across our province are living as evacuees during a frightening forest fire season brought on by climate change. And Manitoba communities are coming together to offer support – while firefighters and first responders from across Canada and beyond work to save communities. Those actions are an antidote to despair. And we must use the hope that grows as we work together to inspire future work against climate change – just as we channel our hope in all efforts to make a better, more peaceful and more sustainable world. Thank you for nurturing hope and working for solutions. Thank you to all the partner organizations that have made this Canadian Interfaith Conversation possible. May this conference strengthen the light of hope in your own heart. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

June 13, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba FILIPINO-JEWISH FRIENDSHIP DINNER Holiday Inn, Ellice Avenue Friday, June 13, 2025, 6:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, friends from two great communities – it’s a pleasure to join you for this special evening of camaraderie and this celebration of Filipino Heritage Month. As we celebrate our two communities, we keep in mind that we have gathered on Treaty One land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. This is a province made better by communities reaching out to help one another – as we see now while thousands of Manitobans from northern and Indigenous communities have been forced from their homes by fire. Working together with other Manitobans is where our values are showcased at their best. The diverse Manitoba we are all proud to call home is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota and Dene nations and the homeland of the Red River Métis. As well, Manitoba includes northern lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Our commitment to diversity and understanding among peoples goes hand-in-hand with our commitment to partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit and the spirit of truth and reconciliation. Tonight, we’ll see new and deepening friendships develop, as we build on the spirit of the Shabbat dinner last fall that brought Winnipeg’s Jewish and Filipino communities together. I’ve had the opportunity over many years to see ties strengthen between our two groups – in business, educational and cultural fields and in many other ways. It’s fascinating to think of all that we have in common, including historical parallels related to the immigrant experience. In both communities, the garment industry was a major employer early in their time in Manitoba. In both communities, a commitment to education led to major inroads into entrepreneurship, the professions, education and more. Tonight we continue the process of learning from each other, celebrating our differences and finding the many areas of common understanding and interest that unite us. And – as befits any important gathering in either community – we do so while sharing a meal. Thank you to the Philippine Consulate and Philippine Heritage Council for bringing us together. And thank you to everybody who has helped to make this friendship possible. Salamat. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

June 13, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba OPENING CEREMONY – 51st BIENNIAL MBNWO COMMAND CONVENTION Holiday Inn West, 2520 Portage Avenue Friday, June 13, 2025, 1:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Friends and fellow Manitobans, members and supporters of a most Canadian institution, it’s a pleasure to join you in saluting an institution that is the heart of many of our communities. We are meeting tonight in the heart of Treaty One land and the heartland of the Red River Metis, in a province born through a coming-together of peoples. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I am honoured to serve in a province committed to truth, reconciliation and collaboration among all of those who call this place home. This gathering of Legion representatives from across Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario is taking place while this vast region is experiencing a terrible wild fire season. Communities are coming together to support thousands of people forced from their homes by fire – as first responders, fire fighters and members of the Armed Forces fight on the ground and air to protect their fellow Canadians. In a year when we are taking stock of the things that make us Canadians and the things that connect our country, that spirit of co-operation and dedication is high on the list. And so too is the Royal Canadian Legion, with its network of more than 1,200 branches and 275,000 members in cities and towns across our country. In no place do its roots run deeper than in this city. One hundred years ago, the Legion was born in Winnipeg to support veterans of the First World War. For a century, the Legion kept the sacrifices and contributions of veterans fresh in Canadian minds – just as you did this morning with the wreath-laying at the Brookside Cemetery Wall of Honour. While the Legion has looked back to keep history alive, it has always looked forward as well, though support for cadets, youth sports, scholarships and bursaries. And in communities large and small, the Legion is a place where old friends can meet and new friendships can form. Places like that are essential to the health of a community. They provide a chance for people to shoot the breeze, discuss news of the day and form the webs of care and understanding that make a society strong. As the Royal Canadian Legion moves into its second century, I wish you many more years of friendship, service and memories. To all who have helped to keep the Legion a vital part our country and its constellation of communities, thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

June 11, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba RRC POLYTECH – INTERLAKE AND PEGUIS-FISHER RIVER CAMPUS CONVOCATION Selkirk Recreation Complex Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 2:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, travelers on the road of life and learning – it is a pleasure to share this day of celebration with you. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, it’s a powerful experience to join you here to celebrate education in Selkirk, so close to the signing site of Treaty One. I acknowledge that our province is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota and Dene nations and the homeland of the Red River Métis. As well, Manitoba includes northern lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Today, as we celebrate graduates from Peguis and Fisher River, we are also – with heavy hearts – thinking of family and friends from across Manitoba who have been forced from their homes by wild fires. And we are grateful for the everyday heroes who – like many among you – continue to fight hard to protect communities throughout the province and provide support to those in need. As part of Manitoba’s commitment to partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people and to the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration, we must come together to support those most affected by this terrible fire season. Of course improving opportunities for education for Indigenous people is also a very important part of the calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. As Lieutenant Governor – and before that, in my earlier work in adult education and the K-12 school systems – I have had the opportunity of watching the proud, hopeful faces of students and their friends and family members at many graduation ceremonies. Graduations of any kind are special milestones for the individuals receiving their diplomas or certificates. They are also important community celebrations. That is especially the case today, as we applaud the achievement and hard work of today’s graduates and consider what their education means to the communities of Peguis and Fisher River First Nation. Today’s graduates have developed valuable knowledge and experience that will allow them to meet community needs in health care, education and infrastructure. Their new skills will strengthen the economy of their first nations, of the Interlake and of our entire province. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to get to this day. Graduates – each of you is here because you committed yourself to your studies, whether you did so full-time or part-time, or you had to balance education alongside family commitments or a job. You’re also here today because of the dedication of your instructors and the support of your family and community. To everybody who is part of extended Red River Polytech family – congratulations and thank you for your dedication to learning and growing in Manitoba, Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

June 7, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE GLADSTONE LEGION Gladstone Branch, Royal Canadian Legion Saturday, June 7, 2025, 10:45 a.m. (please check against delivery)   Friends and fellow Manitobans, members and supporters of a most Canadian institution, it’s a pleasure to join you in a gathering place that is the heart of your community. We are meeting tonight in the heart of Treaty One land and the heartland of the Red River Metis, in a province born through a coming-together of peoples. As Manitobans, we acknowledge that this province is built on the ancestral and treaty lands of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dene and Dakota peoples, on the homeland of the Red River Metis and on northern lands that are the home of the Inuit. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I am honoured to serve in a province committed to truth, reconciliation and collaboration among all of those who call this place home. We’re gathered for this celebration during a difficult time for many people in Manitoba – while wildfires have forced mass evacuations of many towns and First Nations across our province. We’ve seen outpourings of support across Manitoba, as communities make room for fire evacuees. And we know that the bravery and determination of first responders is rising to the challenge, from the Whiteshell and Nopiming to Flin Flon and Pukatawagan. So today, as we celebrate an institution that strengthens our love of country and community ties – the Royal Canadian Legion — we keep in our minds all those who fight fire and assist those affected by it. With that in mind, it’s a special pleasure to celebrate your 50th anniversary here in Gladstone. For five decades the Gladstone Legion has been a place to bring people together, support veterans, foster the spirit of remembrance, and strengthen both community and youth services and projects. While the Legion is an important institution across Canada, with its network of more than 1,200 branches and 275,000 members, it’s especially close to the hearts of Manitobans. One hundred years ago, the Legion was born in Winnipeg to support veterans of the First World War. For a century, the Legion has helped to keep the sacrifices and contributions of veterans fresh in Canadian minds. While the Legion has looked back to keep history alive, it has always looked forward as well, though support for cadets, youth sports, scholarships and bursaries. Across Canada, Legion branches support countless important community facilities and resources – like the Legion Aquatic Centre in Gladstone, which I was pleased to visit today. Today has been a wonderful opportunity to get to know this community and see pieces of Manitoba history – from the 1877 North West Territory boundary marker to a turn of the century landmark home to Gladstone’s memorial cenotaph. I’ve enjoyed a day in the life of the Gladstone of 2025 – with a lovely visit to the United Church Food Cupboard and a delicious lunch at Follow the Crumbs. I truly appreciate your hospitality and the organizing work of all those who made this trip to Gladstone memorable. As the Gladstone Legion enters its second half-century – I wish you many more years of friendship, service and memories. To all who have helped to keep the Legion a vital part of Gladstone, and to all of those who keep Gladstone a vital part of Manitoba, thank you. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

June 6, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba WPS GRADUATION CEREMONY – RECRUIT CLASS #171 RBC Convention Centre Friday, June 6, 2025, 1:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Elder Mike Calder, Minister Wiebe, Chief Justice Rolston, Mayor Gillingham, Chief Bowers, members and friends of the Winnipeg Police Service, it is a pleasure to join you on this milestone day for the members of Recruit Class 171. We have gathered today in the heart of Treaty One land and the heartland of the Red River Metis to celebrate a group of graduates who have made a commitment to this community. These new members of the Winnipeg Police Service will serve in a province that is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Dakota, Dene and Cree nations and the homeland of the Red River Métis; and that includes northern lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans and as Canadians we remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. And we are all heartened to learn that during this provincial fire emergency, members of the Winnipeg Police Service are working with communities to protect thousands of northern fire evacuees in our city. As Lieutenant Governor, I have had the opportunity to attend several graduation ceremonies in the last two and a half years for new Winnipeg Police Service recruit classes. It’s a special pleasure to share this day with Chief Bowers, at the first police graduation of his time at the helm. At graduations of all kinds, we celebrate change and we celebrate continuity. Year in and year out, the faces change at ceremonies like this. New people move up the ranks and become leaders. And the fresh-faced graduates of previous years become the experienced mentors. But what doesn’t change is the commitment that comes from wearing the police uniform and taking the oath to serve. Each of you, in following the path to become members of the Winnipeg Police Service, has accepted a great challenge. You’ve had to absorb a great deal of learning in your classroom and hands-on training. And you are now preparing to begin a career in which the learning will continue. As the legal, social and technological environment changes in the future, your job will continue to evolve and you’ll continue processing and absorbing information. But what won’t change is that your community will continue to need your service and it will continue to need your commitment to human dignity and the rights of all people to live in safety and freedom. I thank each of you for taking on this commitment. And I thank all of those who have supported you and worked as your teachers and mentors. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

June 4, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA INSTALLATION OF DAVE ANGUS AS CHANCELLOR Marshall McLuhan Hall, U of M Wednesday, June 4, 2025, 12:00 noon (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, friends of the University of Manitoba, thank you for the opportunity to join in this celebration of service to education. Today, we are gathered in a community of teaching and learning in the heart of Treaty One land and the homeland of the Red River Metis. On this campus and throughout this province, we affirm that Manitoba is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Dakota, Dene and Cree nations and the homeland of the Red River Métis; and includes northern lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans and as Canadians we remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. It’s always exciting, no matter how long ago one was a student, to come onto a university campus. As the name suggests, here in these buildings, resides a universe of ideas and knowledge. When you enter this campus, you can’t help but think back to your own earliest exposure to the tremendous variety of learning available in a place like this. We need that tremendous variety of faculties, departments, disciplines and specialties because – of course – the world is a tremendously varied and constantly changing place. And so today, I am pleased to join you to celebrate a new leader at the University of Manitoba whose own interests and experiences are a match for the wide scope of this institution. As the long-time president of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, Dave Angus spent year working to strengthen the most diverse economy among Canadian cities. And in his volunteer and community leadership commitments, he has worked to enhance Winnipeg’s and Manitoba’s cultural institutions, trade opportunities, environmental protection, health and fitness facilities, and economic and social equity. As a lifelong Manitoban, and somebody who has spent years involved in the education system, it’s great to see that the ceremonial head of Manitoba’s largest university is an individual with a vision as wide as this proud institution. Congratulations to you Dave on this prestigious next phase of your life. May you preside over this university with the same pride and dedication that you have proven throughout your storied and impressive career.  May you help students, faculty and our entire province to see the big picture. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

June 1, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba WINNIPEG PRIDE PARADE AND RALLY 2025 Manitoba Legislative Building Sunday, June 1, 2024, 10:00 a.m. (please check against delivery)   Good morning Winnipeg Pride! What a pleasure it is to join you at the Pride 2025 rally as we Rise in Pride and Stand in Strength*. This annual gathering brings people together in the heart of Treaty One land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. Today as we celebrate the two spirit and LGBT communities and the diversity of this province, we acknowledge and celebrate that Manitoba is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Red River Metis peoples. Together, we are listening and learning and working to make this province and this country a better place – a place of justice, equity and opportunity for all. This year’s Pride Festival image is that of a phoenix, rising from the flames more beautiful than ever with new rainbow-hued plumage. That phoenix is the Pride community. It’s everyone who has ever had to rise above feeling excluded or devalued, everybody who has ever been made to feel like the “them” in an “us and them” world. The LGBT community has shown the world how to rise above that experience – by coming together to share strength with others, by staying true to yourself, by living joyfully and honestly. This annual parade is a chance for everyone in Winnipeg to share in that spirit – to be brave, proud and gorgeous just the way they are. So whether you’re walking in the parade, cheering from the sidelines, or taking in the other activities of Pride season, have a wonderful time and thank you for bringing all your pride and strength of character to our city and province. And thank you to all the sponsors, volunteers and organizers who make this celebration possible every year. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

May 29, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba TEDx WINNIPEG Desautels Concert Hall, U of M Thursday, May 29, 2025, 9:00 a.m. (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, visionaries and disseminators of ideas worth spreading, welcome to what is an incubation chamber of creativity and connection. Today, we are gathered in a community of teaching and learning in the heart of Treaty One land and the homeland of the Red River Metis. At this gathering, on this campus and throughout this province, we affirm that Manitoba is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Dakota, Dene and Cree nations and the homeland of the Red River Métis; and includes northern lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans and as Canadians we remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. In our determination to build a better province and country for all, we need to encourage meaningful discussion, exchange of experience and deep listening. We need spaces – in person or virtual – where we can hear one another and exchange kernels of truth and the treasures of insight. We need to be open to learning about subjects and experiences we might never have examined before. Each insight we gain from the wisdom and experience of others serves as another piece in a great mosaic of understanding – allowing us to see a larger and more beautiful picture of our world. Today, in the presentations and breakout sessions at this TEDx event, you’ll have the opportunity to gather many such pieces for your own mosaic. You’ll hear about a wide range of subjects – from burlesque to artificial intelligence, personal identity to community design, and much more. And I suspect, you’ll form connections with one another and between the many new ideas you encounter. I would like to thank all of the presenters for sharing their time, personal stories and ideas today. And especially, thanks to Kerry Stevenson and Marney Stapley for organizing a day that I’m sure will stay fresh in all your minds for years to come. May this day bear fruit in your thoughts and our world. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom.

May 28, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba SHAAREY ZEDEK SISTERHOOD 60TH ANNIVERSARY INTERFAITH LUNCHEON Congregation Shaarey Zedek Wednesday, May 28, 2025, 12:00 noon (please check against delivery)   Friends and fellow Manitobans, believers in an understanding that transcends differences of faith, history and culture – thank you for the opportunity to listen, learn and share today. We are gathered today in a sacred space in the heart of a land that is itself sacred. This synagogue and this city are built in the heart of Treaty One land and the heartland of the Red River Metis, in a province born through a coming-together of peoples. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I acknowledge that this province includes the treaty and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota and Dene nations and the Red River Metis, as well as northern lands that are and were home to the Inuit. I am honoured to serve in a province committed to truth, reconciliation and collaboration among all of those who call this place home. Manitoba has a long tradition as a place where people build bridges across barriers of faith – dating back to a time when Catholic, Protestant and Indigenous beliefs and traditions co-existed side by side in the fur trade or Manitoba’s Provisional Government. But of course the opposite conditions have also applied during our history as a province and as a country. From government efforts to suppress Indigenous religious practices, to the exclusion of Jewish refugees in the 1930s, to the backlash a short time ago over the acceptance of Sikh turbans in the RCMP, there are many examples of efforts to use faith to divide and exclude. For 60 years, this luncheon has acted against fear and suspicion and division. The Shaarey Zedek Sisterhood has brought together Manitobans to explore the common human desire to find meaning and purpose in life. And this event has been part of an effort toward greater understanding and appreciation of differences. But we have seen in recent years that the work of these efforts are not done. Amid rising antisemitism and poisonous online discourse about race, religion, gender and culture, we need to celebrate interfaith and intercultural dialogue more than ever. I look forward to Lisa Lewis’s words on common ground and connection and I anticipate a wonderful opportunity build bridges, make friends and explore ideas. Thank you to the Shaarey Zedek Sisterhood for making this possible and for six decades of dialogue. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

May 23, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba IMAGINE A CANADA CEREMONY AND CELEBRATION Canadian Museum for Human Rights Friday, May 23, 2025, 9:00 a.m. (please check against delivery)   Students and educators, dreamers of a new and better Canada – it’s a pleasure to join you today for this celebration of creativity and reconciliation. To those of you watching on the livestream from across Canada, I’d like to welcome you to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg, in the heart of Treaty One land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. As the capital city of a province that is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Red River Metis peoples, Winnipeg is a place where the work of reconciliation is carried on all around us. We are all engaged in learning, listening, imagining and building a better country – for everybody. Today we are celebrating education in its deepest sense. The Imagine a Canada project invites students from Kindergarten to grade 12 and CEGEP to go on a learning journey to a better Canada, to a country that puts the principles of truth and reconciliation into practice every day. It’s the kind of learning journey I was dreaming of more than 30 years ago when I was a school board member. I saw then how students became truly energized and developed a love for learning when they were invited to do more than learn a set list of facts or follow specific instructions. Students learn when they are able to ask questions, when they are able to use their imaginations, when they are able to engage with the world beyond the classroom. The artworks, essays and projects created through Imagine a Canada show us what can happen when young people are able to bring their whole self to school. The learning and transformation that students go through in Imagine a Canada is an example of what the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation has brought to its mission. The NCTR has been at work on a nationwide project of learning, to help Canadians of all ages understand the past and present and create a future of opportunity, fairness and justice. And all of you – as participants in the Imagine a Canada project – are helping to create that future. To all of the students whose work is being recognized today, congratulations on your successes in learning and creativity. And to all who have made this possible, thank you for supporting transformation through education. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom.  

May 21, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba 75th ANNIVERSARY, ROYAL WINNIPEG BALLET VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE Manitoba Club Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 1:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Friends and fellow Manitobans, supporters of culture and community, welcome to this diamond anniversary celebration. We are gathered this evening in the heart of Treaty One land and the heartland of the Red River Metis, in a province born through a coming-together of peoples. A province that is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree and Dakota, Dene nations and the homeland of the Red River Metis – and that includes northern lands that are home to the Inuit – is also a place of music, dance and all forms of cultural expression. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I am honoured to serve in a province committed to truth, reconciliation and collaboration among all of those who call this place home. Winnipeg audiences are known for being generous in bestowing applause. If a performance moves us, makes us laugh, makes us think, makes us say “wow” – we’re on our feet, clapping our hands, and shouting “bravo.” While it’s the performers up front taking their bows who gratefully accept that applause, I like to think that our audiences are also clapping for the many people who make art possible. We know that the show can’t go on without the technicians and designers, stage managers and prop builders, and everybody else who keeps an arts organization running. And it can’t go on without support in the community from the people who raise funds and work to build an audience. For 75 years, the Volunteer Committee of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet has been making those standing ovations possible through its fund-raising work. Your volunteer service – at every performance and throughout the year through your boutique Things – has earned you the distinction of the longest-running ballet fund-raising organization in Canada or even in all of North America. Like the dancers you support, you’ve taken some impressive leaps of faith, since the board of the ballet formed a women’s committee to raise funds. Opening your boutique, and later expanding it in the midst of covid, took an impressive degree of courage and grace. When we take hometown pride in the RWB’s history of artistic achievements, premieres, and tours, we can also do some justified boasting about the contributions of Manitobans who support the ballet with time and donations. And so, it’s a pleasure to be here today at this celebration to see and hear the applause aimed straight at a group of arts supporters who have worked to keep those ovations coming year after year, decade after decade. Thank you for your contributions to the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and to the city and province we call home. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

May 20, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba JEWISH HERITAGE MONTH Manitoba Legislative Building Rotunda Tuesday, May 20, 2025, 5:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Friends and fellow Manitobans, representatives of government and faith, welcome to this celebration of Jewish Heritage Month. We are gathered this evening in the heart of Treaty One land and the heartland of the Red River Metis, in a province born through a coming-together of peoples. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I acknowledge that this province includes the treaty and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota and Dene nations and the Red River Metis, as well as northern lands that are and were home to the Inuit. I am honoured to serve in a province committed to truth, reconciliation and collaboration among all of those who call this place home. As Manitoba’s first Jewish Lieutenant Governor, I feel honoured to join you today to mark Jewish Heritage Month. And at a time when antisemitic incidents have been rising in Canada and elsewhere, we have a responsibility to speak about the long Jewish contribution to life in Canada and especially here in the province we love and serve. There’s a long Jewish history in Canada dating to well before Confederation. The first synagogue was built in Montreal in 1768 and an influx of Jewish immigrants arrived during the American Revolutionary War as part of the United Empire Loyalists. Canada’s Jewish history includes moments we can be proud of – such as the election in 1807 of the first Jew to public office in the British Empire, an act that led to Britain’s Emancipation Act. And it contains moments of shame that have moved our nation to be better – such as the infamous refusal to accept a ship filled with Jewish immigrants from Europe in 1939, leading to their return to Europe and many of their deaths in the Holocaust. The contributions of individual Jews – as artists and scientists, entrepreneurs and philanthropists, healers and teachers, activists and leaders – could keep this gathering going all day. One contribution I’ll mention is the role of Jews in advocating for equality, fairness and opportunity for all – through human rights legislation and education. Canadian Jews worked for generations to build an open, tolerant society that would not just accept but celebrate differences. One result is the list of official months in our national calendar that since 2018 has included Jewish Heritage Month. Today, we acknowledge generations of Jewish contributions on this day of recognition and celebration. And we celebrate a spirit of understanding and openness that unites Canadians from coast to coast to coast. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

May 14, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba RCMP LONG SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL CEREMONY Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site Wednesday, May 14, 2025, 1:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Friends and fellow Manitobans, welcome to a special place steeped in Canadian history and a special day to celebrate service to Canada. As we begin this ceremony, we acknowledge that we are gathered in Treaty One land and in the homeland of the Red River Metis. We acknowledge as well that from the Red River to Hudson Bay, this province is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Red River Metis peoples. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I am honoured to serve in a province committed to truth, reconciliation and collaboration. This year, perhaps more than in any year since Canada’s Centennial, Canadians have been flying our national flag and thinking about what unites us and what it means to be Canadian. This ceremony, celebrating careers spent in service of public safety and a great national institution, is an opportunity to reflect on that. It is especially fitting that we are gathered here at Lower Fort Garry, on the site of the signing of the first of the numbered treaties, for this ceremony. Here is where so much of the history of western Canada began. And here is where the relationship and the obligations to work in partnership to build a nation on truth and reconciliation was put down on paper more than 150 years ago. For more than a century and a half, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has been part of the building of an independent, prosperous land living under the rule of law. Members have provided federal policing and security services as well as local policing across vast areas of Canada. Today we celebrate individual members who have upheld the RCMP’s high standards of conduct, while serving with diligence, integrity and courage. Theirs is a job that requires service at all hours, under all weather conditions, and with an awareness that any moment could turn into a matter of life or death. The individuals being recognized today have served in a wide range of capacities, often doing many different kinds of policing at different stages of their careers. They’ve been front-line responders, they have trained and supervised others, they have provided specialized investigative and technological services, they have worked to ensure that the future safety and security needs of our country are met. And today we pause for a moment to thank these members for their long and honourable service to the country we love and to its people. To all of today’s honourees, I offer thanks for serving your community and country and giving us more reasons to wave the maple leaf with pride. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

May 12, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR’S AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY Government House Monday, May 12, 2025 (Please check against delivery)   Members and friends of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, champions of prosperity and progress, welcome to Government House on this special day for our province. It is a pleasure to welcome you to this gathering in the heart of Treaty One land and the homeland of the Red River Metis on May 12 – Manitoba Day. As we commemorate the anniversary of the passage of the Manitoba Act, we acknowledge that our province is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Dakota, Dene and Cree nations and the homeland of the Red River Métis. We also acknowledge that this province was established as a result of the efforts of Louis Riel and the provisional government to protect the rights of the Indigenous residents of the Red River and beyond. As we work for prosperity and greater economic opportunity in Manitoba, we remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. I don’t need to remind an audience like this that we live in a time of considerable economic uncertainty. From day to day, even from hour to hour, we don’t know what change will come to stock markets and global trade patterns. And so because of that, we are all looking to our local, provincial and national business communities to innovate and build homegrown economic security. With that in mind, I can’t think of a better time to bring back the Manitoba Champions Awards to celebrate great accomplishments and leadership by individuals and by businesses. Past recipients of these awards have created employment to support countless families, expanded the tax base to meet public needs, and given back to the community through philanthropy and volunteer leadership. The individuals and businesses recognized through these awards have created Canada’s most diversified economy and provided opportunities that have allowed young Manitobans to follow their dreams in their home province. And in a moment we’ll hear how this year’s recipients – Payworks Canada and Doug Stephen, president of Wow! Hospitality Concepts – have earned the status of Manitoba Champions. In a year when we need leaders to rise to the occasion to defend our prosperity, values and sovereignty, I thank the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce for supporting business and shining a light on great success stories. And I congratulate this year’s recipients on well-earned recognition and thank them for all they do to enrich our economy and strengthen our communities. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

May 8, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR’S AWARD FOR HISTORICAL PRESERVATION AND PROMOTION Government House Thursday, May 8, 2025, 5:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, keepers of knowledge and tellers of stories, welcome to Government House and this celebration of those who keep our history alive. I begin by acknowledging the depth of our history as a province that is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, and Dene and the homeland of the Red River Métis; and that includes northern lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Here on Treaty One land and throughout our province, we remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. And understanding our history plays a key part in that partnership and collaboration. Since 2011, the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Historical Preservation and Promotion has recognized the work of men and women across Manitoba who find, preserve and interpret artifacts and historic sites, write and teach history, build and maintain archives and in other ways allow a living connection to our past. In the years since this award was established, the importance of that work has never stood out more prominently than it does right now. Suddenly, all around us, Canadians are looking to history to understand the strange time we’re in and to propose solutions for our dilemmas. We’re hearing references to the War of 1812, the National Policy of the Macdonald government of the 1880s, and much more. And of course, Canadians are turning to history to express who we are as a people, what our country means to us and what accomplishments inspire our love for Canada. Our desires for self-understanding and for past parallels that can help us understand our present make it more important than ever that we have the historical resources needed. And not just the resources. We need people who can put the incidents and objects and personalities into context so that we can recreate the past in our own imaginations. The work we are celebrating today requires a lot of special skills and a lot of passionate commitment. The individuals we are recognizing today need to have filing cabinet minds capable of holding and accessing volumes of detail. They need to have judgement and imagination to envision the lived experience of the past. They need to be great communicators, so that they can inspire others to share and even build on that vision of history. As Oscar Wilde quipped: “Any fool can make history, but it takes a genius to write it.” He might have added, “to preserve, rebuild and maintain it.” Thanks to the work of today’s award recipients, people across Manitoba are better able to see how the past lives with us every day, shapes our institutions and values and gives us templates for understanding our present and predicting our future. And thanks to the Manitoba Historical Society, those who value history are able to share ideas and celebrate success in awards such as these. To all who keep our understanding of history fresh, thank you for your dedication to knowledge and to our province and country. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

May 8, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba COMMEMORATION OF 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF VE DAY Manitoba Legislative Building Rotunda Thursday, May 8, 2025, 12 noon (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, Canadians united in remembrance, it’s an honour to join you in expressing our gratitude to veterans on this special anniversary. We are gathered today in the heart of Treaty One land in a place dedicated to democracy and freedom. I acknowledge that that our beautiful and diverse province is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Nehetho Nation and is the homeland of the Red River Métis. As well, Manitoba includes northern lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. And in this sacred place, we give thanks to the veterans who defended those values in the most devastating war in history. Eighty years ago today, the Second World War came to an end in Europe and the murderous ideology that launched it upon the world was defeated. Canada paid a terrible price in blood during six years of war – fighting on land, on water and in the air. The veterans we salute today represent a million Canadians who served at home or abroad during the war – a remarkable effort from a country of only 11 million at that time. Since then, Canadians have pledged to remember the service and sacrifice of our veterans. We remember them today, on November the 11th, on special anniversaries and ceremonies. We pass this message on to new generations through school lessons and museums. And in answer to their service to democracy and freedom, we commit ourselves to protecting those principles today. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I express our province’s profound gratitude to all our veterans. And to all who have gathered here today, may their service to Canada inspire continued devotion to the country and province that we are so fortunate to call home. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom    

May 6, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba RECEPTION HONOURING ANDRE LEWIS, ROYAL WINNIPEG BALLET Government House Tuesday, May 6, 2025, 5:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, lovers of the arts, welcome to Government House and this celebration of a career dedicated to beauty and creativity. This celebration of human cultural expression takes place on Treaty One land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis, in a province located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, and Dene and the Red River Metis and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we cherish the arts for advancing understanding, creating beauty and bringing people together in collaboration partnership to build a better world founded on our common humanity. Generations of Manitobans have taken pride in our province’s rich arts community, and, in a pantheon of renowned artists and institutions that is far larger than an outsider would expect from our population. When Manitobans speak of the achievements and significance of our arts community, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet is a well-deserved central part of that conversation. On stages around the world, on film, in Assiniboine Park on a summer night and at home in the Centennial Concert Hall, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet has delighted and inspired countless lovers of dance. And through its school, the company has trained professionals and introduced new generations to the magic of movement. A record of artistic and popular achievement like that doesn’t happen without the continuity, vision, dedication and inspiration provided by great leaders. And for 50 years, since coming to Winnipeg as a student in the school’s professional division, André Lewis has been providing those contributions in all the roles he has had – as a dancer, artistic director, and ambassador of dance. It is a pleasure for me to join the friends of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet this evening in celebrating a career of bringing dance to Manitoba and indeed, to the world. André, I thank you for enriching life in this city and province for five decades, and I thank all of those who have supported the RWB and helped André and the company bring magic into our lives with every performance over many years. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

May 3, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba ICELANDIC NATIONAL LEAGUE OF NORTH AMERICA CONVENTION Lakeview Gimli Resort Saturday, May 3, 2025, 6:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Members of the Icelandic National League of North America, heirs to the sagas, friends from across a continent, it is a pleasure to join you here at this convention and this beautiful community. It is a pleasure to welcome friends from across North America and from Iceland to this gathering on Treaty One land and the heartland of the Red River Metis. We are meeting in a place where people have come together for centuries and millennia to trade and share ideas and cultures. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I acknowledge that our province is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota and Dene nations and the homeland of the Red River Métis; and on lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Manitobans are committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. Manitobans have long had a special, close relationship with Gimli and the other communities on the shore of our inland sea. We know this is a place of beauty, creativity, heritage and passion for community. So we are all happy to welcome visitors from beyond our province to this place close to our hearts. Of course, it’s not just the beauty of Lake Winnipeg that’s brought you here, to the heart of Manitoba’s Icelandic community. Holding your convention in Gimli this year, when the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Icelandic settlers is being commemorated here, is a coming – home for your organization and for many of you. As you explore your history and culture at this convention, I’m sure you will see a web of connections between your own city or town, Gimli and Iceland itself. And I am sure you will leave with a new appreciation of your Icelandic connections and the connections tying many communities together – here in Manitoba and across North America. There are so many stories to be told about the bonds of family and friendship that link us. And as heirs of the saga tradition, you are ideally suited to tell those stories, to hold them close and to pass them on to others. I wish you an inspiring and insightful time that strengthens the bonds of friendship connecting Iceland, Canada, the United States and the world. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

May 1, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba VOLUNTEER MANITOBA AWARDS GALA Club Regent Events Centre Thursday, May 1, 2025, 5:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, mentors and leaders and volunteers – it’s a pleasure to join you for this large and diverse gathering of community builders. We are gathered this evening in a place where community building has deep roots – in the heart of Treaty One land and the homeland of the Red River Metis. This province, located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota and Dene nations and the homeland of the Red River Métis, is a place where many people have worked together to build homes, security, culture and prosperity. We have recently been living through a time of uncertainty and threat that has brought out an outpouring of love for Canada. Canadian flags that might have only been brought out of storage for Canada Day or an Olympic hockey championship are popping up in windows and on flagpoles all over. Canadians have outed themselves as lovers of their country, singing O Canada with renewed enthusiasm, and speaking about the things they love about this land and its people. It’s not that we didn’t love our country until people started to threaten it. Rather, our love was a quieter thing, expressed through action, rather than words and symbols. Canadians have expressed their love by working to make it better, by caring for one another, by getting involved and giving of themselves to enhance the lives of their neighbours. Nothing better showcases that love than our great tradition of volunteer service – something that enhances the health, safety and happiness of people in communities throughout Canada and all around Manitoba. The Volunteer Manitoba Awards provide a remarkable picture of the range and depth of volunteer commitment. With awards for youth, for people in urban, rural and northern communities, for groups and individuals, for volunteer leadership, for pro-bono service to volunteer organizations and for service in the field of mental health, these awards show us the past, present and future of volunteer service. Tonight’s award recipients have spent years serving their communities, their province and their country. And their dedication will continue far into the future. To all of you, and to Volunteer Manitoba, thank you for giving us something to celebrate this evening. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

April 26, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba CFB SHILO MILITARY BALL Victoria Inn, Brandon Saturday, April 26, 2025, 6:30 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Members and friends of Canada’s Armed Forces and members of the CFB Shilo community, it’s a pleasure to join you for this evening of comradeship, tradition and esprit de corps. We are gathered this evening on Treaty Two land to pay tribute to an army base located on Treaty One land. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I acknowledge that our province is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Dakota, Dene and Cree nations and the homeland of the Red River Métis; and that Manitoba includes northern lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans and as Canadians we remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. Canadian Forces Base Shilo has a long and storied history within Canada’s armed forces. The rolling sand hills and forests of Shilo have seen generations of Canadian soldiers and soldiers of Canada’s allies train for active duty. The importance of CFB Shilo on a national and even international scale has made it a source of pride for Manitobans and place with connections throughout our province. And, of course, Shilo is especially close to the hearts of people in the Westman region. With hundreds of military personnel and civilian employees living in and around Brandon and an economic impact of more than $100 million per year, this base is woven into the economic, social and cultural life of this area. Many Manitobans have memories of time they’ve spent at Shilo as regular or reserve members of the Armed Forces. Many other Manitobans know of the community work and volunteer service provided by men and women from Shilo in their off hours. Still others know of Shilo as the site of the Royal Canadian Artillery Museum – a Manitoba Star Attraction and one of Canada’s largest military museums. And so, it’s a pleasure to be able to join members of all ranks serving at Shilo – plus guests from across Western Canada and from the United States – at this spring ball. May the music and march-pasts and the songs and solidarity of this evening fill your hearts with pride for the important work you do in defending your country, its people, its values and its sovereignty. To all who have worked to make this evening possible thank you for helping celebrate service and tradition. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

April 25, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GRAND LODGE OF MANITOBA RBC Convention Centre Friday, April 25, 2025, 6:30 p.m. (please check delivery)   Members and friends of the Grand Lodge of Manitoba, fellow Manitobans, thank you for the opportunity to reflect with you on a century and a half of fellowship, learning and building. It’s a pleasure to welcome Masons from all across our province to this gathering in the heart of Treaty One land and in the homeland of the Red River Metis. Your home lodges, where you work on your commitment to faith, hope, charity and equality, are located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Dakota, Dene and Cree nations and in the homeland of the Red River Métis. In this province, we remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. The contribution of Freemasonry and Freemasons to Manitoba’s growth and development is written in street names – Bannatyne, Kennedy, Hargrave, Inkster, and much more. And it is written in stone at our beautiful Legislative Building – where our elected officials gather to discuss the business of the day surrounded by Masonic symbols meant to call on wisdom and inspiration. And that history is also written in the dedication of generations of masons to building a prosperous, healthy and just society here in Manitoba. Those members have sought brotherhood through their involvement in Freemasonry and encouragement to be better husbands and fathers, better neighbours and citizens. They have served their province and nation through elected office and public service. They have built businesses that created employment and prosperity. They have honed their crafts and their talents in innumerable fields. And they have given back to their communities through charitable donations and volunteer service. So tonight, as we celebrate 150 years since the first Masonic lodge was created in the new province of Manitoba, we also celebrate 150 years of the growth and development of this province. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I congratulate the Grand Lodge of Manitoba on this milestone anniversary and join you in celebrating the many ways in which the story of Freemasonry is braided through the story of our province and our country. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

April 24, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba NEW ICELAND 150 CELEBRATION Government House Thursday, April 24, 2025, 5:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Friends, fellow Manitobans, welcome to Government House and this celebration of a century and a half of resilience, growth, creativity and friendship. As always, I acknowledge first that this gathering is being held in the heart of Treaty One land and the homeland of the Red River Metis and further, that the New Iceland we will explore tonight is part of a province located on the ancestral and treaty lands of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota and Dene peoples. The story of Manitoba is one of many peoples, gradually learning to work together in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. A related aspect of our story is Manitoba’s long history as a place of second chances, a haven for peoples driven from home by danger and destruction. Tonight we celebrate a key chapter in that story, although in the case of the Icelanders who made their way here 150 years ago this fall, the destruction was wrought by the earth itself in the form of volcanic eruptions. When they arrived on the shores of Lake Winnipeg, facing an early winter snowstorm in late October, it probably didn’t look likely that a celebration like this would be held someday. But though the early years of the Icelandic presence were marked by disease, crop failure and desperate difficulty, those who held firm eventually established a creative, entrepreneurial, compassionate and open-hearted community. In the arts and science, in business and public service, on the waters of Manitoba’s lakes and from the rich soil that attracted those early settlers, the Icelandic community has made innumerable contributions to our province, its people and its economy. Manitobans appreciate those contributions not just during one of our favourite summer festivals, but throughout the year. And as the generations add up, the heritage of Iceland blends into a gloriously diverse population that cherishes cultures with roots that extend from our prairie soil to lands around the world. On this day when we mark the beginning of summer in the old Icelandic calendar, I would to thank the Icelandic Festival of Manitoba for organizing this celebration. And thank you to all who contribute their stories to the great book of the people of Manitoba. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

April 24, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba COMMEMORATION OF  YOM HASHOAH (HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE) Manitoba Legislative Building Thursday, April 24, 2025, 11:45 a.m. (please check against delivery)   Friends and fellow Manitobans, Canadians united against hatred, welcome to this ceremony of remembrance. We are gathered this afternoon in the heart of Treaty One land and the homeland of the Red River Metis, in a province born through a coming-together of peoples. This beautiful and diverse province is also the ancestral and the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, and Inuit peoples.  As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I am honoured to serve in a province committed to truth, reconciliation and collaboration among all of those who call this place home. On any spring day, as our fields and forests hum with new life, we feel the timeless spirit hope that accompanies this season. Spring is here, the light has returned, and all good things sometimes seem possible. But this spring day is also a reminder of the darkest time, a time when the human capacity for hope was turned into another source of torment. Eighty years ago this month, the final vestiges of the death machine of the Holocaust were captured and a shocked world struggled to understand the magnitude of evil that had been unleashed. And so this day, the 27th of Nisan in the Jewish calendar, became established as Yom HaShoah – Holocaust Memorial Day. Over these last eight decades, generations have grown up learning of the great evil unleashed by antisemitism, by all forms of racism, by ideologies based on conspiracy thinking and on scapegoating. But we have also seen in recent years and in our own community how hard it is to eradicate those forms of thought. In the internet age, we’ve seen how the most ancient hatreds and lies can circle the globe at the speed of light. And so, eighty years after the nations of the world united to defeat the ideology that launched the Holocaust, we gather here to reaffirm our commitment to remember and to oppose that evil, in whatever new guise it may have. Thank you for coming together on this day. May this memory and our coming together today be a source of strength and determination for you all. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

April 22, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba ROYAL MILITARY INSTITUTE OF MANITOBA AWARDS Manitoba Legislative Building Tuesday, April 22, 2025, 6:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Friends and supporters of the Royal Military Institute of Manitoba – advocates for the safety and security of Canada, welcome to this ceremony in recognition of great service in support of our country’s defence. We are gathered this evening in a building consecrated to the principle of democracy, in a place where the people’s elected representatives conduct public business in the open and where Manitobans themselves gather to voice their concerns and express their visions for the future. And this building, in the heart of Treaty One land and the heartland of the Red River Metis, symbolically turns its face northward to the treaty and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Dene and Cree nations and to parts of northern Manitoba that are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. The Manitoba and Canada whose safety, sovereignty and protection we support tonight are characterized by the rule of law, respect for treaties and co-operation among many peoples in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. Canadians take great satisfaction at living in a peaceable land, where violent disputes that tear countries apart or turn cities to wastelands seem to be a world away. But of course maintaining that state of affairs has always required the work and preparedness of the dedicated professionals of our armed forces and security services. And, obviously, it has required the service and sacrifice of Canadians in two world wars and in conflicts from Korea to Afghanistan It has also required constant support for recruitment and training, research and development, and acquisition of new equipment of all kinds. It has required support for Canada’s participation in alliances to share intelligence, to participate in joint planning and exercises and to defend common values. All of that requires an effort to disseminate ideas and knowledge and build support within Canada for our military and security services. The Royal Military Institute of Manitoba has been filling that need for more than a century. It has been bringing together men and women committed to this goal, from the military, the RCMP and CSIS, and from the worlds of business, education and public policy. Tonight, I am pleased to join you in honouring individuals who have made great contributions in support of those goals. Whether they serve in the military or security services as a career, or whether they offer their expertise and advocacy from outside, these individuals have helped to make Canada more capable of defending its people, its values and its sovereignty in an always-uncertain world. Thank you for your dedication to Canada. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

April 15, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba 120TH ANNIVERSARY OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL Government House Tuesday, April 15, 2025 (please check against delivery)   Builders of peace, prosperity, health and international understanding – welcome to Government House and this celebration of 120 years of Rotary International. As we celebrate an organization that unites people in 200 nations around the world, we begin by acknowledging the nations of Manitoba – here in Treaty One land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis and all across our province. In a province that is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Dakota, Dene and Cree nations, and the Red River Métis; and that includes ancestral lands of the Inuit, we are committed to collaboration and friendship between and among all the people of Manitoba. Manitoba is the ideal place for this anniversary gathering because it was right here that Rotary became international when Winnipeg Rotary Club was born just five years after the very first Rotary Club formed in Chicago. So our city and province can take a lot of credit for helping Rotary acquire its global focus of peace, education, cultural understanding and improving health for those in the greatest need. And in a world of uncertainty, where trade and alliances are threatened and we seem to be moving back to an earlier time of mutually hostile competing empires, we need Rotary International more than ever. At a global level, Rotary International has saved countless lives by helping to eradicate polio, provide clean water and support health care for women and children, among many other worthy projects that bring our world together. And at a local level, Manitobans have benefited from stewardship of the Assiniboine Forest, support for remote Indigenous communities, scholarships and youth exchange programs and much more. One of the highlights of spring for Manitoba Lieutenant Governors – myself included – has been meeting the students who gather each year at the Rotary Model United Nations General Assembly. As members of Manitoba’s Rotary Clubs, each of you takes on a leadership role in society by sharing big dreams of a better world and finding ways to make real progress toward those dreams. I wish you well as you continue a long tradition of integrity, public service and fellowship through Rotary International. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

April 11, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba “ESCAPE THE STIGMA” CARNIVAL, PRESENTED BY KIDTHINK RBC Convention Centre Friday, April 11, 2025, 6:45 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Friends and supporters of mental health and believers in opportunities for all children, it’s a pleasure to join you for this magical evening. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I would first like to acknowledge that we are gathered in the heart of Treaty One land and that our province is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene, Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation and the homeland of the Red River Métis; and on lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Manitobans respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty-making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. The health of any society can be measured by its commitment to the health, development and education of its youngest members. And a society’s commitment to justice and fairness can be gauged by seeing what it does to allow all young people to grow socially, intellectually, emotionally and physically. And so tonight, by being here to support Kidthink and its programs you are helping Manitoba to be the place of equity and opportunity we want it to be. Like you, I’m looking forward to the performance later tonight by Manitoba’s great escape artist Dean Gunnerson. And I can’t think of a better metaphor for the cause you are supporting. As somebody who spent a number of years involved in the K-12 education system, I know that the labels and limitations placed on children can be as confining as the handcuffs and straitjackets cast off by escape artists since Harry Houdini. Compassionate, supportive and evidence-based interventions — combined with a greater societal understanding of the diversity of the human mind — can help children can break free of those metaphorical restraints. To all of those who have made this evening possible, and all of you for supporting Kidthink, thank you for your commitment to helping young people thrive and helping us see the unique value in all kids. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

April 9, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba MAHATMA GANDHI PEACE AWARD CERMONY Canadian Museum for Human Rights Wednesday, April 9, 2025 (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans – welcome to this celebration of hope, determination and advocacy. We are gathered this evening in the heart of Treaty One land and the heartland of the Red River Metis, in a place where people have come together for centuries and millennia to trade and share ideas and cultures. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I acknowledge that our province is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene, Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation and the homeland of the Red River Métis; and on lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Manitobans respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. That spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration is one that is central to all efforts to build a more peaceful and more just world. This evening, I am pleased to join you as Honorary Patron of this distinguished program as we recognize two great truth-tellers with the 2025 Mahatma Gandhi Peace Prize. Tonight’s two award recipients have each reached the heights in their chosen careers of journalism and music. But they have done much more than attain personal success. The work of Susan Aglukark and Sally Armstrong in raising our understanding of injustice and empowering advocates for human rights has inspired countless others in Canada and around the world. They are fitting recipients of the Mahatma Gandhi Centre of Canada’s annual award for peace. And there is no better place to confer this honour than here at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights – a sacred space dedicated to the global struggle to define and defend the rights of all to safety, dignity and freedom. In these uncertain times, Canadians are rallying around our country and seeking ways to defend our independence and identity as a nation. Canadians are thinking deeply about what it is that they love about our country and what we have to offer the world. I suggest that one answer to that lies in our great humanitarians and peacebuilders — like Susan Aglukark and Sally Armstrong. Susan, Sally, thank you for your contributions to a better Canada and a better world and for fostering our love for and pride in our fellow Canadians. And thank you to the Mahatma Gandhi Centre for Canada, for making this evening possible and bringing us together in celebration and solidarity. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

April 7, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba DAY OF PINK EVENT Dakota Collegiate Monday, April 7, 2025, 12:30 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Students, educators and advocates for rights and dignity – it’s a pleasure to be with you here at Dakota Collegiate to learn and share at this Day of Pink gathering. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I would first like to acknowledge that we are gathered in the heart of Treaty One land and that our province is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene, Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation and the homeland of the Red River Métis; and on lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Manitobans respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty-making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. In all of our society’s efforts to build a more just world, beginning with truth is essential. We need to know about the good and the bad, about our successes and our failings. We want Canadians to have the opportunity to learn about their country and its actions, past and present. And so this annual Day of Pink – which was born nearly 20 years ago in response to an incident of homophobic schoolyard bullying – is important. And by focusing this day on key milestones – like the legal action to stop the LGBT Purge in Canada’s Armed Forces – gives us an opportunity to learn and commit to progress. As individuals and as a society we need to be able to look in the mirror and acknowledge where we need to improve. Each of you has a role to play in that. All of us – you, your teachers, me – have all had the experience of being excluded, feeling as if we didn’t fit in. And all of us have witnessed others being excluded, whether in a casual social setting or in a more systematic form of exclusion. I urge you to take that experience along with the knowledge you gain today and take action. You have the power to make change through your words and actions – whether it is at your school, in your social circle or at work. We have all heard of “The Power of One”. And soon you’ll have that power through your vote. Use that power! Use that power to make a better, more inclusive world. To all of the students and staff here as part of the Louis Riel School Division and to all of those organizers at Pink Shirt Day, thank you for building a community committed to learning, to caring and to making change. May the learning of this day stay with you and guide you on your way forward. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

April 6, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba RALLY FOR CANADA Manitoba Legislative Building Sunday, April 6, 2025 (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, fellow Canadians – welcome to this outpouring of love for our country and its values. We’ve come together here today, outside the place where our elected representatives work out the important business of governance. This is where the people of this province come to voice what’s on their mind. For many years, people have gathered on these grounds to call for justice and to call for change. People have come here to send a message to government. They have also come here to speak to their fellow Manitobans and fellow Canadians. Today that message is that we love our country. We will defend Canada’s independence, Canada’s values and Canada’s prosperity.  In such times, coming together to support each other and to cooperate together is more important than ever. By showing your love for Canada, and your fellow Canadians, you are strengthening our desire to work through this together. And when we have done that, when these challenges are behind us, the Canada that emerges from this period will be even better and more worthy of our true patriot love. Canadians, Manitobans are kind, courageous and we are strong. Thank you for standing on guard for Canada. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

April 2, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba 10th Annual Multi-faith Leadership Breakfast RBC Convention Centre Wednesday, April 2, 2025, 7:30am (please check against delivery)   Good morning, everyone. It is wonderful to be here with you. As the King’s representative in Manitoba, I am pleased to extend vice-regal greetings to the members and friends of the Manitoba Multifaith Council as we gather to celebrate the council’s outstanding service to our community. As we come together here today, I acknowledge and honour that we are gathered on Treaty 1 and that our province is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene, Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation and the homeland of the Red River Métis. As well, Manitoba includes northern lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Though the world is constantly changing, the significance of faith and the importance of social unity are as vital as ever. With conflict and uncertainty gripping in so many areas of the world, the need for inter-faith respect and understanding has become ever more urgent. With love, peace and faith as basic tenets of every faith, we must recognize and honour our shared values as a solid foundation for a harmonious, just society for all. In 2010, the Lieutenant-Governor’s Award for the Advancement of Religious Understanding was established to shine a spotlight on individuals and organizations whose efforts and achievements are succeeding in promoting inter-faith dialogue and mutual respect.  The recipients of this prestigious award not only make positive contributions to our province but also serve as role models for all those who strive to make a difference in the world. Members of the Manitoba Multifaith Council know all about the importance of that mission.  Through your dedication to the power of faith and compassion to heal, inspire and change lives, you continue to provide an invaluable gift to many people, of all faiths, who are seeking healing and connection to sooth their spirits and improve their lives. Congratulations on commitment to this noble cause.  I wish you many more years of faithful service to our province. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

March 25, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba imagiNorthern Network Reception Government House Tuesday, March 25, 2025 (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, dreamers, creators and champions of the arts, welcome to Government House. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I regularly greet people at gatherings here in the heart of Treaty 1 land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. Today, I’m especially pleased to welcome Manitobans who represent communities located on Treaty Five land and on lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Living in a province located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene, Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation, Manitobans are committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. As Manitobans, we have long known that diversity and a network of strong communities constitute great strengths for our province. Supporting communities across Manitoba, north and south, urban and rural, helps to enhance prosperity, quality of life and opportunity for all. The establishment of the ImagiNorthern project does just that, by helping to foster creativity and connection across Northern Manitoba. The important work done by ImagiNorthern participants is providing a more thorough picture of the arts and culture sector, developing resources for marketing creative work, linking artists and communities, and creating support for northern foods. I’m especially pleased today to welcome the community champions who are bringing this project to life in Churchill, Thompson, Flin Flon, Snow Lake, Leaf Rapids, Lac Brochet, The Pas and Opaskwayak Cree Nation. As individual artists, you all have your own special vision and talent that you express in your personal creative work – but as champions your work will help us to discover so many other creative people in Northern Manitoba. I had the very distinct pleasure of travelling to Flin Flon last year to take part in their Culture Days festivities. I was truly amazed and inspired by the level of community involvement and the passion everyone demonstrated while showcasing their various arts programs.  One can tell there is a tremendous amount of pride that exists when given the opportunity to showcase talent that is not only available around them, but throughout the Northern part of our great province. There’s so much creativity in our province and there are so many varied ways in which that creativity is expressed. As Manitobans we are very fortunate to have the people and the passion behind projects such as ImagiNorthern that furthered the ability to tap into that rich vein of arts and culture in Manitoba’s northern communities. Thank you to all who have made this possible. And a most sincere thank you to Crystal Kolt, who not only was instrumental in bringing you all here today to celebrate this wonderful initiative, but provided me the opportunity to see firsthand the diverse culture and creativity that exists within our northern communities – thank you for everything you do. To all, may your work continue inspire and support new ideas and creations in your home communities and throughout our province. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

March 24, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba CFB Winnipeg 100th Anniversary Lunch Reception Manitoba Legislative Building – Rotunda Monday, March 24, 2025, noon (please check against delivery)   Honoured Guests, Fellow Manitobans:  Good Afternoon. As the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I am pleased to join you here in the heart of Treaty One land, and in the homeland of the Red River Métis. As we build and sustain healthy and diverse communities across Manitoba, we acknowledge that this province is the ancestral and the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Métis peoples. For all of us, our work of building a province of which we can be proud includes listening and learning, advancing understanding and working for opportunity, and healing for all. I am pleased to join you today in celebrating the remarkable milestone anniversary of our illustrious Canadian Forces Base – Winnipeg. It not only in these times of overt patriotism that Manitobans regard CFB as a hub of honour and service excellence. For 100 years, the base has been home to those who heeded the call to serve our country, bringing their talents and dedication to contribute to the great legacy of our country’s armed forces. As we are all aware, Canada is experiencing a particularly strong wave of patriotism these days. It is a heartwarming reflection of our shared love of country and commitment to the nation we hold so dear.  The men and women who have been, and are presently, part of CFB’s long history personify that patriotism as they work to protect and uphold democracy at home and around the world.  Thank you for your service! For 100 years, CFB has been a community hub in west Winnipeg, emblematic of strength and security.  It is this base that launched careers, sparked lifelong friendships, and played a pivotal role in training military members past, present and future. In its century of service to the community, CFB has carried on its good work amid historical events and significant social change.  Just think about what has transpired in the world since CFB was established – The Great Depression, world wars, societal evolution, unforeseen great technological advances and so much more – yet the base and all the honour, dedication and valour it represents continues in earnest. As Manitobans, and Canadians, we are as proud of you now as we were 100 years ago. Congratulations to the CFB leadership, anniversary organizing committee, volunteers for your commitment to our great nation, and all of your hard work in bringing this celebration together so well.  Good work! And to all those who give, and have given so selflessly, to the outstanding work of CFB – thank you for your service. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

March 21, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita R. Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba Prairie Tides Live-In Healing Home/Marymound Sod Turning and Land Dedication Ceremony Friday, March 21, 2025 (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, thank you for welcoming me to be a part of this special day and for your organization and for the next steps for the incredible the work that you do.  It is a pleasure to be here with you. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I honour and acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty One land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. This beautiful and diverse province is also the ancestral and the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, and Inuit peoples. Together, we will continue to work to hear truths, and to advance understanding, opportunity, and healing for all. I am pleased to join you today in celebrating another milestone in the long history of care, compassion and service provided by the staff, management and volunteers of Marymound. After the challenges of winter, springtime traditionally inspires hope and inspiration through the beauty and wonder of seasonal transformation. So, it is fitting that at this promising time of year, the work officially begins in creating the Prairie Tides Live-In Healing Home. For more than a century, Marymound has been dedicated to helping young people and their families as they take important steps toward a happier, healthier future. Your work has made a positive difference in the lives of so many who may have felt lost and alone, only to find compassion, valuable services and a safe haven, thanks to your organization. The Prairie Tides Live-In Healing Home marks a new era in your history of social service, one that will provide safety, comprehensive supports and cultural sensitivity to help clients heal and move forward. Congratulations to Marymound’s board of directors, staff and volunteers for all your good works in strengthening individuals, families and, in turn, our entire community. Thank you for your outstanding work. Thank you. Merci, Meegwich. Shalom  

March 10, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba WINNIPEG WOMEN’S CONFERENCE Canadian Museum for Human Rights Monday, March 10, 2025, 9:00 a.m. (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, champions of opportunities for women and prosperity for Manitoba – it’s a pleasure to join you for a day of learning and inspiration. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, with gratitude I acknowledge that we are gathering on Treaty 1 land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. Our province is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Oji-Cree, Dakota, Dene and Cree nations. Manitoba includes northern lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. We respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. It seems appropriate to me that this year’s conference falls on on Commonwealth Day – a day celebrating the 56 independent nations of the Commonwealth and their shared values. This year, the theme of Commonwealth Day is “Together we Thrive” – which is a fitting phrase to apply to this conference celebrating women in business and leadership. We’re also meeting in the ideal location for such a gathering. The Canadian Museum for Human Rights celebrates the evolution of human rights in a global and a Canadian context. And it provides visitors with knowledge to empower them to speak out for justice, dignity, freedom and opportunity. Those of you who have toured the museum know that it tells the stories of many pathfinders –citizens throughout the world whose vision, determination and courage has shown a way forward for others to follow. And today, as participants in the Winnipeg Women’s Conference, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with many pathfinders in person. The entrepreneurs, visionaries and mentors speaking today have found ways to lead – by identifying needs, visualizing solutions, and creating communities. The success of women in business and leadership is a source of strength for our entire province and for Canada. If we can bring all the talent, dreams and determination of all Canadians to bear on creating prosperity, we will make our society stronger, more resilient, more dynamic. All Manitobans, therefore, have a stake in the success of initiatives like this conference. May this be a great day of learning, making new friends and building new networks for all of you. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

March 7, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba PURPLE GALA Friedensfeld Friday, March 7, 2025 (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, allies and advocates for women and families, it is a pleasure to join you at this special celebration of love and compassion. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I am pleased to join you here in southeastern Manitoba, on Treaty 1 land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. I acknowledge that our province is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Oji-Cree, Dakota, Dene and Cree nations and the homeland of the Red River Métis and includes northern lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Manitobans respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. And supporting institutions like Agape House is essential to that vision, With International Women’s Day being held around the world tomorrow, I can’t think of a better place to be this evening than right here – celebrating the strength of survivors of violence and abuse and raising funds to provide more women with support and protection. This year marks 50 years since the United Nations first marked International Women’s Day. And on this half-century anniversary, we can look back on many important areas of legal, economic and social progress. But we know too well that that progress has not been felt by every woman. This year’s International Women’s Day theme — “For ALL women and girls” – puts the emphasis on the word ALL in order to remind the world of that. We know that gender-based violence continues to blight too many lives. Women continue to need a safe place to escape violence and abuse and continue to need support and counselling. And we know too well that no place is immune. A small, beautiful community might seem as idyllic as the setting of a Hallmark movie – but it still requires the support that Agape House provides. I know that the word Agape has a specific meaning in Christianity – referring to the expression of one’s love of God through acts of love and charity to other people. But whatever a person’s religious beliefs, this kind of love is something that can bring us together in joy, hope and strength. It’s a love that inspires respects the unique value in each human being. And it’s a love that builds and nurtures essential services like those offered by Agape House. Thank you all for supporting Agape House and for organizing this wonderful evening. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

March 7, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba CITY OF WINNIPEG INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY LUNCHEON Fort Garry Hotel Friday, March 7, 2025, 11:30 a.m. (please check against delivery)   Mayor Gillingham, fellow Manitobans, it’s a pleasure to join you today to celebrate the achievements of women in the long struggle for equal rights and opportunities. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I would like to thank Elder Flora Ruck for beginning this day with a blessing as we gather on Treaty 1 land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. In a province located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Oji-Cree, Dakota, Dene and Cree nations and the homeland of the Red River Métis and that includes ancestral lands of the Inuit, we remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. It’s a pleasure joining you here at this Winnipeg landmark for today’s International Women’s Day luncheon. This hotel has been a gathering place for our city and province since 1913 – that’s two years after the very first International Women’s Day brought a million women into the streets of four European nations. For more than a century since those first gatherings and rallies, International Women’s Day has grown through wars and revolutions, economic and technological upheaval, and generations of social and cultural change. Today, we take time on this day to celebrate the women who have dedicated their lives and talents and given their voices to advance women’s rights. We hail all of those women who have been trailblazers and breakers of barriers – especially those who have then used their achievements to help other women do the same. And on this day, we also identify the challenges that remain, and we acknowledge that the gains of the last century have not been felt equally by all women. There will undoubtedly still be difficult times ahead for many as we navigate the turbulent times around us.  I challenge each of you to rise above the noise and harness the strength and experience of the positive forces and individuals around you. On International Women’s Day we look at where we’ve been and where we are now and where we’re going. Today we pledge that there’s no going back. Thank you for lending your time and your voice to the cause of the women and girls of Manitoba, Canada and the world. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

March 1, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba BLACK HISTORY MONTH CLOSING CEREMONY Canadian Museum for Human Rights Saturday, March 1, 2025, 6:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, it’s a pleasure to join you at this monument to human rights to celebrate Black History Month. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I am pleased to acknowledge first that we are gathered on Treaty 1 land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis and that our province is located on the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene, Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation and the homeland of the Red River Métis. As well, Manitoba includes northern lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. Since 1995, Black History Month has been formally recognized by Canada’s Parliament – but this month has brought people together in Manitoba and across our country to learn and celebrate for even longer. Today, Black History Month provides a time to focus on many stories of community and resilience, creativity and triumph. In schools and universities, in libraries and museums and in the media, we have been learning about centuries of black life in Canada – and about the tremendous diversity of experience and culture brought to our country in the last few generations by immigration from Africa and the African diaspora. I’m sure many of you were right here at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights earlier in February for the Noir et Fier market and gala. And I’m sure many of you have visited this museum to see how it tells the stories of the black experience in Canada from the 17th century through to the present day. The greater awareness of black culture and contributions in Canada and in Manitoba has come about in large part as a result of a concerted effort by activists for understanding like those who have organized Black History Month events. Your call for a fuller representation of our province’s and our country’s stories has been heard. As a result, Black History Month and educational and cultural activities throughout the year are giving all Canadians a better understanding of our country, its history and its future. This is increasingly important in this time of growing division and anger. To all who have made this evening, this month and this change possible, thank you for making a more inclusive, more knowledgeable and more caring Manitoba. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

February 14, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba WOMEN’S MEMORIAL MARCH FOR MMIWG2S+ Winnipeg Art Gallery Friday, February 14, 2025, 5:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Allies and advocates for freedom from fear, fellow Manitobans – welcome to this walk against violence. It’s a powerful feeling to join you here in the heart of Treaty 1 land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis to raise our voices for the safety, freedom and dignity of Indigenous women, girls and two-spirited people. This walk is a journey for justice all across this province — located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Oji-Cree, Dakota, Dene and Cree nations and the homeland of the Red River Métis and on lands that are the ancestral home of the Inuit. I look out tonight and I see strong, committed women and girls and allies. I see people who are determined to be seen and heard as they call attention to the urgent need to reduce violence and address the roots of violence. Some of you have been personally touched by losing a loved one to this violence. No words of condolence can fill the emptiness that leaves. Your determination to save others from the loss you’ve felt is an inspiration to us all. For those of us who haven’t felt the effects of gender-based violence in our own families, I am sure that we have all from time to time felt its ever-present threat. And so we all come together – all ages, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, all orientations and genders – to make sure that governments, media and society at large pay attention and take action. This annual walk an important part of that advocacy. The attention that we are focusing on this issue tonight will help to bring about the many kinds of change — in education, housing, employment, social supports, preventative policing and more – that will be needed to end the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirited people. Thank you for coming out tonight and helping with each step to make Manitoba and Canada better and to save lives here and across our country. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich and Shalom    

February 7, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba 16th ANNUAL ALL SENIORS CARE SENIOR GAMES – CLOSING CEREMONY Shaftsbury Park Retirement Residence Friday, February 7, 2025 (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, participants and supporters in this annual celebration of social activity and fun competition – I hope you’ve had a wonderful time at the 16th Annual All Seniors Care Senior Games. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I am pleased to acknowledge first that we are gathered on Treaty 1 and that our province is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene, Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation and the homeland of the Red River Métis. As well, Manitoba includes northern lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we all aim for a healthy society that gives everybody the chance to experience the joys of community and belonging. And community and belonging are what this week at Shaftsbury Park Residence has been all about. I know that the theme for this year’s All Seniors Care games was that famous line from the movie Forrest Gump – “Life is like a box of chocolates.” Just as a box of chocolates is filled with different flavours, so too is life, and so too have these games been for 16 years. But there’s one difference. If you sample all of the flavours in a box of chocolates in a couple of days, you might end up with an upset stomach. But this week offered all the fun, fitness and social benefits of: walking, bocce, beanbag, cards, shuffleboard, bingo and more and it has only left participants more healthy, happy and energized. Putting on a week of activities like this is a major undertaking. And doing so at all of the All Seniors Care Residences in Manitoba shows a real commitment to the health and quality of life of older Manitobans. All of us, as we get older, find it a little bit harder to do things we used to take for granted. So having the extra incentive of fun community events helps to keep us active and keep our bodies, minds and spirits running smoothly. To all who helped organize and support the All Seniors Care Games, here at Shaftsbury Park or elsewhere — thank you for your commitment to the health and happiness of Manitobans. May you all continue to enjoy the many benefits of physical and social activity in the years ahead. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

February 6, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba MANITOBA LIFE LEASE OCCUPANTS ASSOCIATION 20th ANNIVERSARY LUNCHEON Masonic Memorial Centre, 420 Corydon Thursday, February 6, 2025, 11:30 a.m. (please check against delivery) Fellow Manitobans, advocates and allies, members of the Manitoba Life Lease Occupants Association – it’s a pleasure to help you celebrate 20 years of supporting good, secure housing for Manitoba seniors. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I am pleased to acknowledge first that we are gathered on Treaty 1 and that our province is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene, Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation and the homeland of the Red River Métis. As well, Manitoba includes northern lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we all aim for a healthy society that gives everybody the opportunity to experience the joys of community and belonging and to live independently and securely in good housing. All of us, as we get older, face inevitable questions about our living arrangements. We may need to downsize or live in a home without stairs. We may be looking for a new home that offers community and amenities all under one roof. And each of us will have our own needs and desires based on our health, financial resources and personal interests. With all of that on a person’s mind, the challenge of learning all of the financial and legal complexities that go with a new living arrangement could be quite daunting. So it must put many minds at ease to know that there’s an organization that provides education and resources on life leases – and that advocates for consumer protection and transparency in this growing segment of the housing market. As our population ages and as we work to ensure independence, health and quality of life for longer lifespans, your important work will only become more in demand. As Lieutenant Governor, I congratulate the Manitoba Life Lease Occupants’ Association on 20 years of service and I wish you success in aiding future generations of older Manitobans. To all who have made this possible, thank you for making a better and more caring Manitoba. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

February 4, 2025

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba  LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR’S AWARD FOR ADVANCEMENT IN INTER-RELIGIOUS UNDERSTANDING Government House Tuesday, February 4, 2025   Fellow Manitobans, builders of understanding and carriers of light, welcome to this celebration of a life dedicated to understanding. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I am pleased to acknowledge first that we are gathered on Treaty 1 land and that our province is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene, Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation and the homeland of the Red River Métis. As well, Manitoba includes northern lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. All around the world, since the dawn of humanity, people have asked fundamental questions. Why are we here? How do we find purpose in life? How should we live? Where are we going? In works of art and books of wisdom, they have left answers for future generations. And in special places they have gathered to share stories and wisdom and experience a feeling of communion with other people and with the world. Too often, throughout history and still today, people have been sharply divided over the different ways they have conducted these searches and the different answers they have found. And because of that long history of discord and division, it is especially important for us to build understanding across religions. The Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Inter-Religious Understanding was established to highlight the importance of this effort – especially in a place of religious and cultural diversity like Manitoba. Today, we will recognize Mohinder Singh Dhillon for his lifelong commitment to community service, cultural understanding and interfaith dialogue. In his work in the Sikh community, with human rights tribunals, with the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and in interfaith projects of many kinds, Mr. Dhillon has brought Canadians of all faiths together. In his writing, Mr. Dhillon has explained that the word Sikh means “disciple” or “learner” – so that to be a Sikh is always to be learning. We should aspire that the same can be said about being a Manitoban or being a Canadian. To live in a province or a country where so many traditions of understanding come together – Indigenous, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and of course Sikh – is to be surrounded by opportunities to learn. After millennia of searching, those big questions are still out there. And we can all learn by encountering the many ways humanity has sought to answer them. Mohinder Singh Dhillon – thank you for helping your fellow Manitobans and Canadians to be learners. And congratulations on being the 2025 recipient of this award. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

December 10, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba THRIVE WINNIPEG’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY Government House Tuesday, December 10, 2024 (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, members of a circle of care and empathy and understanding, welcome to Government House this celebration of a half-century of service. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I am pleased to acknowledge first that we are gathered on Treaty 1 land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis and that our province is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene, the Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation and the homeland of the Red River Métis. As well, Manitoba includes northern lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. The province and country we all wish to build is not something that can be imposed by a small group of officials and experts – whether they come from the government, non-profit entities, the professions or business. A better Manitoba and a better Canada will be built by communities working together, practising inclusion and sensitive to the ideas, challenges and lived experiences of others. In short, it will be built by the same kind of spirit that has seen Thrive Winnipeg help thousands of families better their lives since 1973. It says a lot about any community organization that it has not just survived but grown and diversified for fifty years. For that to happen, there must be a powerful vision that has attracted generations of supporters, leaders and team members. And there must be a commitment to evolve with the times, listen to the community and develop new ideas and programs to meet new needs. Clearly that has been the case with Thrive Winnipeg. The long list of services provided by Thrive clearly shows that this is an organization that listens to and serves the community. And the fact that you are now in the midst of raising funds for a new, larger, more accessible and more private facility shows that the need for Thrive Winnipeg has grown. The stories told by participants at Thrive demonstrate the many ways this organization has helped families and individuals to meet their needs – whether physical, education, emotional or social. And it’s clear that in the next half century, Thrive will continue to provide that same care and support to many more Winnipeggers. Congratulations on this milestone anniversary and thank you to all who have made this possible. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

December 3, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WINNIPEG KINSMEN Government House Tuesday, December 3, 2024 (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, builders and nurturers of community – welcome to this celebration of a century of service. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I would like first to acknowledge that we are gathering on Treaty 1 land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. Our province is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene, Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation and the homeland of the Red River Métis. As well, Manitoba includes northern lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Manitobans respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. Canadians are proud to live in a country characterized by compassion and co-operation. Our commitments to universal health care and public education are defining features of our country. The need to address deficiencies in health, safety and opportunities is always at the top of our societal agenda. A commitment to our fellow human beings is a value that predates the creation of government safety net programs. It’s something that sprang spontaneously from the hearts of Canadians – like those who founded Winnipeg Kinsmen one hundred years ago. Service clubs like the Kinsmen are an expression of the empathy and the vision of Canadians who see unmet needs and envision a way to meet them. As a national service club that was founded in Canada, the Kinsmen have a special connection to communities across our country. Here in Manitoba, the projects supported by Winnipeg Kinsmen provide comfort to the suffering, food for the hungry, housing for the homeless and a path forward to families looking for a better life. Our health care and social agencies have benefitted enormously from the hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours provided by Kinsmen members. Since the founding of Winnipeg Kinsmen, Canada’s population has grown from a little over nine million to just over 40 million. And our society has become vastly more diverse: culturally, ethnically and religiously. But the caring and openness Kinsmen have demonstrated throughout that time has shown us that – whether or not we are strangers to each other – we are all family, we are all truly kin. Thank you for a century of service and may you share that compassion and community spirit in your second century. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

November 30, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba SIGNING OF THE RED RIVER METIS SELF-GOVERNMENT RECOGNITION AND IMPLEMENTATION TREATY Portage and Main, Winnipeg Saturday, November 30, 2024, 2:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, members of the Red River Metis community – today we feel the presence of more than two centuries of history. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I am pleased to acknowledge that we are gathering in the heartland of the Red River Metis and on Treaty One land. This is a momentous day for a province that is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene and Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation; on the homeland of the Red River Métis and on northern lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As we witness the signing of the Red River Metis Self-Government Recognition and Implementation Treaty, Manitobans affirm their respect for the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making. We remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. I am sure that everyone at this gathering realizes that today is truly a moment in history. And indeed this treaty-signing is an event that will be recalled in the history books. It will be seen as a key step in establishing a new relationship between Canada and the Red River Metis. It will be seen as part of a long struggle for recognition and self-government that dates back to the Red River Resistance and before. But as much as November 30th, 2024, will be understood as an important date, we must remember that history is not only made on such red-letter days. History is made every day through the determination and courage of men and women working independently and together. This date is the product of generations of learning, teaching, advocacy and service. We are here today thanks to every member of the Red River Metis community who has worked to preserve their culture and history, every advocate and researcher, every dedicated leader and volunteer who has worked to make a stronger community. To all who have worked to make history, thank you for your dedication to a new, just and collaborative Manitoba and Canada. May this day inspire us all to continue building the inclusive country and province we desire and deserve. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

November 29, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba COMMUNITY SHABBAT DINNER Berney Theatre Foyer Friday, November 29, 2024, 6:30 p.m. (please check against delivery) Friends – it’s a pleasure to join you for this evening of sharing and building relationships across cultures and communities. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I am pleased to acknowledge first that we are gathered on Treaty 1 land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis and that our province is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene, Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation and the homeland of the Red River Métis. As well, Manitoba includes northern lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation, collaboration and harmony. Building harmony is a job for everybody who cares about a better future. And fortunately, it’s something we can all do through acts of friendship, kindness and openness. The Asper Foundation Community Shabbat Program is a wonderful addition to the many activities that bring people together across our city and our province. There’s something almost magical about sharing a meal. Across cultures and around the world, meals are used as a way to celebrate big and little occasions and to stimulate discussion and reflection. And so, it’s a pleasure tonight to share the Jewish tradition, my tradition, of Shabbat with members of Winnipeg’s Filipino community. We are coming together for this Shabbat at the beginning of the festive season in a year when the first night of Hanukah falls on Christmas. In less than a month, Jewish families will be lighting the first candle on the menorah just as many of their neighbours are carving a Christmas turkey. When we come together to learn from one another, we learn to value our differences and see the many other experiences we share. And this is especially true of the Filipino and Jewish communities. Early members of Winnipeg’s Jewish community arrived here in a time of rapid immigration, worked hard to find a place in a new country and in time this city had the most prominent Jewish community in western Canada. And of course we all know how Winnipeg’s Filipino community has grown from the initial wave of immigration to become the largest Filipino community in Canada – playing essential roles in health and education, entrepreneurship and industry, the arts and all forms of community building. Tonight, as we share this Shabbat dinner, we can share our stories and our dreams – and thereby help to make those dreams a reality. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom    

November 28, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AGAINST GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE Government House Thursday, November 28, 2024 (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, welcome to Government House and this opportunity to stand together with women and girls around the world and around the block. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I am pleased to acknowledge first that we are gathered on Treaty 1 land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis and that our province is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene, Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation nations and the homeland of the Red River Métis. As well, Manitoba includes northern lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. When we say that we are committed to a better future for Manitobans and for all Canadians, we speak of a healthy, just and free society that offers opportunities to all. But none of those positive attributes will truly apply to all as long as gender-based violence blights so many lives. There is no freedom for a woman or girl who lives in fear. There is no justice and there are no opportunities for one who has had her life taken from her. And so this annual campaign – 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence – is an opportunity for us to work toward the society we want to live in, in our province, our country and our world. Tonight, we will have the opportunity to examine gender-based violence and steps taken to prevent it. We’re fortunate to be able to hear a variety of viewpoints from women who have expertise with this issue in all of its social, political, economic and legal implications. There is, of course, much we need to learn as a society, We need to determine how to prevent young men and boys from being indoctrinated into the misogyny that fuels this violence, and how to reform and rehabilitate those who commit it. We need to provide supports for women – both so that they can escape violence and control and so that they can avoid the dependence that makes them vulnerable. We need to build strong, healthy communities where the seeds of violence will not take root. Tonight’s speakers have a wealth of wisdom to share with us. We are fortunate to be able to learn from Madam Justice Lore Midwaldt of Manitoba Court of King’s Bench; Kendra Nixon, head of the family violence research network Resolve and professor of social work at the University of Manitoba; and Diane Redsky, community activist and member of the Winnipeg Police Board; as well as tonight’s moderator, Shannon Sampert, a political scientist and a lecturer at RRC Polytech. Thank you for bringing your experience and knowledge to Government House. And thank you to all who have come out this evening to learn more about what we can do to make history – by making gender-based violence history. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

November 20, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba GOVERNOR GENERAL’S HISTORY AWARDS Government House Wednesday, November 20, 2024 (please check against delivery)   Your Excellency, Educators, historians, citizens – welcome to Government House and this celebration of Canadians who have done an outstanding job of telling our country’s story. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, it is my honour to welcome this gathering of people from across Canada to Treaty 1 land and the heartland of the Red River Metis. Our province is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene, Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation and the homeland of the Red River Métis. As well, Manitoba includes northern lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Manitobans respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. Canadians who are committed to a secure, healthy, and just future for our country and its people look forward to anticipate new challenges, opportunities and needs. But it is equally important to look back to understand mistakes and achievements, to gain a more comprehensive understanding of who we are as a country. Thousands of years ago, the ancient Greeks inscribed above the Temple of Apollo the words “Know thyself.” If you don’t know who you are, if you aren’t honest with yourself, how can you set out to deal with the world? For a country, encouraging the study of history at all levels is one way that we can follow that ancient precept. So I am very much encouraged and inspired to learn about the great work being done in the school system, in museums, by academic historians and by popular historians to advance understanding of the many stories that make up Canadian history. And it gives me great pleasure that this national celebration of achievement in teaching, preservation, research and writing of history is taking place here in Manitoba. The Governor General’s Awards for History recognize the importance of the creative and diligent work done by teachers, historians, curators and others committed to national self-knowledge. It is my honour, therefore, to introduce Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada. As a former ambassador to Denmark and ambassador on Circumpolar Affairs, as a leader with Inuit (ih-new-eat) Tapiriit (tuh pih-reet) Kanatami (kuh-nuh tuh-me) during constitutional and land claim negotiations, and as Canada’s first Indigenous Governor General, Governor General Simon is somebody whose life is interwoven with important threads from Canada’s history. I am delighted that we will have the opportunity to hear from her about the Governor General’s Awards for History and about the remarkable award recipients who are with us today. Welcome to Manitoba, Your Excellency. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to learn from one another today. And thank you to all of the dedicated women and men working to enhance our knowledge of the past and of ourselves. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

November 20, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba MANITOBA FARM WOMEN’S CONFERENCE Victoria Inn Hotel and Conference Centre Wednesday, November 20, 2024, 12:00 noon (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, builders of communities and of a vital engine of our economy and aspect of our provincial identity, it’s a pleasure to join you today. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I am pleased to acknowledge first that we are gathered on Treaty 1 land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis and that our province is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene, Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation and the homeland of the Red River Métis. As well, Manitoba includes northern lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. All Manitobans have a stake in the success of our agricultural sector. As a $10 billion-a-year industry, agriculture is a major contributor to our entire province’s economy, supports our food-processing and manufacturing industries, and is the lifeblood of hundreds of healthy communities across the southern half of Manitoba. And it’s also a way of life for families directly dependent on farming and a living connection to our history and heritage. As a result, conferences and learning opportunities like this one are important to all Manitobans – even those who will never need to know about soil science, grain marketing or the complexities of farmland valuations and their implications for taxes. In my earlier career, I was involved in adult and career education programs and I was there when the phrase “lifelong learning” came into regular use. We’ve known for a long time that everybody needs to keep learning – as the world evolves, as technologies and new discoveries change the nature of work, as new opportunities and new challenges arise. And agriculture surely leads the way in this, as farmers are continually learning about the latest in plant and animal science, in soil and pest management, in technological developments, in environmental practices. Your theme for The Farm Women’s Conference – Educate, Encourage, Empower – perfectly captures the idea of lifelong learning. Learning encourages us to take advantages of opportunities and to face challenges. And learning empowers us to take control in our careers and our lives. I wish you a productive time at this conference, and I hope that the ideas that are brought forward and the relationships you build with your fellow farm women bring all three of those great E words into your life. Thank you to all the conference organizers and presenters for strengthening an important industry through education and thank you all for your contributions to our province and its many communities. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

November 8, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba INDIGENOUS VETERANS’ DAY CEREMONY Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development, 181 Higgins Avenue Friday, November 8, 2024, 10:30 a.m. (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, it is an honour to join you today in paying tribute to the service and sacrifice of Indigenous veterans. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I am pleased to acknowledge first that we are gathered on Treaty 1 land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis and that our province is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene and Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation and the homeland of the Red River Métis. As well, Manitoba includes northern lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. The establishment of Nov. 8 at Indigenous Veterans’ Day thirty years ago, in 1994, was a small step toward truth and reconciliation – two decades before the TRC report put those two words on so many minds. Recognizing the contributions of Indigenous veterans – today and in past generations – is an essential part of acknowledging our history. For too long, the typical image of Canada’s military ignored generations of Indigenous people who volunteered to go abroad and defend Canada at a time when they lacked the most basic rights in their home communities. It’s especially important that we correct that image here in Manitoba, the home province of Tommy Prince, one of Canada’s greatest military heroes. Today, throughout Canada’s Armed Forces, Indigenous people serve in all capacities, at all ranks. Every November, Canadians pause for that special silence to remember those who paid the ultimate price to defend Canada and its values. And we also remember those who have lived with visible or invisible wounds as a result of their service. In these ceremonies, we acknowledge the debt we owe to veterans. And we affirm that we have a responsibility to repay that debt. We can never pay back lives that have been lost, but we can go some way to making good on our obligation by working for a better, more just, healthier Canada. With veterans as our example and inspiration, we can commit ourselves to giving our time, skill and energy to ensure that the Canada they defended is the best place it can be. One way to do that is through education – as you are doing here – developing the skills necessary for a healthier and more prosperous future. Thank you to all who have organized today’s ceremony, for reminding us of our obligations. May you see our country live up to its potential and make good on the dreams of those who have served Canada at home and abroad. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

November 7, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba EMS EXEMPLARY SERVICE MEDAL CEREMONY Government House Thursday, November 7, 2024, 5:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, providers of emergency medical services, welcome to this celebration of careers dedicated to others. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I am pleased to acknowledge first that we are gathered on Treaty 1 land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis and that our province is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene and Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation and the homeland of the Red River Métis. As well, Manitoba includes northern lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. Cultures around the world have long recognized the need for people who dedicate themselves to the care and protection of their community and of individuals in need. And as societies have grown in complexity, protecting others became established as a specialized career. Here in Canada, over the last forty years, we have developed a series of exemplary service medals to recognize long-term commitment in a number of fields that involve a level of potential risk in society’s service. Today, I am pleased to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Service Medal by recognizing men and women who have provided emergency care throughout Manitoba. As EMS professionals, these individuals have seen it all. Their minimum of twenty years of service has spanned the duration of the opioid crisis. They were at the front lines throughout the entirety of the covid 19 pandemic. And they’ve been there, night and day, on streets and highways, in homes and workplaces, in cities and towns, north and south – wherever and whenever people need emergency care and transportation. For these individuals, every work day – or night – can become a time of urgent action, bravery, and painful tragedy. Their work provides the rest of us with the confidence to go about our daily lives – at work, at home, at play – knowing that somebody has our back. As Manitobans, and as Canadians, we all believe in the importance of a province and country that allows for freedom, opportunity and quality of life. These dedicated professionals allow their fellow citizens to enjoy the benefits of living in this province and nation. To all of today’s award recipients, I thank you for your service and professionalism and I wish you the satisfaction of an important job done well. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

November 6, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba RAISING OUR VOICES GALA Canadian Museum for Human Rights Wednesday, November 6, 2024, 6:20 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, believers in a sacred calling, it’s a pleasure to join you as you raise your voices at this beautiful museum. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I am pleased to acknowledge first that we are gathered on Treaty 1 land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis and that our province is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene and Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation and the homeland of the Red River Métis. As well, Manitoba includes northern lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. Tonight, we are gathered to celebrate 10 years since the Canadian Museum for Human Rights opened its doors to tell stories of human rights violations and victories, and of the men and women who have worked for centuries to build a world of freedom, dignity, equality and understanding. We will hear more about the innovative and beautiful design of this museum, and of the architect who envisioned it. And we will pay tribute to the champions who led this organization through its founding and emergence as one of Canada’s great educational and cultural institutions. But we are not just here to look back on a day of great excitement in Winnipeg and on the hard work and passion that went into creating this beautiful museum. Tonight, we are also looking forward. We are celebrating young champions of human rights who have many years of advocacy and leadership ahead of them. We are joining together to raise our voices – and in doing so, considering what can be done by bringing more voices into the chorus. We know that injustice and inequality cannot simply be abolished. We know that as Martin Luther King put it, the moral arc of the universe is long. That moral arc may, as Dr. King put it, “bend toward justice,” but it doesn’t bend on its own. We need to bend it. Ultimately, all progress in human rights depends on a growing chorus of voices. To all who have organized this evening and to all who have supported the development of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights – thank you for your voices and thank you for your actions and thank you for inspiring many others to join in harmony. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

November 5, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba RCMP LONG SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDALS Government House Tuesday, November 5, 2024 (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, protectors of public peace and safety, members and friends of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police – welcome to Government House. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I am pleased to acknowledge first that we are gathered on Treaty 1 land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis and that our province is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene and Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation and the homeland of the Red River Métis. As well, Manitoba includes northern lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. As Canadians, we all want to live in a country we can be proud of, in a place of freedom, equality and opportunity, a place where all can live in dignity and safety, a place of prosperity and happiness. And we all like to think that we’re helping to bring that about. But with all the myriad needs and challenges of a continent-spanning country of 40 million people, how can one person make a difference? One answer might be: by helping one person at a time. Responding to one emergency at a time, preventing one crime at a time, providing a compassionate response to one victim at a time – that’s going to add up over the course of a career as a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. This evening, we are carrying on a 90-year tradition of recognizing long-term service and good conduct by member of the RCMP. Since 1934, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Long Service Medal has recognized individuals who have dedicated themselves for at least twenty years to the protection of their fellow Canadians through excellent service in the RCMP. RCMP members serve their society in many ways – providing local policing in hundreds of small communities; carrying out federal policing duties in relation to border security, fraud and organized crime; collecting and assessing security threats – and more. In whatever capacity they serve, I am sure that each of these individuals has built up a massive accumulated total of positive impacts on their province and country. We are also recognizing civilian and public service employees for careers supporting the mission of the RCMP. In helping the uniformed members do their jobs, these RCMP employees share in making a difference in their community and in their world. As well, we will hear detailed accounts of acts of bravery and quick-thinking as individuals are recognized for actions that went above and beyond in saving lives and responding to dangers. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I congratulate each of today’s award recipients on this well-deserved recognition. May the pride and satisfaction you feel today inspire you to further achievement and may it warm the coldest days in the season ahead of us. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom    

November 1, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba SHABBAT DINNER AND INSTALLATION OF RABBI MATTHEW LEIBL Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre Friday, November 1, 2024, 4:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Friends, fellow Manitobans and members of the Simkin Centre family – it is a pleasure to join you for this extra special Shabbat dinner. Tonight, as we carry on the ancient tradition of gathering for Shabbat, we also celebrate a place that has built a unique community here South Winnipeg. And we celebrate the people who have created the caring, inclusive and supportive environment of the Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre. As a care home that honours Jewish traditions and values, while being open to residents of all faiths, the Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre is a unique place. And it takes a special person to be its spiritual care leader. Tonight, it’s a pleasure to join you as Rabbi Matthew Leibl is formally installed as the rabbi of this community. Many of you know Rabbi Leibl from his work here and throughout the Jewish community. I’m sure you can all attest to the care he brings to his duties. I know, from my family’s own experience, that Matthew offers kind and thoughtful care to all those he works with – whatever their background, needs and experiences. There’s no template for what he does here – he listens and responds and employs his empathy and wisdom for each individual and each family. It’s fitting that tonight’s program includes a discussion between Matthew and Howard Mandshein – Winnipeg radio’s legendary guru of rock and roll. In installing Matthew as their rabbi, the Simkin Centre has landed a real rabbinical rock star. Congratulations Matthew and thank you to all who have made this evening possible and who support the Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom.

November 1, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba WINNIPEG POLICE SERVICE GRADUATION, CLASS 170 RBC Convention Centre Friday, November 1, 2024, 1:00 p.m. (please check against delivery) Fellow Manitobans, members and friends of the Winnipeg Police Service, welcome to this celebration of excellence, dedication and new beginnings. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I am pleased to acknowledge first that we are gathered on Treaty 1 land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis and that our province is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene and Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation and the homeland of the Red River Métis. As well, Manitoba includes northern lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. Today, it’s my pleasure to join the family and friends gathered here in congratulating the members of Winnipeg Police Service Class number 170 on completing their demanding training and beginning their careers dedicated to public safety. Each member of this class is here today because they have made a commitment to dedicate their time, energy and intellect to their community and its people. They have accepted the challenges and responsibilities of a demanding profession. They have chosen to be the people who put themselves between dangerous situations and the rest of us. They will serve in any number of ways as members of the Winnipeg Police Service. Over the course of their careers, members of this class will work the streets on general patrol. They will investigate all manner of crimes. They will work to prevent crime. They will provide leadership to future members of the police service. And, of course, they will continue to learn. As new technologies change the nature of crime and provide new tools for detection of crime, as court rulings and new policies lead to new ways of policing, as society gains greater understanding of the complex factors surrounding crime — these new graduates will work in a continually evolving career. We will all be the beneficiaries of their decision to serve their community, and to so do with integrity and commitment to learning. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I thank you for your decision to serve with the Winnipeg Police Service and I wish you all success and the great satisfaction that comes with doing an important job to the best of your abilities. Congratulations and best wishes on your journey with the Winnipeg Police Service. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

November 1, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba LEADERSHIP WINNIPEG WORKSHOP Government House Friday, November 1, 2024, 9:00 a.m. (please check against delivery) Leaders and leaders-in-training, welcome to Government House and what promises to be a great day of learning and sharing. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty One land and in the homeland of the Red River Metis and that our province is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene and Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation and Red River Metis, and that northern Manitoba contains lands that have been traditionally used by the Inuit. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty-making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. We all have dreams of a better province and world – a province and world of opportunity and dignity for all, of sustainable prosperity, of health and prosperity, of beauty and understanding. And we all know that there are many challenges to be addressed to bring those visions to life. There are essential existing programs and institutions that need to be nurtured and strengthened. And there will be new ventures needed to identify and meet newly defined needs. One central requirement for any form of progress or improvement is finding and preparing the people who will take on those challenges. In all aspects of society – in the public sector, in the private sector and in the not-for-profit sector – we require a steady stream of new leaders prepared to learn, listen and make difficult decisions. That’s why I am pleased to welcome another class in the Leadership Winnipeg program to Government House. As members of the 2024-25 Leadership Winnipeg class, you’re just getting going on your journey, as you develop your abilities to share ideas and information, build teams, plan projects and take on a broad vision. Today, you’ll hear from Winnipeg leaders whose words will inspire you throughout your time in this program. And one of the inspiring things about today is that no too long ago, three of these leaders were in your shoes – participating in this very program. None of this learning would be possible without the leadership of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, program director Doneta Brotchie, and of course the many inspiring women and men you will hear from today and throughout this year. To all who make this possible – and to all of you for seeking to take on this important responsibility – thank you for committing to a better future. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

October 29, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba ST. JOHN AMBULANCE INVESTITURE AND AWARDS CEREMONY Government House Tuesday, October 29, 2023, 5:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Members and friends of a great organization, welcome to Government House and this celebration of service to society. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty One land and in the homeland of the Red River Metis and that our province is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene and Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation. and Red River Metis. And since this branch of the St. John Ambulance includes Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, it’s especially significant to note that northern Manitoba includes lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. How do we as Manitobans and Canadians bring about that future of partnership and build a society that offers opportunities for all? The values of the St. John Ambulance provide a roadmap. Those values – teamwork, fairness, equity, integrity, constructiveness, respect, loyalty, tolerance and quality and balance of life – are vital in order to thrive as a society. The St. John Ambulance has worked to protect Canadians since 1883, animated by a spirit of concern for others. All Canadians are familiar with the trained first aid providers that have been a fixture at events and special gatherings across our country for many years. But the society’s service to Canadians has also evolved to meet new needs. Today, the St. John Ambulance provides many other essential services – from therapy dog programs, to mental health and wellness to dangerous goods training. The St. John Ambulance’s service to Canadians would not be possible without the service and leadership of 15,000 volunteers across Canada. This evening, we will recognize, through investiture in the Order of St. John and through several of the society’s awards, people who truly bring the St. John Ambulance’s values to life. That same spirit of concern for others shows in the acts of individuals who step up in emergencies to aid people in need. This evening, we will have the pleasure to meet a group of individuals who provided first aid or other assistance in emergencies. Recipients of the St. John Ambulance Life Saving Award may have provided first aid in order to save or attempt to save a life. Or they may have assisted in some other urgent capacity. They may have responded alone or as a part of a group. And the setting and circumstances may involve workplaces, residential settings, recreation, transportation and any other situation where somebody requires life-saving help. What every incident has in common is a person in urgent need and at least one person stepping doing what they can to help.As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, and vice-prior of the St. John Ambulance, I congratulate all of this evening’s honourees. And I thank you all for the values you put into practice. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

October 28, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba 2024 BUSINESS/ARTS AWARDS – 50th ANNIVERSARY Theme: “Celebrate Manitoba” Art Gallery of Ontario Tuesday, October 28, 2024, 5:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Friends of the arts, and friends of friends of the arts, it’s a pleasure to join you in your wonderful city and within this beautiful gallery to celebrate leadership and philanthropy. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I am so proud that this awards ceremony shines a light on my home province and its patrons of the arts. If you know many Manitobans, I suspect you have heard about our large, varied and highly successful arts community. Perhaps you’ve heard about the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre – institutions with long histories, international reputations and enthusiastic subscribers. Perhaps you’ve heard about the Winnipeg Art Gallery and Quamajug (KOW-ma-yourk), home to the world’s largest public collection of Inuit art. Or perhaps you’ve heard of our filmmakers, receiving accolades for innovative work at film festivals in Cannes, Berlin, Venice and just down the street from here. I could go on in this vein at length. And if you know many proud Manitobans, you’ll know that’s not much of an exaggeration. But today we’re focusing on people and organizations that enable that kind of artistic achievement. We have been fortunate in Manitoba to be home to generous and visionary patrons of the arts – like Arni Thorsteinson and Susan Glass, like Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries, and like the many past honorees at this event: Gail Asper, the late Israel Asper, Stephen Borys, Kiki Delaney, the late Peter Herrndorf and more. Whether providing financial support and sponsorship or providing guidance at the board level, these patrons have offered stability and encouragement to arts organizations and artists so that they can inspire, challenge and entertain us. And while Manitobans are particularly grateful for the support these patrons have provided to our province’s arts community, we also celebrate the fact that leaders from our province are playing an important role with arts institutions across Canada. I join you this evening in thanking this year’s honorees – and all Canadians who support the arts and encourage greater understanding and creativity in our country. And finally, I want to congratulate the Business/Arts on their 50 years of providing support and advocacy of the arts across Canada. As it is an integral part of our country’s diverse culture, thank you for your passion and for your dedication ensuring that the relationship between the business and arts communities continues to thrive for generations to come. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

October 24, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba KING CHARLES III CORONATION MEDAL CEREMONY RECIPIENTS CHOSEN BY THE HONOURABLE ANITA R. NEVILLE, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF MANITOBA Room 200 Legislative Building Thursday, October 24, 2024 (please check against delivery)     Fellow Manitobans, builders and sustainers of community, it is a pleasure to welcome you for this inaugural presentation of the King Charles the Third Coronation Medals in Manitoba. I first acknowledge that we gather in celebration today in our beautiful Legislative Building, we are on Treaty One land and in the homeland of the Red River Metis. Our province is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene, the Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation and the homeland of the Red River Métis; and that northern Manitoba includes lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. Manitobans are known for our spirit of generosity, and sense of community. When we see a need, we find a way to fill it. We come together with a focus to build a more inclusive, just and fair society. To build the future our children deserve. Today we are recognizing and celebrating fifty-five individuals from across Manitoba for their exceptional contributions to life in our province and beyond. We have athletes who have represented Manitoba on the world stage, advocates for mental health, artists who tell our stories, many who work to advance the great work of reconciliation, and the list goes on. The diversity of talent and strengths in this room today is nothing short of remarkable. The King Charles III Coronation Medal was created to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to Canada – through achievements at the local, provincial, national or international level. This medal highlights a number of themes King Charles and Canadians have long held dear – including public service, the environment and sustainability, and diversity. Today, it is my great pleasure to represent His Majesty in presenting this medal to a group of Manitobans whose accomplishments demonstrate the countless ways of using your time, talent, effort and imagination for the greater good. I encourage you to continue to make your voices heard. I also hope you will to get to know the other recipients at the reception later. Make connections and share ideas. Who knows where those conversations may lead! Congratulations, and thank you for your leadership, and your commitment to our province, our country our world. You inspire us all. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

October 22, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba MANITOBA COUNCIL FOR INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION – 50th ANNIVERSARY Government House Tuesday, October 22, 2024 (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans and citizens of the world, welcome to Government House and this celebration of education and action. It is a pleasure to welcome you to Treaty One territory and the homeland of the Red River Metis. As Lieutenant Governor, I acknowledge that our province is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene, the Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation. And I acknowledge that northern Manitoba includes lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. Our province has long been closely connected to the wider world — far beyond our location in the heart of North America. Here is where so many in the first great wave of immigration got off the train and began building lives in Canada, starting in the late 19th century. And it was here that the celebration of multiculturalism truly took off with the establishment of Folklorama in 1970. So this was fertile ground for international co-operation and understanding when the Manitoba Council for International Co-operation was formed 50 years ago. As the number of Manitoba organizations involved in international co-operation and development has grown, the MCIC has played an important role in connecting them and celebrating the work they do. Much has changed in that half century. The world’s population has doubled. The Cold War ended and new global tensions has emerged. The global rate of extreme poverty has declined steadily, but nearly one billion people still live on the equivalent of a few dollars a day. And of course we have become ever more aware of the global effects of climate change on food supplies, infrastructure and everything else. Member organizations of the MCIC work for global sustainability, co-operation and human rights in countless ways. One of their important tasks is keeping Manitobans informed about international co-operation. I am pleased therefore that today we will be recognizing students and educators for work in creating awareness of these issues. To address the challenges of the future requires understanding of the interconnected nature of our planet and its people. I am also pleased that we will be recognizing an outstanding MCIC volunteer for years of leadership and service. Responding to threats to sustainability begins with a commitment to understanding and caring enough to do something. Today’s award recipients – and the community of international organizations represented by the MCIC – demonstrate that Manitobans have that commitment. Congratulations and may the MCIC’s second half-century bring continued progress and understanding. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom    

October 19, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba HINDU SOCIETY OF MANITOBA DIWALI CELEBRATION RBC Convention Centre Saturday, October 19, 2024 (please check against delivery)   Friends, members and supporters of the Hindu Society of Manitoba, thank you for the opportunity to join you for this celebration of Diwali. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, it is a pleasure to gather with you here, in the heart of Treaty One territory and the homeland of the Red River Metis. I acknowledge that our province is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene and Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation. And I acknowledge that northern Manitoba includes lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. As the weather turns colder, the days get shorter and the nights get longer, one thing we all have in common is our search to find ways to navigate the long, dark winter days until spring arrives once again. So what better time than now the come together and – through this festival of lights – celebrate the victory of light over darkness? Tonight, we celebrate not just light, but enlightenment. It has been my pleasure for many years to experience festivals and traditions of the many cultures that make Manitoba such a wonderful place to call home. I have learned that seeking out and embracing our differences allows for so much more learning and for a deeper understanding of the incredible wealth of diversity and spirit of inclusion that so greatly adds to our quality of life. And I have learned of common themes that can be expressed in many different ways. Themes of family and community, themes of hope and courage, themes of caring and compassion, themes of learning and understanding. I look forward to the beautiful ways in which tonight’s performers express the messages of Diwali. And I look forward to sharing this celebration with all of you, friends old and new. Thank you to the Hindu Society of Manitoba and all the organizers, volunteers and performers who have worked so hard behind the scenes to create what I know will be a spectacular and memorable evening for us all. Thank you, merci, meegwich, shalom and Happy Diwali.

October 19, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba MANITOBA METIS FEDERATION 2024 ANNUAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY Assiniboia Downs Saturday, October 19, 2024, 9:30 a.m. (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, members of the Manitoba Metis Federation, heirs of a rich heritage, it is a pleasure to join you at this exercise in democracy and citizen participation. To the thousands of MMF members watching today’s gathering via livestream, I extend my very best wishes to you as well. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I acknowledge that we are gathered in Treaty One territory and on the heartland of the Red River Metis. I honour that Manitoba is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene, the Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation and the Red River Métis, and includes northern lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. We respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people to build a more inclusive, equitable and just society for all. Democratic decision-making is at the heart of Canada’s and Manitoba’s values. And as this annual general assembly reminds us, it goes back well before Confederation. Long before 1867, here in Manitoba, the decision-making gatherings at the Metis buffalo hunt provided an example of a community gathering to share information and discuss matters of common concern. By sharing our ideas and experiences, by listening and learning, and by giving our time and energy to matters of public interest, we all have the power to change our community and our world for the better. The passionate commitment of MMF members and focused, strong leadership is evident in the many accomplishments and commitments – from the First Time Home Buyers Program, to culturally-focused accessible childcare, to the recent commitment of over $100 million dollars toward revitalization of our downtown. There is very obviously clear vision and purpose, and I commend you. The work of the MMF touches all aspects of life in Manitoba – and will continue to play a very important role  in the continued development and prosperity of our province for the benefit of all Manitobans. I wish you a robust, productive assembly, and may each one of you leave with the excitement and satisfaction of contributing to something that makes our province, our country, our world, a better place. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

October 16, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba 30th ANNIVERSARY, WeMB (FORMERLY MANITOBA WOMEN’S ENTERPRISE CENTRE) Canadian Museum for Human Rights Thursday, October 17, 2024, 6:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Friends and supporters of the WeMB (W-E MB), welcome to this celebration of entrepreneurs and those who encourage them. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I would like to acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty One territory and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. I acknowledge as well that Manitoba is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene, the Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation and the homeland of the Red River Métis and includes northern lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. Our efforts to build a better future for Manitobans very much on the success of entrepreneurs in creating employment and expanding the tax base of our province. We need creative thinkers who can envision new products and services and new ways of doing business. We need focused and disciplined thinkers who can develop detailed plans and examine all the contingencies to make an idea work. We need people with the courage to risk their time and resources on an idea. And we need entrepreneurs who combine all those in one person. For thirty years, this organization has been dedicated to the proposition that women in this province combine all of those attributes – even though historically we’ve had a harder time getting some people to recognize that. Providing access to networking, financing, training and advising services has helped women entrepreneurs in Manitoba to break the glass ceiling in business. This celebration at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, reminds us that the freedom to dream has historically been limited for women. By breaking down barriers that have traditionally existed for women entrepreneurs, the Manitoba Women’s Enterprise Centre – no WeMB (W-E MB)– has been a force for progress and equity throughout its three decades. To all who lead and advise this organization and its clients, thank you for supporting opportunity and progress in Manitoba. Here’s to many more years and breaking barriers and shattering ceilings. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

October 16, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR’S AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION Government House Wednesday, October 16, 2024 (please check against delivery) Members of IPAC Manitoba and friends of a great contributor to the public good, welcome to Government House. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I would like to acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty One territory and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. I acknowledge as well that Manitoba is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene, the Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation and the homeland of the Red River Métis and includes northern lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. Building a better future for Manitoba – a future of opportunity and equity for all – will require great leadership in all sectors of our province. For almost 40 years, the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration has recognized individuals for great dedication and stellar accomplishments in government and other public sector employment. The men and women recognized with this award have served with integrity and thoroughness. They have inspired those around them to reach for the same high standard. They have listened and learned and applied creativity to address complex problems and assure effectiveness and efficiency in all areas of public service. Manitobans count on their public sector to provide essential services and supports and to protect their lives and health. They need to know that governments and public bodies are overseen by dedicated professionals committed to the good of society. They especially want to know that our education and health systems have excellent leadership. And so I am pleased tonight to welcome Dr. Catherine Cook as this year’s recipient of the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration. We will hear more shortly about Dr. Cook’s many accomplishments in her career at the University of Manitoba, most recently as the inaugural Vice President (Indigenous), and in Indigenous Health within the health-care system. Every year, the advisory committee for this award considers nominations of outstanding individuals. And once again they have selected a recipient for this award whose career represents a lifetime of dedication to the people of Manitoba, Canada and the world. I would like to thank the committee overseeing this award, and the IPAC Manitoba for advancing the cause of leadership excellence in the public sector. And I would like to congratulate Dr. Catherine Cook and offer thanks for a career dedicated to the highest good. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

October 10, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba WINNIPEG BOYS CHOIR – CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION Government House Thursday, October 10, 2024 (please check against delivery)     Friends of a proud Manitoban musical institution – welcome to Government House. It is a pleasure to welcome you to Treaty One territory and the homeland of the Red River Metis. As Lieutenant Governor, I acknowledge that our province is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene and Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation. And I acknowledge that northern Manitoba includes lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. When Manitobans talk about what they love about living in our province, our diverse and deeply talented arts community is very often at or near the top of the list. In every art form – in film and theatre, in literary and visual arts and especially in music – this province has deep reserves of talent and a long history of accomplishments. An important date in that long history was the establishment 100 years ago of the Winnipeg Boys Choir. As perhaps the oldest boys’ choir in Canada, this organization has developed talented singers for generations. It has introduced boys and young men to the beauty of harmony, the power of the human voice and the magic of hard work and dedicated practice. For a century, audiences have been transported to beautiful worlds through the sounds of this choir. And choir members have had the opportunity to sing with professional musicians at the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and other jewels in Winnipeg’s artistic crown. Helping young singers to develop their ears and find their voice has been the work of past and present conductors, instructors, and accompanists. The prominent place of the Winnipeg Boys Choir in our city’s arts community has been a product of generations of hard work by these music professionals and by the friends and volunteers who have provided leadership and financial support. And of course it has been made possible by the love of music of choir members, who have come to discover the joy of filling their lungs and creating a beautiful sound. Congratulations to all the members, supporters, staff and alumni of this great cultural institution. In this year, when we’re celebrating the 150th anniversary or the founding of the city of Winnipeg, arts organizations like the Winnipeg Boys Choir are a big part of what makes us cheer and makes this city special. May you continue to weave musical magic through your second century. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

October 7, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba STAND WITH US: SOLIDARITY GATHERING AGAINST ANTISEMITISM Asper Jewish Community Campus Monday, October 7, 2024 (please check against delivery)   Friends and fellow Manitobans, I am proud to stand with you here this evening, on this solemn anniversary. As Lieutenant Governor, I acknowledge and honour that we are gathered on Treaty One land and on the heartland of the Red River Metis and that this province is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene and Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation. And I acknowledge that northern Manitoba includes lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. We gather today to remember the unspeakable tragedy that was unleashed on this date last year, and to support the families mourning innocent lives lost or praying for the safe return of those who are still held hostage. We gather to take a stand against the rising tide of antisemitism – which predated last October 7 by many years. Around the world and right here in Canada – we have witnessed increased threats and acts of violence against Jewish community centres, schools, synagogues and Jewish-owned businesses. Now more than ever, as we come together in observance of the High Holidays, we must remember who we are, and reaffirm our commitment to community, and to our faith. With passions and global tensions high, it is imperative that we stand united, citizens of the world, regardless of religion or race, against all forms of racism and scapegoating and collective blame. On this day we stand against antisemitism, just as we stand against all other forms of racism and intolerance. Let us work for peace and understanding and let us never forget. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich, and Shalom

October 2, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC ADMINISTATION CANADA NATIONAL CONFERENCE RBC Convention Centre Wednesday, October 2, 2024, 5:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Fellow Canadians, professionals in service to our country and its people, welcome to this national conference of the Institute for Public Administration of Canada. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I am pleased to welcome you to Treaty 1 territory. This city at the forks of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers is the capital of a province that is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene and Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation and the homeland of the Red River Métis and includes northern lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. As leaders in Canada’s public sector, each of you will have a part to play in ensuring that our country builds a future of opportunity, justice and equity for all. Effectiveness in all levels of government and throughout the health care, educational and not-for-profit sectors requires dedicated professionals who are committed to continuous learning and adaptation to ever-changing needs. And so I hope that this national conference gives each of you the opportunity to make important contacts, discover new ideas and keep up with new challenges in your field. Each year, as Lieutenant Governor, I have the privilege to present the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration – in co-operation with IPAC Manitoba. As a result, I know something of the depth of talent we have in the public sector in this province. And from my previous work in Parliament, I know as well that there are many dedicated professionals in the federal public service and in every province and territory working to address the present and future needs of Canadians. So I am especially delighted that I will have the opportunity to present this year’s Vanier Award on behalf of the Governor General to an individual who has served at the highest levels of municipal, provincial and federal public administration for 35 years. You will hear more shortly about Peter Wallace – who has served as city manager of Toronto, head of the public service of Ontario and secretary of the Treasury Board of Canada. With such a remarkable record of public service, he is an example to everybody in the public sector who is committed to good governance. The issues you will be discussing at this conference – such as housing, artificial intelligence, Indigenous health and treaties and the changing nature of work – affect every level of government and the larger public sector. Ensuring effectiveness in the policies and programs addressing these and other issues requires that we have professionals in administrative capacities who have thought hard and deeply about these matters. And most of all, progress in all areas in Canada requires women and men who care about doing an important job well and serving their fellow Canadians. Thank you for your commitment to your fellow Canadians and your desire to listen and learn at this conference. And thank you to all of those at the Institute of Public Administration of Canada for making this learning experience in Winnipeg possible. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom    

September 29, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba CHANUKAT HA BAYIT (DEDICATION CEREMONY) AT CONGREGATION SHAAREY ZEDEK Congregation Shaarey Zedek, 561 Wellington Crescent Sunday, September 29, 2024, 4:00p.m. (please check against delivery)   Friends and fellow Manitobans, it’s a pleasure to join you on this special day at this sacred place. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I am pleased to see a renovated Shaarey Zedek open its doors on Treaty 1 territory and the heartland of the Red River Metis. I acknowledge that Manitoba is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene, the Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation and the homeland of the Red River Métis and includes northern lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. A healthy society is always engaged in acts of renewal – through education, inquiry, building and rebuilding. After driving past a construction site here for the last year, it’s a pleasure to see the work that has gone into updating the home of Manitoba’s oldest Jewish congregation. Any project to renovate a sacred space where generations have marked births and deaths, marriages and comings of age will have to balance respect for what has been with sensitivity to new needs. Still, whether it’s a matter of removing construction materials that are no longer up to code, or improving accessibility for all, or updating wiring and communications connections, sometimes the past does need to be brought into the present. It’s very heartening to see how beautifully and sensitively that updating has been carried out here. As a lifelong member of Winnipeg’s Jewish community – and as Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba – I know that this building has played an important role in the life of this city and province since its doors were first opened. And it has been an important part of my life. This renovation project will ensure that it continues to serve Congregation Shaarey Zedek – and enhance life in this province – for generations to come. None of this would be possible without the financial support and leadership of donors and members of this congregation. To all who have made this possible, thank you for imagining what can be and for making it a reality. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

September 29, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba POLICE AND PEACE OFFICERS’ MEMORIAL CEREMONY Memorial Park, Winnipeg Sunday, September 29, 2024, 11:00 a.m. (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, welcome to Memorial Park and this annual ceremony of remembrance and gratitude. As Lieutenant Governor, I wish to acknowledge that this sacred site is located in Treaty One land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. It is part of a province that is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene and Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation – where we are committed to safety, equality and justice for all. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. Since 1998, Canadians have come together each year to express their appreciation of police and peace officers who have died in the course of their service to our communities and our safety. The men and women who take on the challenges and responsibilities of law enforcement and protection of the others do so knowing that their career choice brings with it a variety of dangers. They work in unpredictable situations, at all hours and in all conditions. They face individuals who may be armed and desperate or highly volatile. When we’re advised to take shelter, they run toward the danger – whether that danger is an environmental hazard, a disaster or a person threatening the public safety. Without this commitment to upholding the law and protecting Canadians from danger, life in our country would be very different. Canadians are grateful to all those who accept the challenge of protecting lives, rights and property of others. And we mourn those brave men and women who have lost their lives while serving others. May their service to our country inspire us all to work for a better, more just, healthier Canada. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

September 28, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba LEGION BRANCH 132 ANNUAL REGIMENTAL BALL Brokenhead Community Hall, Beausejour Saturday, September 28, 2024, 6:00 p.m. (please check against delivery) Fellow Manitobans, members and friends of the Royal Canadian Legion, thank you for the opportunity to share in this celebration of service. As Lieutenant Governor, I wish to acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty One land and on the heartland of the Red River Metis and that this province is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene and Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation. And I acknowledge that northern Manitoba includes lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. It is a pleasure to join you in beautiful Beausejour for this regimental ball and this celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force. All this year, across Canada, we have been reflecting on a century of service by the men and women who defend Canada’s skies and who have served at home and around the world since 1924. Whether patrolling Canadian airspace or serving Canada in conflicts overseas, conducting search and rescue missions or working to evacuate people from natural disasters, the Royal Canadian Air Force has protected our country and its people ever since its establishment. As we approach Remembrance Day, it is fitting that your Legion branch is encouraging us to give thanks for the service and sacrifice of all those who have looked to the skies in this manner. Manitoba has a close affinity with the Royal Canadian Air Force – a home base for serving personnel and the place where generations of members have trained. And of course our province has a long and close connection with the Royal Canadian Legion, as the place where the Legion was founded. No doubt in 2025, during commemorations of the Legion’s centennial, we will all have ample opportunities to celebrate a century of contributions made by the Legion and its branches to remembrance and to community building. Indeed, encouragement of remembrance is a form of community building, as it keeps knowledge alive and strengthens ties between generations and between citizens and their country. So tonight, I thank you for all the ways members of this branch make Beausejour, Manitoba and Canada proud, strong and connected. Have a wonderful evening and may you continue to unite us in remembrance throughout the years ahead. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

September 28, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba COUNCIL OF WOMEN OF WINNIPEG 130th ANNIVERSARY LUNCHEON Masonic Memorial Centre, 420 Corydon Avenue, Winnipeg Saturday, September 28, 2024, 11:30 a.m. (please check against delivery)   Friends and fellow Manitobans, welcome to this celebration of an organization that has been building relationships for 130 years. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I am pleased to acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty 1 territory and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. As we work for the people of Manitoba, we acknowledge that this province is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene and Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation and the homeland of the Red River Métis and that northern Manitoba includes lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. Some of you were at a reception in May to celebrate the Council of Women of Winnipeg on its 130 years of generating ideas and action to improve the lives of women and families in our province. You may recall that on that occasion, I mentioned a few of the causes this group has advocated over the years – from votes for women, to family allowance, to gender equity in leadership. As I said in May, the Council of Women of Winnipeg has had a knack for being on the right side of history. Today, I’m looking to the future. As we gather today, just before the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, our thoughts will turn to the role the council can play in building a more just and inclusive Canada. And today’s program invites us to think of one of the important things we can do to support reconciliation and justice. We can listen. We can share. We can build relationships. I’m sure that much of the progress fostered by this organization in the past was envisioned by gatherings of women having conversations fueled by cups of tea. And given the cultural significance of tea in Indigenous culture – and so many cultures from around the world – I believe that a similar act of listening and sharing will contribute to future social progress. To everybody who has been part of the Council of Women of Winnipeg and to all who will keep this spirit alive in the future, I wish you many more cups of inspiring, calming, healing and delicious tea. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom        

September 25, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba FLIN FLON CULTURE DAYS VISIT Wednesday, September 25, 2024, 4:30 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, citizens of the city built on rock – it’s a pleasure to join you and explore northern art and culture. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I am pleased to pay this visit to the vast Treaty Five lands that extend north and east to the barrenlands of Nunavut and tides of Hudson Bay. I acknowledge that our province is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene and Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation and the homeland of the Red River Métis; and that northern Manitoba includes lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. In a province of many peoples, with many languages and ways of seeing the world, there is no better way to encourage understanding and co-operation than through the arts. So this visit, during Culture Days, represents wonderful timing. Today and tomorrow, it will be my pleasure to discover the stories of this community and see the creativity of Flin Flon’s people. I’ll hear your words, witness your visions, experience your history. And I will have the opportunity to meet the women and men who create, preserve and pass on cultural knowledge and artistic expression. The many community resources and projects that I’m seeing on this visit feed the soul of Flin Flon and of Manitoba. And some of them, like the community garden, food bank and food forest I visited earlier today, feed more than the soul. Like cities, towns and hamlets across Manitoba, Flin Flon is strengthened and enriched by the devotion, generosity and energy of volunteers who come together to plan, build and operate resources that enhance life. Whether a place in Manitoba is built on prairie soil or on the hard granite of the Canadian Shield, the roots of community and caring run deep in this province. To all who have made this visit possible, thank you for giving me the chance to experience Flin Flon at its finest. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

September 24, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba CANADIAN CAPITAL CITIES ORGANIZATION CONFERENCE Government House Tuesday, September 24, 2024, 12 noon (please check against delivery)   Fellow Canadians, representatives of Canada’s capital cities, welcome to Manitoba and to Government House. It is a pleasure to welcome you to Treaty 1 territory and the homeland of the Red River Metis. As Lieutenant Governor, I acknowledge that our province is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene and Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation. And I acknowledge that northern Manitoba includes lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. As you know better than me, Canada’s capital cities have an important role to play in building a prosperous, equitable and sustainable future for all who call our country home. Capital cities are magnets for investment, immigration and innovation. They have diverse populations of skilled and educated citizens. And they are home to federal, provincial and territorial offices and institutions that touch on every aspect of life in Canada. There’s a special atmosphere in capital cities. In part it comes from their connection to history, as the places where generations of leaders debated law and policy, where great crises of the past were addressed. In part it comes from the public art and architecture associated with government. And a big part of it comes from the many informed and involved citizens who live in capital cities and get involved in public discussion and activism. But capital cities also face the same challenges as other cities — in matters such as housing, infrastructure, and health and safety. Bringing delegates from these important cities together to share ideas, experiences and visions provides a pool of brainpower that will benefit Canadians from coast to coast to coast. I note that your conference schedule includes opportunities to learn about Winnipeg’s history and culture and our city’s work on downtown transformation, transit and urban planning. And you will also have the chance to visit a number of our city’s cultural, historical and recreational landmarks of which we are so proud. I’m pleased that you’ll get to know our city as it is celebrating 150 years since its incorporation in 1874. To all who have made this conference possible and developed your program of learning and sharing, thank you for working to enhance this great group of cities. I wish you a productive visit and success in your work in your home cities. And I hope you take back great memories of your time spent in the heart of the continent. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

September 18, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba HABITAT FOR HUMANITY KEY CEREMONY 900 Pandora Avenue West Wednesday, September 18, 2024, 10:00 a.m. (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, friends of a great organization, it’s a pleasure to join you in this special homecoming celebration. As we congratulate families on their new homes here on Pandora Avenue, we remember that these homes and hundreds of thousands of others are on Treaty 1 territory and in the homeland of the Red River Metis. As Lieutenant Governor, I acknowledge that Manitoba is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene and Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation. And I acknowledge that northern Manitoba includes lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. Habitat for Humanity Manitoba is a beloved provincial institution that has been improving lives in our province since the 1980s. Those of you who have children or grandchildren may have heard a song by another beloved Manitoba institution – Fred Penner – called A House is a House for Me. In it, Fred Penner sings “A hive is a house for bee, a hole is a house for a mole or a mouse, a bird builds its house in a tree, but a house is a house for me.” It’s a song that taps into the feeling we all have, from the earliest age, that there’s a special place where we are safe and secure and have a sense of belonging. From earliest childhood, we know that home is essential and not just in a practical sense to keep you warm and dry. Home is where we learn and grow and love. And so this key ceremony does more than just mark an important milestone in the lives of the families that will live in this Habitat for Humanity development. It’s a reaffirmation of the importance of safe, secure and affordable housing for all. Since 1987, as the first Habitat for Humanity organization in Canada, volunteers, partners and supporters of this organization have enabled more than 500 families from across our province – plus Kenora – to realize the dream of home ownership. The unique combination of donations, volunteer labour, fund-raising events and the sweat equity of the new home owners turns a dream into the reality we see rising right here. To all of those who support Habitat for Humanity – with cash and in-kind donations or by picking up a hammer or other tools – thank you for being the key to this key ceremony. And to all those who will live here on Pandora Avenue, welcome home. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

September 17, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba SOUTH WINNIPEG FAMILY INFORMATION CENTRE 50TH ANNIVERSARY Government House Tuesday, September 17, 2024 (please check against delivery)   Volunteers, staff and friends of the South Winnipeg Family Information Centre, welcome to Government House and this celebration of 50 years of supporting families in our city. I am pleased to welcome you to Government House, here on Treaty 1 territory and in the homeland of the Red River Metis. As Lieutenant Governor, I acknowledge that Manitoba is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene and Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation. And I acknowledge that northern Manitoba includes lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. Our dream of building an equitable society that provides opportunities for all requires commitments at the government level that reach out across Manitoba and Canada. But just as important is a constellation of individuals and organizations working at the local level. Organizations like the South Winnipeg Family Information Centre bring people together right where they live and support them to learn, to care for their families, to fulfill their dreams and goals. For 50 years, staff and volunteers at the South Winnipeg Family Information Centre have built community spirit through programs for youth and parents. From your North Fort Garry site, you have created waves of caring that have rippled across this city and province. Thousands of children and adults take part in babysitting or study skills training, parenting and seniors programs each year. Hundreds of women each year acquire new outfits for work or study. As much as those numbers add up over fifty years, consider the lives touched when past participants carry on the spirit of community in their lives. Over the years, those waves of caring grow into a tsunami. None of that could happen without fifty years of leadership, sponsorship and volunteer commitment. To all who have supported the South Winnipeg Family Information Centre, I thank you for enhancing life in our city and province. Congratulations on this milestone anniversary. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

September 12, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba KING’S COUNSEL INDUCTION CEREMONY Government House Thursday, September 12, 2024 (please check against delivery) Fellow Manitobans, members of the legal profession, welcome to Government House and this celebration of leadership, integrity and excellence. I would like to begin by acknowledging that we are gathered on Treaty 1 territory and in the homeland of the Red River Metis, and that Manitoba is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene and Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation. And I acknowledge that northern Manitoba includes lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. An accessible, open, and well-functioning legal system is an essential requirement for any society’s dreams of fairness, equity and prosperity. And a necessary requirement of such a legal system is integrity and leadership within the legal profession – the sort of leadership provided by the accomplished lawyers we are celebrating today. The King’s Counsel designation recognizes lawyers with an outstanding record of practice who have been providing their services for at least 10 years. As we see from this newest group of KCs, this high level of excellence and integrity is found in all aspects of the legal profession in Manitoba. King’s Counsel members provide their expertise in family, employment, corporate, commercial and criminal law and in all kinds of litigation. They work on wills, trusts and contracts. They provide their experience to Manitoba’s largest employers and institutions and represent individuals and communities in great need. They serve as arbitrators and advisers. They ensure that our laws and regulations are well-drafted, assist with the education of future lawyers and oversee the administration of justice. And beyond their many professional accomplishments, King’s Counsels are highly sought after in the not-for-profit sector for their advice and leadership. The impact of the dedication and long service of these individuals is felt throughout Manitoba. On behalf of all Manitobans, I congratulate Manitoba’s newest distinguished members of the King’s Counsel for this well-deserved recognition. And I would also like to thank those who serve on the committee that makes recommendations for this designation. It is most certainly not an easy task! Congratulations to you all. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

September 10, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba WINNIPEG 150 CANDLELIGHT CONCERT AND SERVICE Brookside Cemetery Tuesday, September 10, 2024, 6:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, veterans and family members, people united in gratitude and remembrance, it is an honour to join you for this very special evening. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I first acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty 1 territory and that Manitoba is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene and Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation; that Manitoba is located on the homeland of the Red River Métis; and that northern Manitoba includes lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. We have come to pay our respects to more than 10,000 members of the Canadian Armed forces – interred in this cemetery – one of Canada’s largest and oldest fields of honour and a national historic site. In this candlelight service, we pay tribute to those who died defending Canada and its values and to those who served Canada in war or in peace and lived out their lives. Whatever the circumstances of their lives and deaths and the insignias of rank they bore, they now rest side by side, united by the simple granite markers of the field of honour. That equality reminds us of what unite these 10,000 souls. Each served our country and each selflessly took on the danger and challenges that comes with that. This year’s candlelight service marks three significant anniversaries. In June, Canada commemorated the 80th anniversary of D-Day. In April, we commemorated the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Royal Canadian Air Force. And all this year, we have been celebrating the 150th anniversary of the incorporation of the City of Winnipeg. The men and women interred here represent the history of our city and province, the history of Canada’s military trials and triumphs and our growth and development as a nation. It is said that a nation is more than just a collection of people living within particular boundaries under a system of laws and government. A nation is a conversation between the living, the dead and the not-yet-born. The Canada we live in is in large part the product of previous generations, including those buried here. And in our actions today, we must always think of those who will live here after us A place like this field of honour provides us with an opportunity to listen to those who cannot speak. At Brookside Cemetery we can hear their voices, if we listen with our hearts. As your Lieutenant Governor and a very grateful Manitoban, I thank you for coming tonight and wish you well as you open your ears, minds and hearts to the voices of all those we remember tonight. And I thank all of those who make this important service of remembrance possible. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

September 9, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba PREMIER’S PRAYER SUMMIT Government House Monday, September 9, 2024 (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, members of the Legislative Assembly, welcome to Government House. I would like to begin by acknowledging that we are gathered on Treaty 1 territory and in the homeland of the Red River Metis, and that Manitoba is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene and Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation. And I acknowledge that northern Manitoba includes lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty-making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. In our efforts as a society to encourage greater understanding and solidarity among an increasingly diverse population, Manitobans will need a spirit of reflection and an openness to wisdom and truth. For nearly 90 years, the Manitoba Legislative Assembly has begun each day’s proceedings with a prayer expressing those sentiments and committing the men and women in attendance to work for the good of Manitobans. While the values of that prayer are as valid now as ever, today we meet to discuss the wording and consider whether it should be modified to reflect the province we live in today and the many beliefs of its people. As Lieutenant Governor, I am pleased that this official residence is the site for a meeting where you can share your thoughts openly in a non-partisan and accepting environment. I invite you to share and to listen today, as together you consider those powerful words that will be used in the future in the heart of our province’s democracy. May wisdom and understanding guide these discussions. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

September 5, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba RETIREMENT RECEPTION FOR POLICE CHIEF DANNY SMYTH Government House Thursday, September 5, 2024 (please check against delivery) Friends and fellow Manitobans, it’s a pleasure to join you today in paying tribute to a man who has dedicated his career to the city and province we love. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I first acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty 1 territory and that Manitoba is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene and Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation; that Manitoba is located on the homeland of the Red River Métis; and that northern Manitoba includes lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. One of the privileges of my current position is having the opportunity to meet Manitobans who dedicate their time and talent and resources to their community. I am fortunate to get to know men and women who build and support the services and institutions we rely on for our health, safety and prosperity. It’s always an inspiring day when I’m able to give thanks, on behalf of Manitobans, for long-time service, problem-solving and leadership. Today, we’re gathered to salute Chief Danny Smyth for his 38 years of dedication as a member of the Winnipeg Police Service – including seven years in the demanding role of Chief of Police. There are many professions that can be described as demanding: many where the stakes are high, where public scrutiny comes with the position, where urgent action is regularly required. But very few, I would imagine, compare to that of chief of police in a major city. It takes a dedicated individual to take on such a challenge – or indeed the other highly demanding positions Danny held before reaching the top job. But dedication clearly runs in the Smyth family. Danny’s 38 years of service – starting in 1986 – match the 38 years his father Stan spent with the Winnipeg police. In this year when the city of Winnipeg is celebrating 150 years since its incorporation we have reached a total of 76 years of father and son Smyth service to this community. Winnipeg is fortunate to have had a homegrown leader commit himself day after day and year after year to the safety of this city and the effectiveness of the Winnipeg Police Service. Danny, as you enjoy a well-earned retirement, I hope the years to come are sweetened by the knowledge that you’ve made a positive difference in the careers and lives of both your former colleagues and in the lives of countless people in this city. Congratulations on a career well spent, Danny. We wish you “bonne chance” in the next chapter. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

August 29, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba MARINE MUSEUM OF MANITOBA 50TH ANNIVERSARY Government House Thursday, August 29, 2024, 6:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, members of the crew of the Marine Museum of Manitoba – welcome to Government House and this celebration of a half century of keeping history alive. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I would like to begin by acknowledging that we are gathered on Treaty 1 territory and in the homeland of the Red River Metis and that the lakes and rivers of this province flow through the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene and Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation. As well, northern Manitoba includes lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. From an early age, Manitobans learn of the importance of water transportation in the development of this province and its cities and towns. We learn about the canoe and York Boat routes that connected the very heart of North America with distant oceans. But what brings those history lessons to life is seeing the vessels that once plied the waters of our province. The Marine Museum of Manitoba fills in visitors’ understanding of the role of water transportation and connects the age of voyageur canoes to the age of steamships and diesel freighters. And like so many important historical resources in Manitoba, it is the product of volunteers with a passion for history. Restoring and maintaining your fleet of heritage vessels has required the dedication of generations of Manitobans – the original visionaries who imagined that Selkirk could be home to a museum of marine history and the many workers since who have kept that history alive. That work has ensured that the museum is an important resource for schools looking for an exciting field trip, for families looking for an all-ages outing and for people of all ages interested in an experiencing a piece of Manitoba’s past. To all who have made that possible, thank you for fifty years of enhancing our understanding and appreciation of history. Congratulations on this milestone anniversary and may the Marine Museum of Manitoba enjoy smooth sailing for many years to come. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

August 23, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba OPENING CEREMONIES, MORDEN CORN AND APPLE FESTIVAL Mainstage, Stephen Street Friday, Aug. 23, 2024, 6:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans and fellow lovers of summer, community and festivals – it’s a pleasure to join you once again for the largest street festival in our province. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty 1 territory and that Manitoba is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene and Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation; that Manitoba is located on the homeland of the Red River Métis; and that northern Manitoba includes lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. Since 1967, the Morden Corn and Apple Festival has been bringing together the people of Morden, the Pembina Valley region and, increasingly, all of Manitoba for one of the final big celebrations of summer. The story of this festival’s growth – like that of the community that hosts it – is one of volunteers identifying a need, visualizing what can be done and then doing the hard work of making that a reality. Morden and its neighbouring communities have become magnets of economic development and innovation because people in this region saw no reason this shouldn’t be a prosperous area with opportunities for all. And at the same time, they saw no reason Morden shouldn’t have a great two-day summer celebration of music and games, arts and crafts, laughter and fellowship, corn and apples and of course, this being Morden, farmer’s sausage. With 80,000 people enjoying this festival over two days, there’s something about it for everybody to love. And one of the most wonderful things is that so much of the fun this weekend is free for everybody. There’s no more accessible community gathering than the Morden Corn and Apple Festival. What a way to build community spirit – bringing all ages together on a beautiful summer weekend to enjoy the sights and sounds of one of Manitoba’s prettiest communities. And making sure that that experience is available to all. Thank you to all the volunteers, staff, sponsors, performers and exhibitors who make this festival possible. Enjoy a great weekend in great company. Thank you. Meegwich. Merci. Shalom

August 22, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF PARLIAMENTARY ADMINISTRATORS Government House Thursday, August 22, 2024, 12:00 noon (please check against delivery) Fellow Canadians, those of you who are servants of democracy, members of the Canadian Association of Parliamentary Administrators – welcome to Manitoba and to Government House. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty 1 territory and that Manitoba is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene and Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation; that Manitoba is located on the homeland of the Red River Métis; and that northern Manitoba includes lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. As Canadians, we all consider it our birthright to live in a society where laws are developed and policies overseen by our elected representatives. We expect these representatives to respond to the views of their constituents and debate the issues of the day and the principles of our country in the open – in Parliament, in provincial or territorial legislative assemblies, and in committee meetings. But making democracy work is not just a job for elected representatives. As I know from my own experience in Parliament, those debates we see snippets of on the news require the dedication of teams of hard-working professionals behind the scenes. Just as there would be no movies in your local multiplex without camera operators, location scouts and production accountants, so too the debates we sometimes call “political theatre” require behind-the-scenes work in information and broadcast technology, human resources and finance, and all aspects of administration. As Canada’s parliamentary administrators, you provide the crucial work that allows elected representatives to speak for their constituents. And you ensure that those constituents, from coast to coast to coast. are able to follow what goes on in Ottawa or their provincial or territorial capital. Your jobs require a wide range of specialized skills – skills that are in demand in many other areas of the public and private sectors and skills that I know you apply without favour to all. We all benefit from the fact that you have chosen to apply those skills to the benefit of your fellow Canadians and in support of our principles of open democratic government. I thank you for your dedication and wish you a productive conference that gives you a chance to enhance your knowledge, make friends with colleagues from across Canada and enjoy the sights and hospitality of summer in Winnipeg and Manitoba. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

August 22, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba NORTHERN ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY COUNCILS AGM AND TRADE SHOW Canad Inns Polo Park Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, 9:15 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Leaders, volunteers and builders of community, it’s a pleasure to join you today to celebrate dedication to Manitoba’s northern communities. I acknowledge that today we are gathered on Treaty 1 territory and in the homeland of the Red River Metis and that the communities represented here today from across Manitoba’s east, west and north, are located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene and Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation. And I acknowledge that northern Manitoba includes lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. Building a better Manitoba, for all its people, includes ensuring that all communities, regardless of size or location, have access to health, education, housing and other community services. And that has been the mission of the Northern Association of Community Councils since 1970. The unique challenges of transportation and environment faced by northern communities require a group like yours to share expertise and resources and amplify your voices. Your advocacy on everything from food security to internet access addresses the specific needs of 48 communities spread across a vast area of our beautiful province. I’m pleased that today I will join you in celebrating the special spirit found in close-knit communities that share a connection to the land and water. NACC Community Service Awards celebrate women and men for their dedication to others. In any healthy community – northern or southern, large or small – a network of leaders and volunteers is needed to build and support local resources, preserve and pass on knowledge, identify problems, find solutions, and weave a web of connections among community members. I am pleased to have the chance to recognize individuals whose energy, expertise and commitment makes Manitoba’s northern communities healthier, more resilient and more vibrant. To today’s award recipients and to all who strengthen the NACC, congratulations and thank you. May your dedication bear fruit in your home towns and across our province. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

August 21, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba GWEN SECTER CREATIVE LIVING CENTRE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 1588 Main Street, Winnipeg Wednesday, August 21, 2024, 12:00 noon (please check against delivery)     Friends and fellow Manitobans, it’s a pleasure to join you today at a place that has brought joy and friendship to generations of Winnipeg seniors. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I would like to begin by acknowledging that we are gathered on Treaty 1 territory and that Manitoba is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene and Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation; that Manitoba is located on the homeland of the Red River Métis; and that northern Manitoba includes lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. The great story of our city, province and country for more than a century has been a story of welcoming of the circle of newcomers. Gradually, barriers based on race, religion, gender and language have been dismantled and Canadians have come to see opportunity, equality and inclusion as core values. And for 75 years the Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre has worked to ensure that age doesn’t stand in the way of opportunities for learning, socializing, health and joy. In 1949, when the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada established the first drop-in centre for seniors in Canada, a new idea took root – here and across our country. The senior years didn’t have to be a time of withdrawal from the world. And as new medications and preventative treatments allowed us to live longer– and everything from joint replacement to yoga helped extend our active lifespans – Canadians came to see the senior years as a time to embrace life to the fullest. And certainly that’s what the Gwen Secter Centre does with its wonderful array of programming for all interests and abilities. At our age, we may not be able to do things exactly the way we once did. Our days of doing the twist may be behind us – but we can still move in time with the music we love. Many of us have a few more dietary restrictions than we once did – but the kitchen at the Gwen Secter is sure to have something delicious that we can enjoy. Medical science is confirming for us something that we’ve long understood intuitively – that social health is key to physical health, that happiness isn’t a nice add-on to life, but in fact is essential to life. Everything the Gwen Secter centre offers – from card games to exercise classes, from music and dance to quiet conversation, from days out on the town to a mobile library – reinforces the truth that the joy of life continues throughout our senior years. To all of the staff, volunteers and supporters who make that possible, thank you for your dedication to the people of our city and to life itself. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

August 8, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba PREMIERE OF ANISHINAABEMOWIN VERSION OF STAR WARS Centennial Concert Hall Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, 6:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Lovers of movies and lovers of the Anishinaabemowin (ANISH-A-ABE-MOW-WIN) language, people of our beautiful blue green planet – it’s a pleasure to join you today for this journey to a galaxy a long time ago and far, far away. What a special day this is for children and elders, scholars and film artists and fans of all ages to come together and launch a piece of movie history – here in the heart of Treaty One territory. This province — home to Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene, Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation, Inuit and Red River Metis people – is the perfect place to celebrate translation of one of the world’s most popular movies into an Indigenous language. As somebody who remembers watching Star Wars and its sequels and prequels with my own children and grandchildren, I know that the film we’re about to watch has an important place in the history of film. And I know it has inspired countless storytellers in film and print and new media. That global popularity makes an Anishinaabemowin (ANISH-A-ABE-MOW-WIN) version of Star Wars a wonderful opportunity to support and encourage Indigenous language learning. Preserving and revitalizing Indigenous languages is an important part of Canada’s commitment to reconciliation – and it brings wonderful benefits to language learners. Learning a language lets you see new sights, hear new sounds, discover new ideas. Language learning lets you travel into another world – and you don’t even need a spaceship with hyperdrive. This beloved movie about brave, creative individuals and communities rising up to survive and thrive will encourage movie lovers to learn the beauty and power of Anishinaabemowin (ANISH-A-ABE-MOW-WIN). To all of the partners who made this possible – at Lucasfilm, APTN, Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council, the University of Manitoba and the federal and provincial governments – thank you and congratulations on this unique and memorable premiere. May the force of language, culture and community be with you. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom.  

August 5, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba ICELANDIC FESTIVAL OF MANITOBA Gimli Park Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2024, 2:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans and friends of a great festival and a proud community, welcome to the formal program of the 2024 Icelandic Festival of Manitoba. As we gather to celebrate Manitoba’s Icelandic community and its history and heritage, we acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty 1 territory. Manitoba is located on the ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene and Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation and on the homeland of the Red River Métis and northern Manitoba includes lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. The people of this province have for generations been proud of Manitoba’s cultural diversity. This festival – the second oldest ethnic festival in North America – has been an important part of that celebratory spirit since 1890. This year, we celebrate a century of the Fjallkona (FEE-ALL-KHONA)– the Maid of the Mountain who presides over this event at acts as the incarnation of the festival and this community’s links to Iceland. ince 1924, women in Manitoba’s Icelandic community have been honoured for their roles in building, nurturing and leading communities here in Gimli, in this festival’s former home of Winnipeg and throughout Manitoba. A century of remarkable women have been recognized this way. Women who have held families and communities together during war and depression and during times of rapid change and growth. Women who have changed their community and their world. Women who have made a better world for the generations that followed them. It’s worth keeping in mind that, when the first Fjallkona was selected at this festival, leadership positions in business, government and other organizations were virtually off-limits to women. Canada had only just recently elected its first women to Parliament. And it’s worth noting as well that Iceland – the country personified by the Fjallkona – has been a world leader in opening doors to leadership for women. Our North Atlantic neighbour has had not one but two women elected president. Perhaps later this year another woman will attain that position in another nearby country. It would be stretching things a little to suggest that one hundred years of Fjallkonas have had a direct role in breaking glass ceilings. But surely, getting into the habit of honouring women for their work, their vision, and their passion for community has inspired women and girls to dream and to reach for the top in whatever field they choose. I thank the Icelandic Festival of Manitoba for a century of inspiring Manitoba’s women. And to all who support this festival as volunteers, sponsors or staff, thank you for enriching our province and enhancing our culture and quality of life. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

July 31, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba  ASSOCIATION OF CLERKS-AT-THE-TABLE OF CANADA LUNCHEON Government House Wednesday, July 31, 2024, 12:30 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Welcome to Government House and to Manitoba for this professional development meeting in the service of Parliamentary democracy. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty 1 territory and that Manitoba is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Oji-Cree, Dakota, Dene and Cree nations; that Manitoba is located on the homeland of the Red River Métis; and northern Manitoba includes lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. And we are delighted to welcome visitors from across Canada to this province at the centre of a country and a continent. Canadians – like citizens of many other countries – value democracy. We want a say in how our country, our province or territory and our local community is run. We want to send representatives to Parliament or to our Legislative Assembly who will listen to us and speak for us. But of course, there is more to democracy than that. Democracy runs on rules, procedures and precedents. It requires institutional memory and non-partisan advice on the processes of governing. For all of that, democracy needs people like you. I know, as somebody who was once a wide-eyed new MP, how bewildering it can be to take a seat in Parliament and take a look around from the inside for the first time. “Now what do it do?” is a pretty natural question. Fortunately, thanks to the expertise of clerks at the table, our elected assemblies can function smoothly. Thanks to orderly debate and discussion, ideas and points of view can be presented clearly and not lost in shouting. And newly elected members can gain the confidence to speak up and represent their constituents. The wisdom and experience of Parliamentary clerks makes that possible. I am sure you will have much to discuss at this gathering. Not only do you have experiences from across Canada to share, but your guests from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries, and the Australia and New Zealand Association of Clerks at the Table will offer greater diversity of experience to your meetings. I am sure you will take from this meeting new insights that will bolster your own judgement and understanding. And I hope as well that you return to your homes with memories of new friendships kindled and new discoveries made in the city at the heart of the continent. Thank you for your dedication to democracy and your commitment to continuous learning. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

July 25, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba ORDER OF MANITOBA DINNER Government House Thursday, July 25, 2024 (please check against delivery)   Good evening friends and welcome to Government House and this chance to unwind in great company. After the formality of this afternoon’s ceremony, it’s my pleasure to meet you again to host you and your loved ones here at beautiful Government House in the heart of Treaty One territory to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Order of Manitoba and your investiture into the Order. The act of breaking bread with others is one of our most simple and most profound ways of creating community. In every culture, there are traditions of community feasts, celebratory dinners, and ritual meals that bind people together in friendship and connect individuals to communities. As members of the Order of Manitoba, you have spent a large part of your lives fostering those connections of community for the betterment of our province and country. Now, sharing a meal with fellow members of the order and their special guests, you can create new connections and understanding among this outstanding group of leaders, innovators, philanthropists and advocates. Tonight is a time to learn each other’s stories, to share insights, and to play that great old Manitoban game of finding out what friends we already have in common. So, relax and enjoy alongside your follow Manitobans and special guests who have encouraged and supported you on your journey.  Enjoy the meal, and don’t forget dessert. As Julia Child said: “A party without cake is just a meeting!” Congratulations again on your investment into the Order of Manitoba, you make all Manitoban’s proud! Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

July 25, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba ORDER OF MANITOBA 2024 INVESTITURE CEREMONY Manitoba Legislative Building Thursday, July 11, 2024 (please check against delivery) Friends, fellow Manitobans, builders of a great province, it’s a pleasure to celebrate twelve Manitobans today for their many contributions to the province we love. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty 1 territory and that Manitoba is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Dakota, Dene and Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation, that Manitoba is located on the homeland of the Red River Métis; and northern Manitoba includes lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we respect and honour the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. Since 1999, the Order of Manitoba has been this province’s highest honour, recognizing individuals for work that enriches the social, cultural and economic life of Manitobans. As we celebrate the 25th anniversary, the Order of Manitoba continues to commemorate and recognize those, who’s lifetime of work, serve to benefit the good of this province. Members have been inducted into the Order for defending the rights and protecting the health of their fellow Manitobans. Builders and nurturers of important community organizations have been celebrated, as have creators of jobs and innovation. Artists have been acknowledged for the beauty they create, educators and scientists for the understanding they foster, and community advocates for their work to protect and enhance cultural diversity. Again in 2024, the Order of Manitoba recognizes twelve men and women for a wide range of profoundly important contributions to life in our province – and beyond. For thousands of years, thinkers and philosophers have pondered the moral duty to help others and enhance society. There’s a very old phrase, which many of you may be familiar with, from the first century rabbi Hillel, which often shows up in modified form attributed to any number of celebrities, politicians and writers. “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what am I?” Members of the Order of Manitoba include great advocates for their own communities and interests. But these great Manitobans are not only advocates for themselves. They speak for all Manitobans who want a better, more just, healthier, more beautiful province. The other part of Hillel’s famous phrase is perhaps most important. “If not now, when?” Members of the Order of Manitoba are people who have looked at a need – changes in law, development of new community resources, questions in need of answer – and determined that the time to address that need is now, not some unspecified time in the future. On this summer day, a few days following the anniversary of Manitoba’s entry into Confederation it is right that we take time to thank these twelve outstanding Manitobans for enhancing our communities, our province, our country and our world. After all, if not now, then when? As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I thank those who serve as part of the on the Order of Manitoba Advisory Council.  The time you dedicate helps shine a light on the greatness that exists within our province – and that is no easy task! And I congratulate all of those Manitobans who dedicate their talents, time, resources and energy to enhancing life in our province – especially today’s new members of the Order of Manitoba. May the medal and pin recognizing your induction forever remind you of the gratitude of Manitobans. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom.

July 24, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba GIMLI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2024 OPENING RECEPTION Johnson Hall – Waterfront Centre, Gimli, MB July 24, 2024 (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans and fellow celluloid junkies, its a pleasure to join you to kick off this year’s Gimli Film Festival. As Lieutenant Governor, I acknowledge that we are gathered on treaty one land, in a province that is home to the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene, Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation, Inuit and Metis peoples. And I am pleased that this festival is and has long been an important showcase for Indigenous film artists. Since 2001, the Gimli Film Festival has grown into Canada’s largest rural film festival. And it has grown along with the film industry of Manitoba. Indeed, with its programs supporting emerging filmmakers and its industry panels, this festival has played an important role in building Manitoba’s film community. Today, the festival of motion pictures is a place film lovers can see works from around the world and films they simply would not ever see at their local multiplex. This week, audiences will discover indigenous films, films on environmental and social issues, films from our circumpolar neighbours, from Ukraine, and much more. From screening rooms showing new works from diverse points of view, to the popular appeal of the annual beach screenings, this festival truly embraces the full spectrum of film. Organizers and supporters of this festival have taken a beautiful beach community and given Manitobans even more reason to love it. I wish you much success for this wonderful event you have created for all to enjoy. And to all who make this possible every summer, thank you and take a bow. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

July 23, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba ROYAL LIFESAVING SOCIETY RESCUE AND COMMONWEALTH HONOUR AWARDS Government House Tuesday, July 23, 2024 (please check against delivery)   Welcome to Government House and to what is a celebration of bravery and dedication to others. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty 1 territory and that Manitoba is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene and Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation; that Manitoba is located on the homeland of the Red River Métis; and northern Manitoba includes lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration. Across our province, Manitobans enjoy something that much of the world would envy: access to abundant, clean, fresh water. While that water is a great blessing and an important asset to our well-being, it can also be a source of great danger. And so the work of the Royal Lifesaving Society in furthering lifesaving education and water safety is especially important to Manitobans. And it is never more important than in the height of summer – the season with a disproportionate number of the drowning deaths in our province. I can think of no better way of celebrating National Drowning Prevention Week – occurring this week across Canada – than honouring Manitobans who have participated in water rescues and rescue attempts. Each year, these awards recognize quick thinking, courage and the commitment to help others in need. Each rescue or rescue attempt is different. They may occur at lakes, rivers or swimming pools. They may involve children or adults; swimmers overwhelmed in the water or boaters who have capsized; falls through winter ice or slips from the water’s edge or vehicles leaving the road and landing in water. Sometimes the rescuers are experienced professionals with lifesaving training. Often they are bystanders who act using their best judgement in the moment. What they all have in common is that the rescuers are people who have been willing to step forward in the face of urgent need and uncertainty. Each of today’s award recipients got involved – when it might have been easy to let somebody else take on the challenge. Each of them chose action and compassion when another person needed them. Their service to others – along with the service of Lifesaving Society volunteers who focus on drowning prevention – reverberates beyond the individual moment of public service and dedication. To all of today’s honorees, thank you. By committing yourselves to save lives or prevent drowning dangers, you create waves of caring that ripple across the countless water bodies of Manitoba.  And to all those who support the Royal Lifesaving Society, thank you for your work to make our province safe and healthy. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom.  

July 9, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba 15th ANNUAL CELEBRATING WOMEN’S GALA – PROVINCIAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN OF MANITOBA Viscount Gort Hotel Tuesday, July 9, 2024, 7:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Members and friends of the Provincial Council of Women of Manitoba – thank you for the opportunity to join you in celebrating the achievements of women and an organization that has represented women in Manitoba for 75 years. I acknowledge and honour that we come together today Treaty one territory and that Manitoba is located on the treaty territories and ancestral and present-day lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene, Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation, Inuit and Red River Metis. As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of the treaties and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people to hear truths and seek reconciliation and collaboration. As Lieutenant Governor, I have the good fortune to meet Manitobans from all walks of life who have dedicated themselves to improving life in our province. These advocates, activists and volunteers work to enhance health and education, justice and equality, culture and quality of life.And many of them are women and work with the affiliate organizations of the Provincial Council of Women of Manitoba, and I have had the pleasure of working with  and learning from a number of them. Since the establishment of this organization 75 years ago, women have moved our province forward in all areas of social and material progress. And so this fabulous event, during a milestone year for the council, provides us with the opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate women who work in countless ways – in their communities, in their workplaces, in the limelight and behind the scenes – to make the province and the nation we love better for everyone. The individuals and organizations being honored really are exceptional leaders in our community, and I applaud each and every one of you. To my good friend Mary Scott – tonight’s Lifetime Achievement recipient – your passion and purpose, and advocacy for social justice and women’s equality in Canada and throughout the world – is an inspiration to us all. Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of joining the Council of Women of Winnipeg for an anniversary celebration – so it’s especially gratifying to see both the Manitoba and Winnipeg councils represented at this gala. From the earliest days of the women’s suffrage movement to today, women have known that linking arms and raising voices together is the best way of making positive changes. The challenges of the present and future – from climate change to housing shortages to the opiate crisis – continue to require alliances and partnerships. And it will undoubtedly be women who will increasingly take the lead in advocating for solutions to these and other urgent issues. To all who have worked with Provincial Council of Women of Manitoba and its member organizations, thank you for being role models to women of all ages, for exemplifying the power of collective action and for planting the seeds of hope in this province’s fertile soil. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich and Shalom

June 27, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba NELLIE MCCLUNG FOUNDATION TRAILBLAZER SCHOLARSHIP CEREMONY AND RECEPTION Government House Thursday, June 27, 2024 (please check against delivery)   Good evening everyone – it’s a pleasure to welcome you to Government House. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I acknowledge that we are gathered in the heart of Treaty One land and the homeland of the Red River Metis – and that this province is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW) Cree, Dakota, Dene, Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation, Inuit and Metis peoples. As we work to build a future of reconciliation, understanding and justice for all, we will require the work of young trailblazers to carry this progress into the future. At a time of year when we hold convocation ceremonies to celebrate educational achievements and the goals and dreams of youth, we’ve come together to celebrate this year’s recipients of the Nellie McClung Foundation’s Trailblazer Scholarships. This year’s 10 scholarship recipients join the 45 young women who have previously been hailed as Trailblazers by the Foundation. For those of you who have won this scholarship, this is obviously an important achievement. Recognition for your hard work and talents will provide you with encouragement to continue on your path or to find your own way forward. And obviously the financial award will come in handy with educational and living expenses. But this scholarship also comes with responsibilities. You’ve been designated a trailblazer. You’ve been identified as somebody who can lead and inspire. I urge you to take that to heart. The personal characteristics that brought you to this point will be of great value to each of you in your studies and in your work life. I urge you to use some of your gifts to help others find a way forward – which is literally what the word “trailblazer” means. I’m sure many of you already do this through volunteer work or informal support for friends. But as young women who’ve already been identified as having great potential and ability, you may see new opportunities in the years ahead to make a difference in the world around you. I urge you to make Nellie McClung proud by working for the advancement of our society. Doing so will bring you new experiences and new satisfaction – and in the process help to make our society healthier, more prosperous, more equitable. I’d like to thank the Nellie McClung Foundation and all of its supporters for making this opportunity possible. And of course I congratulate all of today’s scholarship recipients on your success. May this feeling inspire you and motivate you in the years ahead. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

June 22, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE BALL Victoria Inn Saturday, June 22, 2024, 6:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Manitobans and members of the Philippine Heritage Council, it’s a pleasure to join you for this celebration of the Philippine Independence and of Manitoba’s Filipino community. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I acknowledge that we are gathered in the heart of Treaty One land and the homeland of the Red River Metis – and that this province is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW),  Cree, Dakota, Dene, Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation, Inuit and Metis peoples. Today, Winnipeg is home to more than 77,000 members of the Filipino community – giving this city and this province the largest per capita Filipino presence in Canada. And so given the contributions of this community in all areas of culture, leadership, industry, health care, education and other field, I am pleased to be here as the first Lieutenant Governor to bring greetings at this annual celebration. Over the course of my life, I’ve been fortunate to meet and to work with many members of the Filipino community. As many of you know I served on the Winnipeg School Board. I heard at the time from Filipino voters whose children attended schools in our division – and they impressed on me their passion for learning as the key to their children’s future. When I served in Parliament, one of my colleagues was the first Philippines-born Member of Parliament in Canada – the Honorable Rey Pagtakhan. And of course as a lover of Winnipeg’s cultural scene, I’ve long enjoyed the contribution members of this community make to the arts – from Folklorama to Rainbow Stage and the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre. The strong community spirit of the Filipino community is evident in the 32 member organizations of the Philippine Heritage Council of Manitoba – and in the strong family and community ethos evident to anybody who’s ever witnessed a big, joyful Philippine community picnic at a park or beach. That spirit is a great strength and an inspiration – to this community and to all of Manitoba. As the theme of Filipino Heritage Month puts it, community spirit is a legacy to youth. May this spirit glow in the hearts of young and old in years to come. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom. And Mabuhay! (MAH-BOO-HI)        

June 22, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR’S LEVEE ON THE LAWN Government House Saturday, June 22, 2024 (please check against delivery)   Good afternoon to each and every one of you that has joined us here today to take part in the first ever Levee on the Lawn. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I welcome you to Government House and these beautiful grounds here  in the heart of Treaty One land and the homeland of the Red River Metis. I acknowledge and honour that our beautiful province is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene, Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation, Inuit and Metis peoples. Today, we come together as a community to participate in the great tradition of the Levée, although we’ve taken the liberty of deviating from the norm. The first recorded Levee in Canada dates all the way back to 1646 in New France, which we now know as Quebec. Traditionally held on New Year’s day, Levee’s hosted by the Governor General – and Lieutenant Governors across the country – have long provided citizens opportunity to greet their respective Lieutenant Governor, share news of their successes throughout the year, and pledge their continued allegiance to the Crown. Manitoba’s very first Lieutenant Governor, The Honourable Adams Archibald, hosted his first New Year’s Levée on January 2, 1871 at Upper Fort Garry – just up the street at Broadway and Main – where he also lived. Construction of Government House, here at 10 Kennedy Street, was completed in the fall of 1883 and the first New Year’s Day Levée was held here in 1884, hosted by Manitoba’s fourth Lieutenant Governor, The Honourable James Aikins. Other than in 2007, when then-Lieutenant Governor John Harvard opted to host a spring garden party at Government House, in lieu of the traditional Levee, it has been held on January 1st.  The last Lieutenant Governor’s New Year’s Day Levee was held in 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic. And here we are!   It is not New Year’s Day, of course, but there is always much to celebrate about this province we call home. Summer has officially arrived in Manitoba and National Indigenous Peoples Day was celebrated from coast to coast to coast just yesterday. I invite you to enjoy the entertainment being provided by some very talented Manitobans, take a stroll through Government House, and partake of the other activities that are planned this afternoon. I encourage you to say hello and enjoy the company of your fellow Manitobans and share the community spirit we are known for. Events like this don’t just happen. It takes a lot of work by a lot of people behind the scenes, and I do want to take a moment to thank the talented performers, the members of the Manitoba Living History Society, Elder Bsrbara Nepinak, the Legislative Security and operations teams, my staff and Aides de Camp, and the wonderful volunteers for all of their efforts in ensuring what I know will be a memorable afternoon. I look forward to having the opportunity to meet many of you throughout the day, and I sincerely thank you for being here.  Enjoy! Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

June 19, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba MANITOBA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION – SCHOLAR ATHLETES AWARDS CEREMONY Government House Wednesday, June 19, 2024 (please check against delivery)   Scholars, athletes and fans of both – welcome to these awards for academic and athletic excellence. It’s always a pleasure to welcome visitors to Government House, here in the heart of Treaty One land and the homeland of the Red River Metis. For over 140 years, this historic residence has been a provincial landmark, as well as residence of Lieutenant Governors, in a province that is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene, Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation, Inuit and Metis peoples. I’m especially pleased any time this building can be a venue for a salute to young Manitobans who have demonstrated great work ethic, talent and potential. Recipients of the Manitoba Credit Unions’ Scholar Athlete awards showcase the attributes of youth that inspire hope for the future in older generations. To be in the running for these awards takes a commitment to academic excellence combined with the determination to practise, to dig deep in competition, to manage time and juggle commitments. The individuals being recognized today have demonstrated those characteristics at the highest levels – in the classroom, library and lab, on the court, the ice or the field. But they also symbolize the benefits brought to more than 30,000 student athletes each year in Manitoba. The Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association – and the more than 4,000 teachers and community volunteers who coach high school athletes – make it possible for young people to find new reserves of determination, to learn how to win with grace and lose with dignity, to discover the joys and health benefits of physical activity. Events such as the one today brings to mind a quote by Pelé: “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do”. You have all worked hard, dreamed big and made sacrifices to get you to where you are today. I hope you all take time to reflect and take pride in what you have accomplished at this stage of your life. To all the volunteers and educators who help young people reach for that goal, thank you. And to today’s award recipients, congratulations. May today’s award encourage you to keep moving forward – in shoes, cleats, skates or barefoot. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

June 18, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba RECEPTION FOR CAMILLA HOLLAND, ROYAL MANITOBA THEATRE CENTRE Government House Tuesday, June 18, 2024, 7:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Friends of a great leader and of a great arts institution, welcome to Government House. As Lieutenant Governor, I acknowledge first that we’re gathered in the heart of Treaty One land and in the homeland of the Red River Metis. Tonight as we consider the storytelling and artistic visions that bring people together, we keep in mind that our province is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene, Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation, Inuit and Red River Metis peoples. Art enables the understanding that in turn can make our community a place of healing, justice and equity for all. Like many Manitobans, I have several times found myself in a conversation with somebody from another part of Canada and heard confirmation that our rich and vibrant arts community is no secret. There’s no need to boast about the arts community of the city and province I love – Canadians already know of the outsize role Winnipeg and Manitoba play in our country’s arts and culture world. Long-standing institutions like the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre are a big part of why that is. But those institutions in turn depend on people of vision, energy, integrity and creativity to survive and to thrive. Tonight, we’re celebrating Camilla Holland for bringing all of those attributes and more to RMTC for 13 years – through some of the biggest challenges the theatre has ever faced. RMTC’s artistic achievements – and they are many – depend on financial security and organizational stability. And Camilla Holland has brought these to RMTC for almost all the time it has had that letter R. I know that all Manitobans who care about our flagship theatre company have benefited from your time here, Camilla. And wherever your career takes you from here, I have no doubt you’ll bring the same talents and commitment. I wish you exciting, engaging challenges and new opportunities to enliven and enrich the world around you through important work. And to all who support and enjoy RMTC, may your curtain keep rising on magic and wonder. Thank you, Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

June 18, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE DALNAVERT MUSEUM AND VISITORS’ CENTRE Tuesday, June 18, 2024 (please check against delivery) Honoured guests, ladies and gentlemen:  Good afternoon! As Lieutenant Governor, I am pleased to gather with you here in the heart of Treaty One land and in the homeland of the Red River Metis. The historical residence in which we currently stand exists within the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene, Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation, Inuit and Red River Metis peoples. It is a pleasure to be here today to join in this golden anniversary celebration of the Dalnavert Museum.  Once the home of Hugh John McDonald and family, this remarkable building offers a unique glimpse of life in the past and, in so doing, honours the heritage that helped set the foundation for the Winnipeg we know and love today. Through the dedication and hard work of your board of directors, staff and volunteers, the Dalnavert Museum and Visitors’ Centre has become a national historic site, preserving one of the finest examples of Queen Anne Revival architecture in Western Canada. The museum invites visitors to explore the beauty and craftmanship of this home, and consider how the ways of the past have blazed a trail to the future of our capital city. The preservation and maintenance of Dalnavert has always been a true team effort, a labour of love that may not have always been easy, but is undoubtedly worthwhile. Historic preservation matters.  It matters now and it will matter even more in the future. It helps us understand and appreciate our cultural heritage and adds significantly to our shared sense of community.  And what a wonderful community we have! On this special day at Dalnavert, there is much to celebrate.  The 50th anniversary milestone is a remarkable achievement in itself. It is the result of a tremendous effort by Winnipeggers whose vision, dedication, faith and diligence have ensured that this wondrous home will be able to inspire, educate and enlighten visitors for many more decades to come. Congratulations on his golden anniversary and the wonderful work you have done, and will continue to do, in preserving our heritage.  Your efforts are a loving nod to the past, a generous gift to the future and a blessing for today. Thank you, Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

June 17, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba RED RIVER COLLEGE POLYTECH CONVOCATION RBC Convention Centre Monday, June 17, 2024, 7:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Graduates, staff and friends of a vibrant learning institution, it’s a pleasure to join you for this celebration of learning. As Lieutenant Governor, I acknowledge first that we’re gathered in the heart of Treaty One land and in the homeland of the Red River Metis. The graduates we celebrate tonight will take what they’ve learned and put it to use in Manitoba, building prosperity in a province that is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene, Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation, Inuit and Red River Metis peoples. I feel fortunate to be able to share in your excitement tonight as you prepare to receive your diplomas. This convocation is something close to my heart. Earlier in my career, I worked in adult career education and saw the transformative impact that career training had on graduates of our programs. This was a few of decades ago, so a great deal of what you’ve learned at Red River College Polytech wasn’t even imagined in the training our programs provided. I am sure that in the various business, information technology and creative arts programs you are graduating from, you’ve learned how to do any number of things that would have looked like science fiction back in my day. But what hasn’t changed is that of all the skills taught in any good educational program, the most important is learning how to acquire new knowledge. Here at Red River Polytech, you’ve mastered bodies of knowledge that will get you in the door. And you’ve also learned the problem-solving and critical thinking skills that will help you to keep learning as your world and your work change. Therefore, tonight we are celebrating the successful completion of one important stage of your learning and the beginning of another. I wish you many fascinating and exciting challenges in the years to come as you use what you’ve learned and add, every day, to your store of knowledge. Congratulations on this achievement. And to all who have helped you along on the journey, as instructors, as mentors, as part of your personal support system, thank you for supporting learning in our province. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

June 6, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA CONVOCATION ADDRESS Investors Group Athletic Centre Thursday, June 6, 2024 (please check against delivery)   Students, family and friends of the graduates, faculty, and members of the University of Manitoba family, it’s a tremendous honour to share this special day with you and join a long list of people recognized by a university that is close to my heart and part of my life. As a University of Manitoba graduate, I’m always pleased to return to my alma mater, here in the heart of Treaty One land and the homeland of the Red River Metis. In a province that is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Dakota, Dene, Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation, Inuit and Metis peoples, the University of Manitoba plays an essential role in fostering understanding, inclusion and opportunities for all. It is an incredible honor to be granted this degree under the mandate of President Benarroch who provides visionary leadership to this institution of higher learning. And it is a particular honor to share this event with today’s graduates – along with their family and friends. Over the course of my career, as a board member of the Winnipeg School Division and later as a Member of Parliament, I have attended many high school and post-secondary convocations. But I certainly never imagined I would attend one as the King’s representative in Manitoba. Nor did I ever picture myself wearing a brilliant red honorary doctorate robe. Truth be told I never envisioned assuming the role of Lieutenant Governor. I got the call two years ago asking if I would be interested in taking on this role and my reaction was: “Who? Me?” On this day when many of you are preparing to take on new roles in life, when you are receiving the degrees that will open new career paths for you, I’m going to suggest to you an answer you can use when you find yourself questioning the options opening for you. “Why not me?” In whatever career pathway lies before you – in agriculture, foods and nutrition, education, music or anywhere else – you are going to find yourself with unexpected opportunities and interesting but serious challenges. You might question whether you have the right experience or the connections or professional reputation. You might feel that somebody else will certainly be a stronger candidate. But I say to you: “Why not you?” That has been a ground rule of mine when opportunities have arisen. And when I’ve taken advantage of those opportunities, I have learned and grown and met inspiring people who have expanded and influenced my outlook on life. Sometimes, these things will take you completely by surprise. Just as an example, I’ll point to the time many years ago I received a call asking if I would like to be what’s called a lay bencher for the Law Society of Manitoba.  A lay bencher is a non-lawyer who sits on the Law Society’s governing bodies to provide a community perspective. I had about five minutes to decide if I would do it, and to be honest, I didn’t really know that a lay bencher did or was. But I said yes. As someone close to me had repeatedly said “Never pass up an opportunity”. So, accept those challenges. You have learned a great deal in these last few years. You’ve studied the history and latest developments in your chosen field. You’ve practiced specialized skills and developed your talents. You’ve stretched your creativity. You’ve advanced knowledge through your own advanced, in-depth research. Now comes a new educational journey, as you apply what you’ve learned in your work with your students, patients, customers or co-workers. And on that new learning journey, you’ll have new responsibilities. As a teacher, an agronomist, a dietitian, a biosystems engineer, or as a member of any other professional body, you will now have a public responsibility. At the outset of my mandate as Lieutenant Governor, I identified education, reconciliation and human rights as my priorities. I remain committed to combatting hatred, prejudice and ignorance. It has always been my hope that by coming together as a society with an open-minded commitment, we can celebrate and forge a respect for the diversity that exists within the community we all call home. I strongly believe that continuity and growth will depend on our collective efforts of reconciliation. Change is imperative. Just this week, we have witnessed this institution apologize for the misuse and abuse of Indigenous artifacts and in the words of President Bennaroch “commit to the repatriation and rematriation of these items”. I often cite the late Thomas Malloy-the former Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan – who said in his installation speech “Reconciliation will not be easy, but it is critical to the future of our country. It requires from each of us a willingness to operate outside our comfort zone and make a concerted effort towards relationship building”. Be aware, as you go out into the world, of the complexity of the issues that surround us all. Seek understanding. Avoid easy answers. Don’t confuse placing a label on a subject with understanding that subject. We live in an age of hashtags – and they can be effective at raising an issue’s profile. But by clicking “like” on a hashtag is no substitute for hashing out the details of complex ideas, issues and controversy. You are graduating in a world of ever-changing technological, political, economic and social challenges. You are going out into a vastly more diverse society than I entered when I graduated from this university – indeed a society more aware of justice and equality. Old realities are metastasizing into new 21st century forms.  We live in a much more polarized world. All of you, whatever your field of study, whatever your future career path, will need to keep listening and learning as the world around you changes. Those of you who will

June 2, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba WINNIPEG PRIDE PARADE AND RALLY Manitoba Legislative Building Sunday, June 2, 2024, 10:00 a.m. (please check against delivery)   Good morning Winnipeg Pride! What a pleasure it is to join you at the Pride 2024 rally as we Transcend Together*. This annual gathering brings people together in the heart of Treaty One land and in the homeland of the Red River Metis. Today as we celebrate the two spirit and LGBTQ+ communities and the diversity of this province, we acknowledge and celebrate that Manitoba is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Red River Metis peoples. Together, we are listening and learning and working to make this province and this country a better place – a place of justice, equity and opportunity for all. The Pride community has worked to make Manitoba a better, more understanding and open place – beginning long before the first rally was held on the steps of the Legislative Building in 1987. Since then, the people who raise their voices at this rally, and who parade joyfully through Winnipeg at this celebration, have played an important role in defining and defending rights. For 37 years, Winnipeg Pride has opened minds, nurtured courage and understanding, and given people in this city and province a great excuse to sing and dance and be as fabulous as they want to be. To all who have made this possible, thank you for nurturing Winnipeg Pride – and along with it, Winnipeg Joy, Winnipeg Understanding, Winnipeg Hope. Have a wonderful festival. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich.  

May 31, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba IMAGINE A CANADA CEREMONY AND CELEBRATION Canadian Museum for Human Rights Friday, May 31, 2024, 9:00 a.m. (please check against delivery)   Students and educators, dreamers of a new and better Canada – it’s a pleasure to join you today for this celebration of creativity and reconciliation. To those of you watching on the livestream from across Canada, I’d like to welcome you to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg, in the home of Treaty One land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. As the capital city of a province that is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Red River Metis peoples, Winnipeg is a place where the work of reconciliation is carried on all around us. We are all engaged in learning, listening, imagining and building a better country – for everybody. For nearly a decade the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation has been helping Canadians understand the past and the present, and the means to create a future of opportunity, fairness and justice. And all of you – as participants in the Imagine a Canada project – are helping to create that future. From kindergarten to high school and CEGEP (College of General and Professional Teaching), young people are helping each other and their families and communities understand what reconciliation can look like. In your art projects, in your poems and essays, in your educational projects, you are showing us a way forward. It takes imagination to come up with your ideas. It takes practice to get the words or the images just right. It takes hard work to organize special events or learning projects. But most of all, it takes an open heart to explore and a willingness to learn from the storied history surrounding Canada’s residential schools. To all who have taken part in Imagine a Canada – thank you for helping us feel and see and understand. And to all the teachers and elders and the staff at the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, thank you for your commitment to imagining a new Canada. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

May 30, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S INTERNATIONAL AWARD – CANADA’S AWARD HOLDER MIXER Government House Thursday, May 30, 2024 (please check against delivery)   Members and supports of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards family –welcome to Government House. It’s a pleasure to welcome you to Government House, here in the heart of Treaty One land and the homeland of the Red River Metis. For over 140 years, this historic residence has been a prominent landmark in a province that is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Metis peoples. It remains an important gathering place today as we work create a province of healing, understanding and reconciliation. This is the time of year when we gather to celebrate learning – at college and university convocations, at kindergarten graduations and at everything in between. Today, meeting people who have received Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards, we’re reminded of the many other forms that learning takes. Since 1963, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards have motivated young Canadians to learn new skills, experience their world and discover themselves, through volunteer service and through adventure. The learning experiences made possible by the awards stay with people for years, for decades, for life. But don’t take my word for it. We have with us today a number of past participants who have earned Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. As we meet and mingle at this get-together, you’ll all have the opportunity to exchange stories about experiential learning and the lifelong benefits of these experiences. An award program like this would not exist without support from donors and leaders who provide resources and knowledge to keep it alive and thriving. It’s an encouraging sign for all who believe in the importance of personal growth and challenge to see so many supporters here eager to learn more about the Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards. To all who make these awards possible and to all who embody the values of learning through service and adventure, thank you for your commitment to the youth of the today and the future. May these awards continue to foster personal growth as our province grows in the years to come. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

May 29, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba WINNIPEG POLICE SERVICE AWARDS My Church Winnipeg, 955 Wilkes Wednesday, May 29, 2024, 1:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Members and friends of the Winnipeg Police Service, it’s a pleasure to join you today to celebrate devotion and dedication. As Lieutenant Governor, I begin by acknowledging that we’re gathered in the heart of Treaty One land and in the homeland of the Red River Metis. The city whose people you serve is the capital of a province that is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Red River Metis peoples. Together, we can make this city, this province and this country a better place by learning and listening and working together to support justice, equity and opportunity for all. Under the Canadian Honours system, Canada has a series of awards for extraordinary contributions to society – including medals for long-standing exemplary service in potentially dangerous fields dedicated to preserving public safety. And that is what brings us here today. The men and women being recognized have served for twenty years – or more – meeting the high standards of professional conduct demanded by the Winnipeg Police Service. As outsiders, when many of us think of the courage and devotion to duty required of police officers, we likely think of something we might see in a TV show: an arrest of a dangerous suspect or a rescue of somebody in a life-threatening peril. And while I’m sure many of you have had moments like that, today we’re talking about the quiet courage of heading into work day after day, year after year, to face the unknown. And we’re also talking about the devotion to duty involved in fulfilling the very high standards of the police code of ethics. As that code states, today’s award recipients have been true to the principle that “all persons are equally entitled to courtesy, understanding and compassion.” In all branches of police work, in their work preventing and detecting crime, in their work to ensure safety on our roads, in their interactions with the community, in their work to enhance operations of the Winnipeg Police Service, recipients of the Exemplary Service Award have set a high standard. To all of today’s award recipients, I thank you for your devotion and service to our community and to our laws. May the gratitude of our community stay with you throughout your career and beyond. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

May 28, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba AN EVENING OF GRATITUDE FOR TOBA CENTRE’S WE WILL CAMPAIGN SUPPORTERS Government House Tuesday, May 28, 2024 (please check against delivery)     Friends of an important new community resource, welcome to this celebration of generosity. It’s a pleasure to welcome you to Government House – here in the heart of Treaty One land and in the homeland of the Red River Metis. Here in the capital of a province that is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Red River Metis peoples, we welcome the support that Toba Centre will provide to children throughout Manitoba. Canadians are strong believers in a publicly funded social supports for those in need. We have come to think of public health care as central to our values – along with a well-funded education system, support for housing and other aspects of our social safety net. But we also know that there are gaps between what’s needed to make a healthier and more just society and what government funding can provide at all times. And that’s where the generosity of individual Canadians is essential. No case better illustrates that than the successful campaign by Manitoba’s own Toba Centre to create a new full-service child advocacy centre to provide support for children who have been victims of abuse. Bringing together specially trained forensic interviewers with police investigators and doctors, nurses, social workers, psychologists and counsellors will allowed for the needs of children and their families to be addressed during and after any legal proceedings. And doing so in the calming, forested setting of Assiniboine Park will surely support the important healing going on within Toba Centre. None of this would have been possible without the generosity of the donors and campaign leaders who guided Toba Centre to its capital goals. While I’m sure many hands pitched in to carry this project forward, I want especially to congratulate Ken* and Peggy Talbot, Lorraine Maciboric* and Robert Bockstael* on the success of the We Will capital campaign. To all who support children through Toba Centre and to all who have made that support possible through their gifts of expertise and money, thank you. Your contributions help to make Manitoba the province we dream it can be. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich.

May 23, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba 130th ANNIVERSARY, COUNCIL OF WOMEN OF WINNIPEG Government House Thursday, May 23, 2024 (please check against delivery)   Members of the Council of Women of Winnipeg, it’s an absolute pleasure to welcome you to Government House, here in the heart of Treaty One land and the homeland of the Red River Metis. For over 140 years, this historic residence has been a provincial landmark, as well as residence of Lieutenant Governors, in a province that is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Metis peoples. I’ve had the good fortune to welcome to this building many Manitobans who contribute to the health, equity and quality of life of our province. But not many are members of organizations that have been working to improve life in our province since 1894. Reading the history of the Council of Women of Winnipeg is like a following the history of social progress in Manitoba. One would be hard pressed to find an important step in making this city and province more supportive, more equitable, and more just that was not championed by the women of this group. From the early efforts to win the vote for women, to later campaigns for family allowance and minimum wage laws, to advocacy for pay equity and gender equity in leadership, the Council of Women of Winnipeg has always been on the right side of history. Today, you continue to provide opportunities to bring research, networking and advocacy to bear on important issues – from housing, to transportation, to the toxic drug crisis. And in doing so, you provide opportunities for women to develop their leadership talents in order to ensure that the voice of women can be heard in future public debates. It takes generations of listening and learning, hard work and creative thinking to keep an organization alive and vital for 130 years. Fortunately, Winnipeg has never lacked for talented women with the courage to speak up and the commitment to make a better community. To all who have been part of that history and to the members who carry it on today, I’m delighted to help you celebrate this anniversary year here at Government House. Thank you for your commitment to our city and province and congratulations on 130 years of making our community better. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

May 22, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba RCMP LONG SERVICE AWARDS Lower Fort Garry Wednesday, May 22, 2024, 1:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Members and friends of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It’s a pleasure to join you today to recognize long and exemplary service to the people of Canada. As we begin this ceremony, we acknowledge that we are gathered in Treaty One land and in the homeland of the Red River Metis. In fact, this beautiful historic site was where the first of Canada’s numbered treaties was signed. We acknowledge as well that from the Red River to Hudson Bay, this province is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Red River Metis peoples. An historic site of national significance is an appropriate place to pay homage to men and women who have dedicated their careers to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The individuals being recognized today embody the history of Canada and connect Canadians today to a 151 year old tradition of service. Today we are recognizing individuals who have provided diligent, dedicated service for at least twenty years. We are recognizing individuals who have served in remote and rural communities and individuals who have served in major cities. We are recognizing individuals who have been out on the road in all weather, at all hours to keep our communities safe and investigate crimes. We are recognizing those who have provided leadership to Canada’s national police force. An institution of any sort is only as strong and as effective as the people who work in it. For the RCMP to fulfill its complex, many-faceted mandate, it requires talented, hard-working, deeply dedicated individuals to step forward. Fortunately, there has been no shortage of such men and women who have aspired to the iconic red serge. As Lieutenant Governor, I thank of each of today’s recipients for your service to Canada and for serving as inspirations to younger and future members who will walk in your footsteps in the decades to come. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

May 17, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba WINNIPEG POLICE SERVICE GRADUATION RBC Convention Centre Wednesday, May 17, 2024, 1:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)     Helpers, protectors, members new and old of the Winnipeg Police Service. It’s a pleasure to join you today as members of Recruit Class 169 begin their careers with the Winnipeg Police Service. As you take that important step, we recognize that the city you serve is in the heart of Treaty One land and the homeland of the Red River Metis and is the capital of a province that is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Red River Metis peoples. Spring is a time of year for celebrations of learning. In the next few weeks, I’ll be attending college and university graduations, as well as watching my own grandson walk across the stage at his high school graduation. I imagine some of you will crowd into a gym or auditorium this spring to cheer on a family member graduating from anything from kindergarten to university. At many of these celebrations, a key theme is that learning continues after the formal studies end. I’m sure that goes double for new members of the Winnipeg Police Service. You’ve learned a great deal in your 22 weeks in the classroom and 16 weeks of field training. And now as you serve the people of this city and fulfill the oath you have taken, you will learn from your new colleagues, from the people you encounter, from every interaction – positive, negative or just plain strange. The career path you’ve chosen demands integrity and professionalism, courage and compassion. And it requires the kind of judgement and level head that come with learning from experience. As Lieutenant Governor, I thank you for your decision to apply these valuable personal attributes in the service of your fellow Winnipeggers and Manitobans. May you wear your uniform with pride and may you find, throughout your careers, satisfaction in an important job done to the best of your ability. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom.

May 14, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR’S AWARD FOR HISTORICAL PRESERVATION AND PROMOTION Government House Tuesday, May 14, 2024 (please check against delivery)     Fellow Manitobans and lovers of history and heritage, welcome to Government House. As Lieutenant Governor, I am always pleased to welcome Manitobans to this historical landmark in the heart of Treaty One land and the heartland of the Red River Metis. This residence of over 140 years represents a province that is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Metis peoples. Here in Manitoba, we are committed to understanding, learning from the past, advancing healing and reconciliation and building a healthier community for everybody. As Manitobans and as Canadians, we seek continually to build a society that better supports the rights and dignity of its members. We seek a society that provides opportunities to dream and to accomplish. But to achieve that, we need to know who we are. On the walls of the Oracle at Delphi – where the ancient Greeks went to seek prophesies about the future – a message was inscribed: “Know thyself.” Without self-knowledge, who knows where you’ll end up? And what’s true for individuals is true for nations and provinces. Knowledge of who we are and what made us is essential to all of our efforts to build a better future and to safeguard our rights and prosperity. And that is why since 2011, Manitobans who have made great contributions in preserving and promoting historical knowledge have been recognized with this award. Manitobans who have received the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Historical Preservation and Promotion have contributed to Manitobans’ understanding in countless ways. They have restored, maintained and investigated historic buildings, operated community museums, built and maintained archives, taken part in historical interpretation, preserved artifacts, written historical articles – and much more. As this year’s group of recipients shows, they have used a variety of technologies – from the internet to podcasts – to enhance our understanding of times long before those technologies existed. And they have enhanced our understanding of the diversity of Manitoba’s history, working to preserve and disseminate knowledge of Indigenous, Ukrainian and LGBT and two-spirit communities, among many others. Thanks to Manitoba’s lovers of history and heritage, the people of this province are better able to discover who they are. And perhaps, supported by this knowledge, we can be better able to chart a future together. To all of today’s award recipients, and to the Manitoba Historical Society, thank you for helping us all know ourselves and our province. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

May 12, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba WOMEN OF NOTE MOTHERS’ DAY CONCERT Crescent Fort Rouge Church Sunday, May 12, 2024 (please check against delivery)   Lovers of music and to all guests in attendance this afternoon, welcome to this Mother’s Day concert by Winnipeg’s Sisterhood in Song. As Lieutenant Governor, I would like to begin by acknowledging that we are gathered today in the heart of Treaty One land and the homeland of the Red River Metis, in the capital of a province that is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Metis peoples. Here in Manitoba, we are committed to enhancing harmony, healing and reconciliation and building a healthier community for everybody. Today, Women of Note will celebrate spring and Mothers’ Day with music that lifts our hearts and soothes our spirits and delights our senses. And what a fitting way of celebrating Mothers’ Day that is. For most of us, I am sure, a mother’s voice singing a lullaby was one of our earliest and most powerful sensory impressions. Those cradle songs are imprinted in our deepest memories so powerfully they might as well be incorporated in our DNA. The members of Women of Note have been bringing music to Manitoba audiences for thirty years now – and more than 400 women have played a part in the Women of Note performance groups. Today, as we enjoy the beauty of their voices lifted in song and intertwined in harmony, we also have the opportunity to acknowledge the great contributions made by the founder and outgoing artistic director of Women of Note, Patricia Rabson. For thirty years, Patricia has led Women of Note and created music that has delighted audiences and brought out the best in performers. Together, Patricia and the women of this choir have created moments of beauty that resonate long after the doors on the performance venue are closed. To all who have made this concert and the past thirty years of music possible, thank you. Enjoy another wonderful performance. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

May 11, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba 30th ANNIVERSARY RECEPTION, WOMEN OF NOTE Canadian Mennonite University Saturday, May 11, 2024, 4:00 p.m. (please check against delivery) Supporters of what is a treasured musical institution, welcome to this celebration of thirty years of Women of Note. It is a pleasure to join you here in the heart of Treaty One land and the heartland of the Red River Metis to celebrate an institution that brings many voices together. Here, in a province that is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Metis peoples, we are committed to hearing and celebrating all voices. Together, we can foster greater harmony, advance healing and reconciliation and build a better province for everybody. Manitobans are justifiably proud of our rich culture. We celebrate the diversity and achievements of Manitobans in all art forms – in music and dance, theatre and film, visual arts and literature. That rich cultural tradition does not just happen by accident. It comes about because of the passion, creativity and hard work of individuals who build and sustain cultural organizations in our province. And so today, as we are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the founding of Women of Note, we are also acknowledging and celebrating the work of the founder and artistic director, Patricia Rabson. All that Women of Note has accomplished – premieres of exciting new work, development of an eclectic repertoire for women of varying levels of experience, community outreach performances in places like palliative care settings – was made possible by the commitment to create this Sisterhood in Song. All of the audiences that have been elevated and inspired by the beauty of the human voice and all of the more than 400 women who have been part of Women of Note have benefited from Patricia Rabson’s passion for music. Patricia, thank you for your part in making our province the place of culture we know and love. And to all who support Women of Note and who raise their voices in song, congratulations on this milestone anniversary. May you keep bringing music to Manitobans for many years to come. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

May 10, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba 30th ANNIVERSARY OF THE WOMEN’S ENDOWMENT FUND Assiniboine Park Pavilion Thursday, May 9, 2024 (please check delivery)   [Founders and builders of an important community resource] – it’s a pleasure to join you in this beautiful location to celebrate philanthropy in our community. As our thoughts turn to community tonight, we acknowledge that this city is in the heart of Treaty One land and the heartland of the Red River Metis. And our province is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Metis peoples. Here in Manitoba, we are committed to understanding, learning from the past, advancing healing and reconciliation and building a healthier community for everybody. It’s a well-known truth in international social and economic development that improving conditions for women also improves outcomes for children and ultimately for entire societies. That surely is true at the provincial and local level as well. The support provided by the Women’s Endowment Fund of the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba has touched the lives of women and girls across Manitoba. By supporting education, counselling, employment training and other programs, your generosity has helped women and families to gain security, independence and opportunities economic advancement and for joy. And while that’s the raison d’etre (RAISE-ON DAY-TRRA) of a fund like this, the Women’s Endowment Fund has no doubt had another important impact. This fund has brought women together for thirty years to dedicate themselves to the community. For those who established, built and supported the Women’s Endowment Fund, it has provided an opportunity to deepen their understanding of, and love for, this province and its people. The park where we’re gathered has been transformed over the last few decades through a combination of public funding and private philanthropy. And as we see on virtually every day of the year, it brings more joy to more people than ever before. That’s the power of philanthropy. By coming together with others who share a similar passion, we can be part of a great positive transformation. As you set your future goals for the Women’s Endowment Fund, you too can multiply your positive impact across Winnipeg and Manitoba. Congratulations on this 30th anniversary and thank you for three decades of service to our province. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

May 6, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba COMMEMORATION OF YOM HASHOAH (HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE) Grand Staircase, Manitoba Legislative Building Monday, May 6, 2024, 12:00 noon (please check delivery)   Members of the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg, fellow Manitobans, today we are united in remembrance and in hope. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I am pleased to welcome all of today’s participants to the Manitoba Legislative Building for this ceremony. This building, in the heart of Treaty One land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis, has long been a symbol of a diverse province that is home to people of many faiths, cultures, languages and ethnic backgrounds. The story of our province, and our country, is one of people learning to see past their differences and embrace a vision of equal protection, dignity and rights for all. It’s a story of learning to acknowledge our shortcomings and committing to rise above them. In committing to a better world, we must not turn away from the very darkest episodes in our history. And so observing this day, Yom Hashoah, is an obligation both to the memory of those who experienced the Holocaust and to generations not yet born. When the first Holocaust Remembrance Day was held in 1949, the world was still just beginning to grasp the enormity of the mass murder of European Jews. In the decades to come, generations in Canada and elsewhere grew up learning about this systematic campaign of murder and the hateful antisemitism from which it emerged. At one time, perhaps, many of us might have thought these educational efforts were nearly a mission accomplished. A few decades ago, we could not have dreamed that Holocaust denial would re-emerge on the internet — along with a metastasized high-tech form of the medieval blood libel. And so today, as Jewish community centres and neighbourhoods find themselves in the crosshairs of protests and Jewish students feel uneasy on many university campuses, we are gathered to remember and to remind the world of the ultimate destination of antisemitism. In remembrance we re-commit to the phrase that, sadly, remains as timely today as it was during that first Holocaust Remembrance Day. Today, as in the past, we tell the world “never again.” Thank you for your determination to remember and to speak out. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

May 5, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC COMMEMORATION CEREMONY HMCS Chippewa Sunday, May 5, 2024, 10:30 a.m. (please check against delivery)   Members, veterans and friends of the Royal Canadian Navy, fellow Canadians united in remembrance, we meet today with hearts filled with gratitude. We have gathered here on Treaty One land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis, to commemorate the service of sacrifice of Canadians who participated in the longest battle of the Second World War. In a province that is the present-day and ancestral home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Red River Metis peoples, we honour men and women who have defended justice, dignity and freedom for all. Seventy nine years ago this week, the deadly struggle to keep the Atlantic Ocean open for shipping came to a close with the surrender of Nazi Germany and the end of the Second World War in Europe. Victory in the Second World War victory depended on the service and sacrifice of Canadians in battle – and in countless roles in the production and delivery of weapons and essential supplies. No part played by Canadians was more important than that played by the Royal Canadian Navy and Merchant Marine. Braving wolfpacks of submarines as well as winter storms, they provided our allies and our forces with the supplies they needed to endure the onslaught of war and to roll back the advances of Nazi forces. And as we will be reminded today, this victory came at a great price – with more than 4,000 deaths and nearly 100 Canadian navy and merchant ships lost. From the St. Lawrence River to the English Channel, Canadians made the ultimate sacrifice in those cold northern waters. And today, in defending Canadian waters and representing Canadian interests and values in missions around the world, the Royal Canadian Navy carries on the tradition of service and courage. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I thank all past and present members for their service and I join you remembering those who fought and won the Battle of the Atlantic. May our gratitude for their service inspire us all, as in our careers, our volunteer commitments and our homes and neighbourhoods. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

May 4, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba 50TH ANNIVERSARY, CASA DO MINHO PORTUGUESE CENTRE Casa do Minho, 1080 Wall Street, Winnipeg Saturday, May 4, 2024, 7:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Founders, members and friends of Casa do Minho Portuguese Centre – thank you for the opportunity share in this milestone celebration. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I take pride in celebrating the many cultures and peoples that share our province. And I acknowledge that we are gathered today on Treaty One land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. In this province, the present-day and ancestral home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Red River Metis peoples, we are committed to health, equity, justice and opportunities for all. One of Canada’s – and especially Manitoba’s – greatest gifts to the world at large was the development and growth of the idea of multiculturalism. In the last century, and especially here in Manitoba, we came to realize that embracing a wide range of ideas and cultural expressions could strengthen a society as well as enhancing the quality of life of all its members. And so, as a province and a country, we have celebrated the music and dance, food and costumes, art and traditions of the many cultures in our midst. That would not have been possible without the commitment of men and women in many communities who founded cultural organizations and arts groups – groups like Casa do Minho. These cultural pioneers found places to rehearse and perform. They led dance groups, practiced on musical instruments brought from far away, found ways of acquiring ingredients for delicious dishes that were not available on most supermarket shelves. They worked together and brought elements of cultures from around the world to their fellow Manitobans. I am pleased to hear that a number of founding members of Casa do Minho and its performing groups are here today for the 50th anniversary of the creation of this organization – as are volunteers who have worked to sustain this community centre. To all who have contributed to Casa do Minho  over the last half century, your dedication to culture has touched the lives of generations of Manitobans. You’ve enriched this province and our understanding through your volunteer work and your talents. Congratulations on this 50th anniversary and thank you for bringing the flavour of bacalhau braga to the land of walleye and pike. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

May 4, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA GRADUATION POWWOW Investors Group Athletic Centre Saturday, May 4, 2024 (please check delivery)     Elders, educators, graduates and family members – thank you for the opportunity to join in this celebration of a learning and community. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I am pleased to return to my own alma mater here in the heart of Treaty One land and the heartland of the Red River Metis. In a province that is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Metis peoples, this graduation powwow celebrates the importance of education to Indigenous communities and to our province as a whole. For 35 years, the University of Manitoba’s graduation powwow has turned the achievements of graduating Indigenous students into a community celebration. In doing so, this powwow has underscored the relationship between the knowledge and society, between the individual student burning the midnight oil over a textbook and the world into which that student’s insights will fit. Knowledge is not a treasure to be hidden away by the learner. It’s a gift to be shared. It’s a bridge to connect other people, communities and imaginations. It’s a ladder to be left in place for others. In my own past career as a school board trustee and in adult education, I had the good fortune to see how families and communities celebrate the educational achievements of those they care about. And I saw how learning changes lives, opens doors and inspires others to believe in new possibilities. To all of the graduates being celebrated today, I congratulate you on your achievement and on your hard work. May your accomplishments create new opportunities for you and for your loved ones. And to all of those who have made this possible – whether as University of Manitoba faculty or staff or as part of a student’s support network and cheer squad – thank you for being an essential part of a learning community. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom    

May 3, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba ROTARY INTERNATIONAL MODEL UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY Canadian Mennonite University Friday, May 3, 2024, 8:55 a.m. (please check against delivery)   Students, teachers, delegates to the Rotary International Model UN – it’s a pleasure to join you in this exploration of global citizenship. As you prepare for the discussions and debates that have brought you here, from across four provinces, we acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty One land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. We are determined that Manitoba, as the present-day and ancestral home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Red River Metis peoples, must be a healthy, just and equitable province for all the people who call this place home. Learning to listen and to share ideas and information with others is essential for building a better community, a better country and a better world. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I’m proud that our province has been the site of this Model United Nations General Assembly since 1957.Generations of young people have gathered here to discuss global concerns of war and peace, sickness and health, threats and opportunities. This year, as you focus on the theme of Challenges, Change and Security, you’ll consider the views of United Nations members on natural resources, climate change, natural disasters, food insecurity and more. And you’ll also consider how the development of artificial intelligence offers the potential for great innovation as well as alarming economic, social and other threats. In preparing for this Model UN and in these two days of debate and discussion, you’ll learn a great deal about these specific issues and about the countries you represent. And of course you’ll learn about how the United Nations works, along with making new friends and connections. But the lasting legacy for you all is likely to be a greater ability to consider the views and perspectives of other people. You’ll learn to find common ground. You’ll learn to assess complex issues from many directions. Those are lessons that will benefit not just each of you, but the world you inherit, the world in which you will take leadership positions. None of this would be possible without the teachers and volunteers who support this learning experience. And certainly we would not be here year after year for this Model UN General Assembly without the dedication and support of the Rotary Club of Winnipeg. To all who made this possible and to all who believe in the importance of global discussion, thank you for your dedication to addressing Challenges, Change and Security. Enjoy this unique educational opportunity and, to those who have travelled from beyond our province, welcome to Manitoba. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom.

April 30, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba ST.AMANT VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION AWARDS CEREMONY AND RECEPTION Government House Tuesday, April 30, 2024 (please check against delivery)     Volunteers, builders and staff members of a great, caring organization, welcome to Government House. As Lieutenant Governor, I am pleased to acknowledge that we are gathered in the heart of Treaty One land and the heartland of the Red River Metis and in the capital of a province that is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Metis peoples. Here in Manitoba, we are committed to understanding, learning from the past, advancing healing and reconciliation and building a healthier community where all can take part and belong. For 65 years, St. Amant has been working to provide a sense of belonging and an environment of caring for Manitobans with autism, developmental disabilities and brain injuries. And throughout that time, volunteers have helped to make that possible, whether by offering a friendly face in one-on-one visits, by assisting in educational and recreational programs, or by supporting St. Amant’s operations and administration. An organization that provides the level of support that St. Amant does to more than 2,000 Manitobans would not be able to function without a large and dedicated force of volunteers. But it’s not just that volunteers do a lot of work. What makes your contribution special is that it is imbued with St. Amant’s values. In your work with St. Amant’s clients and family members, you fulfill the organization’s mission of freeing the spirit and fulfilling potential – together. St. Amant has changed a great deal since 1959, when it grew out of the Grey Nuns tuberculosis sanatorium. Today, a wide range of supports are available through St. Amant in residential settings throughout Manitoba communities. What has remained constant throughout is the commitment to the individual worth of each human being and to the importance of holistic care for the mind, body and spirit. Together with the staff and leadership of St. Amant, volunteers are making Manitoba a better and more caring place. You are fostering acceptance, understanding and compassion throughout our community. As Lieutenant Governor, I thank you for your service and for helping to free the spirit and fulfill the potential of the province we all call home. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom.

April 26, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba MANITOBA MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATORS LEADERSHIP SUMMIT Victoria Inn, Brandon Friday, April 26, 2024, 9:00 a.m. (please check against delivery)   Members of the Manitoba Municipal Administrators Association – it’s a pleasure to join you this morning to celebrate the work you do to keep Manitoba communities healthy and thriving. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I would like to acknowledge that we are gathering today on Treaty Two land and that Manitoba is the present day and ancestral home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Red River Metis peoples. In all regions of our province, we are working to build a fair and inclusive society that provides opportunities for healing and happiness for all. When we talk of the levels of government in Canada, we tend to think of them in tiers – with the federal government being at the highest level and municipal governments being the grass roots tier. We all know that the federal government has vastly more revenue and expenditures. And the federal government gets more attention in the news than any provincial or municipal government. But when it comes to considering which level of government has an impact on Canadians every single day, the tiers are reversed. No level of government affects people more directly and frequently than municipal government. Municipal governments have always been the ones working tirelessly to ensure that the daily lives of those within their communities have necessary and fundamental services. Is your trash picked up when it should be? Do you have clean water in your taps and does your toilet flush? Are your streets covered in snowdrifts? If you have an emergency, can you count on police or fire services? The management of those services takes a unique and open minded skill set. One needs to manage the expectations of the community, at the same time remaining fiscally responsible, while keeping an eye on future opportunities that can best serve those that live there as a whole. Municipal administrators and those that work within municipal governments are engrained in the communities they serve. If fact, it is quite likely that the people responsible for the services and facilities citizens depend on are shopping in the same store as you or sitting beside you at the hockey arena. That direct connection to the people is part of the unique challenge of local government and part of its special reward. That was certainly something I felt every day when I served as a school trustee – they’re the issues I dealt with were ones that touched the lives of people every single school day. For that reason, I’m pleased to join you today as you explore issues in municipal administration leadership. Your dedication to professional development will benefit residents in communities across Manitoba. And, as part of my being here, I am especially pleased today to announce the creation of the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Leadership in Municipal Administration. Beginning next year, this award will recognize extraordinary achievements and ethical conduct by hard-working, visionary professionals in municipal administration. This award will not only recognize and honour much deserving individuals serving in Manitoba municipal governments, but it is my hope that it will also serve as inspiration to other municipal leaders by showcasing excellent, innovative, responsive municipal administration across our province. I wish you all a productive day today, and I look forward to seeing some of you next year at the inaugural presentation of this new award. Thank you, Merci. Meegwich. Shalom.

April 18, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba 40TH ANNUAL VOLUNTEER MANITOBA AWARDS Club Regent Event Centre Thursday, April 18, 2024, 6:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)     Friends, Manitobans, volunteers – it’s a pleasure to join you tonight to recognize those who make a great commitment to our province and its people. As we gather to salute men and women who express their community spirit through volunteer work, I acknowledge that this community is in heart of Treaty One territory and the heartland of the Red River Metis. Across our province, in the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Metis peoples, volunteers work to enhance health, education, and opportunities for all. Tonight is a special celebration for all who believe in the importance of volunteering in our province. The 40th anniversary of the Volunteer Awards is a great milestone for Volunteer Manitoba. And it’s a symbol of the ever-renewing resource of caring, dedication, creativity and expertise of Manitoba’s volunteers. Over 40 years, these awards have seen the baton passed from generation to generation, as new waves of Manitobans have taken on vital volunteer jobs. It’s also a special occasion because finally we’re back together, meeting face to face to cheer on recipients of these awards. I look forward to seeing and hearing many expressions of enthusiasm and pride tonight as fellow Manitobans take their well-deserved bows. Tonight, as the poster says, we’re going to be “Celebrating the Superheroes of the Community.” Volunteers certainly are super. And they are indeed community heroes.  It is my absolute pleasure to join you in recognizing all of the worthy recipients here this evening and to present the Lieutenant Governor’s Community Leadership Award. Every award recipient here this evening has had many different experiences in volunteering, but you all have a lot in common. You have demonstrated leadership in giving your precious time and energy to support your community.  You have shown that whatever your skills and experience, there is a job you can do to help your fellow Manitobans. Everyone can contribute to make the world just that much better. To all of the volunteers honoured tonight, to all of those nominated, this evening’s sponsors, and to Ashley and her wonderful team at Volunteer Manitoba, thank you again for your contributions.  You are truly making a difference in our community and in the lives of those around you. Keep up the great work! Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

April 16, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba EMPOWHER GRADUATE CELEBRATION RECEPTION Government House Tuesday, April 16, 2024, 5:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Builders, creators and pathfinders – welcome to Government House and this celebration of learning and opportunity. I’m pleased to welcome you here in the heart of Treaty One territory and the heartland of the Red River Metis as you work toward greater equity in our society. In Manitoba, the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Metis peoples, improving opportunities for women is an important part of our commitment to reconciliation, opportunity, healing and greater harmony. When I read this winter about the first graduating class of the EmpowHer program I felt I needed to learn more about this program and meet these women who were taking steps to explore careers in trades and technology. As somebody who spent a number of years working in the field of adult career education, I’ve seen how an opportunity for hands-on learning can change lives for the better. And I know that women have long been under-represented in trades and technical careers. So it’s truly inspiring to see so many women who have been able to gain valuable skills for the construction, manufacturing and film production fields through EmpowHer. I’m also pleased to know that this program has had such a diverse intake of students in its first two classes. As participants in EmpowHer, you weren’t just building careers. You were building community and building understanding by working and learning together. I would also like to thank all the mentors and teachers, the Manitoba Construction Sector Council, Film Training Manitoba and Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters Manitoba, and everybody involved in all the levels of government that made this program possible. I wish you all continued success in advancing your own careers and in helping women in Manitoba to find new success and opportunities. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

April 13, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba OPENING NIGHT OF MANITOBA OPERA’S CARMEN Centennial Concert Hall Saturday, April 13, 2024 (please check against delivery) [Lovers of music and artistry], it’s a pleasure to welcome you to what will be an evening of passion and obsession as Manitoba Opera brings to life the beautiful music and dark themes of Bizet’s Carmen. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I begin by acknowledging that this building and this city are located in the heart of Treaty One land and the homeland of the Red River Metis. Here, in the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Metis peoples, we are committed to reconciliation, opportunity, healing and greater harmony. Manitobans are justifiably proud of the artistic accomplishments of the people of this province. And we have long celebrated the rich bounty of cultural offerings that enhance the quality of life here. Opera is often described as an art form that contains within it all art forms – music, drama, movement, visual art and design. A powerful and passionate opera such as Carmen elicits emotion drawing its viewers into the provocative storyline. As a production, it is truly an effort of many talented individuals who utilize their own specialities, abilities, and personalities to bring this tale to life. As such, the whole truly is greater than the sum of its parts. In that respect, an opera, or a company like Manitoba Opera, stands as a metaphor for a healthy community. Tonight, we’ll enjoy the fruits of many labours. We will benefit from the support that Manitobans have given to Manitoba Opera for more than half a century. It takes many people on stage and back stage to put on a wonderful spectacle like Carmen and it takes many more throughout Manitoba to support a great company like this. To all who make Manitoba Opera possible, thank you for your creativity and your dedication and thank you for creating and sustaining art and beauty. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

April 13, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba WOMEN’S MUSICAL CLUB OF WINNIPEG 130th ANNIVERSARY GALA CHAMPAGNE BRUNCH The Leaf, Assiniboine Park Saturday, April 13, 2024, 11:00 a.m. (please check against delivery)     Dear friends, it’s a pleasure to join you in this beautiful setting to celebrate a great Manitoban and a great Manitoban organization. As we gather in this Diversity Garden, we acknowledge the deep-rooted diversity in a province that is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Red River Metis peoples. As Manitobans and as Canadians, we acknowledge the responsibilities of the treaties and we are committed to reconciliation, healing and creating opportunities for all. Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to celebrate the 130th anniversary of the Women’s Musical Club of Winnipeg at a reception at Government House. It was an evening to consider the remarkable accomplishments of an organization that has done so much to bring music to Winnipeg and foster the development of young musicians in this city. Today, as we support the Women’s Musical Club at this brunch, we have the good fortune to hear from a maker of music, a teller of stories and an inspiration to millions – who is also a past winner of the WMC’s music scholarship. Like you, I have followed Tomson Highway’s accomplishments for decades – as playwright, novelist, memoirist, concert pianist and as a builder of understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, and as a proud Manitoban. And like you, I can’t wait to hear his performance today in this remarkable Winnipeg landmark. Since the opening of this beautiful botanical garden in late 2022, Manitobans have been delighted to travel the world through the diversity of plant life. Today, we will be transported by the words and music of our special guest. By supporting music and music education, The Women’s Musical Club of Winnipeg has been helping Manitobans journey through a world of melody and harmony for well over a century. I thank all who have made that possible and who are helping to ensure these journeys continue through your support of this event. Thank you to all who have made such a beautiful occasion possible. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

April 11, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba 2 CANADIAN AIR DIVISION CHANGE OF APPOINTMENT CEREMONY 17 Wing, Winnipeg April 11, 2024 (please check delivery)   Members of 17 Wing Winnipeg and 2 Canadian Air Division, thank you for the opportunity to join you today in celebrating service to Canada. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I begin by acknowledging that we have gathered here in the heart of Treaty One land and the homeland of the Red River Metis. Here, in the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Metis peoples, our duty to Canada and its laws and values includes a commitment to reconciliation, healing and harmony. In my time in office, I have had the opportunity and privilege to get to know more of the men and women who serve our country in uniform. Several members of the Canadian Forces, including members of the Royal Canadian Air Force, serve as aides de camp to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor. I have enjoyed learning more about the dedication and expertise that these individuals bring to their job of making our country safe and secure. So I am pleased today to be able to join you for a milestone day in the service of two individuals whose careers have been spent in serving the mission of the RCAF. I join you in thanking Chief Warrant Officer Marlene Shillingford for her service at 17 Wing and to 2 Canadian Air Division. Marlene, simply put, you are an inspiration.  You are an inspiration to women in aviation and exemplify professionalism and leadership to the highest standard.  The high-profile opportunities that you have been afforded throughout your career, are indicative of the reputation you worked hard to earn. You are a shining example of patriotism and service. Thank you. I am also pleased to welcome Chief Warrant Officer Andrew Rusconi to his new position. Andrew, I understand this is not a first introduction to Manitoba, so I hope it won’t be too difficult to transfer your allegiance from the Maple Leafs to the Jets. To all who wear the uniform of the Royal Canadian Air Force and dedicate their time, talent and energy to Canada’s air defence, I thank you. Winnipeg benefits from being home to 17 Wing and all Canadians, from coast to coast to coast, benefit from the professionalism of the men and women of the RCAF. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

April 9, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba SIKH HERITAGE MONTH OPENING CEREMONY Rotunda, Manitoba Legislative Building Tuesday, April 9, 2024, 12 noon (please check against delivery) Friends and fellow Manitobans, it’s a pleasure to join you today to celebrate Sikh Heritage Month. I acknowledge this beautiful building in which we are gathered today, is located the heart of Treaty One land and in the capital of a province that is the ancestral and present day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Red River Metis peoples. Here, in a province dedicated to understanding, justice and opportunity for all, celebrating Manitoba’s many cultures, faiths and traditions strengthens our bonds of community. Spring is an important time in many of the world’s faith communities. It is natural, as life returns to the fields and forests, to think of the forces that unite all who live and of the values and experiences that provide meaning to life. This month, which includes the religious holiday of Vaisakhi (VI-SAW-KEE), is both a time for the Sikh community to celebrate and for non-Sikhs to learn about the faith of tens of thousands of our fellow Manitobans. The strong commitment to community expressed by Sikhs in Manitoba, the joy expressed through music and dance, the achievements in education, entrepreneurship and leadership – all Manitobans join in admiration of these aspects of Sikh culture. It was only five years ago that the first Sikh Heritage Month was held in Manitoba. Part of that first celebration involved the re-creation of an iconic, historical photograph of Sikh men crossing a busy street in 1908. It was a very different Canada when those men crossed the street 116 years ago – and Sikhs have played an important role in building the more inclusive, welcoming Canada we live in today. I look forward to the unveiling on this year’s Sikh Heritage Month creative project to see what lessons there are for us this April. To all who have contributed to today’s launch and to everybody at Sikh Heritage Manitoba and throughout the Sikh community, thank you for giving Manitoba a month of learning, reflecting and celebration. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

March 25, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba ROYAL MANITOBA WINTER FAIR OPENING CEREMONY Video Greetings Keystone Centre, Brandon Monday, March 25, 2024   Friends and fellow Manitobans, it is my absolute pleasure to join you in this wonderful city this evening for the opening ceremonies of the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair celebrating over 115 years of agriculture, animals and community. Every year, the City of Brandon welcomes thousands of people from across our province to enjoy the events and activities throughout the week. It takes a tremendous amount of energy and effort by countless staff and volunteers. I thank you for your time and dedication, for without you, none of this would be possible. Tonight we celebrate Manitoba’s front line heroes. I would like to personally recognize and offer my sincere thank you to all of the military, police, fire and emergency service personnel that are in attendance this evening. There are never enough words to express the importance of the roles that each of you play in keeping all Manitobans safe. To all the families and friends from near and far that are here, I hope your time here will allow you to take in as many of the wonderful activities as you can. The Royal Winter Fair is a crown jewel of our province, and I am so very happy and proud as your Lieutenant Governor to be here to celebrate it with you. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

March 25, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba ROYAL MANITOBA WINTER FAIR Keystone Centre, Brandon Monday, March 25, 2024, 5:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Friends and fellow Manitobans, it’s a pleasure to join you in Brandon for this wonderful celebration of agriculture, animals and community. I would like first to acknowledge that we’re are gathered on Treaty Two land. The rich and fertile soil that fosters the agricultural wealth of this province is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota and Red River Metis peoples. In all regions of our province, we are working to build a fair and inclusive society that provides opportunities for healing and happiness for all. It’s especially a pleasure to be here at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair for Heroes Day – as you salute those who protect our safety and values through military, police, fire and emergency services. In my capacity as Lieutenant Governor, I have had the opportunity to meet many men and women who devote their time, talents and energy to the safety of their fellow Canadians. Tonight, I join this great festival in thanking military, police, fire and EMS personnel for their dedication. The Royal Manitoba Winter Fair has been strengthening the spirit of community in western Manitoba – and throughout our province – for well over a century. This fair has brought generations together to learn and laugh, to admire skill and athleticism and to celebrate traditions and innovations. I am sure we will all be dazzled by the power and grace of the horses who are the headline attraction of the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair. But much of the magic of this, or any such community event, is in bringing a group of friends, neighbours and strangers together to share an experience. In a world with hundreds of channels of entertainment streaming into our homes, there’s a special feeling we get from sharing an evening and an experience of wonder in the flesh. That’s what makes a week like this such an important highlight in Manitoba’s calendar. And that importance is underlined by its designation as the ROYAL Manitoba Winter Fair. It takes a small army of staff, performers, exhibitors, sponsors and volunteers to make this fair possible, year after year. To everybody who works to make this possible, thank you. May the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair continue to bring life to Brandon and to our entire province for generations to come. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich.    

March 19, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba RECEPTION IN HONOUR OF ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER ROB HILL, COMMANDING OFFICER OF “D” DIVISION, RCMP Government House Tuesday, March 19, 2024 (please check against delivery)   Friends and fellow Manitobans, it’s such a pleasure to welcome you to Government House to recognize and celebrate Assistant Commissioner Rob Hill, and his service to the people of Manitoba, and Canada. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I acknowledge and honour that we are gathered on Treaty One land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. This beautiful and diverse province is also the ancestral and the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, Dene, and Inuit peoples. In our work for justice, health and safety, we must all remain committed to listening, learning and working together in the spirit of reconciliation and healing for all. In my time as Lieutenant Governor, I have had the good fortune to engage with Rob Hill on a number of significant occasions – at my installation, at each of the Throne Speeches I have presented, and of course at the change of command ceremony when he became commanding officer of the RCMP in Manitoba. On those and other occasions, I’ve encountered a dedicated servant of the public peace, a leader of men and women, and a man who carries himself with professionalism and confidence and good humour. I know that Rob’s career has taken him to many places in Canada, but I know as well that Manitoba has left a deep mark on him, through his time as a constable in Morris, as a general duty officer in Island Lake, and as an investigator and commanding officer in Winnipeg. If you dusted Rob for prints, you’d see this province all over him. As he makes Alberta his new home and new area of responsibility, he’ll carry a piece of our province with him, especially during football season when his beloved Blue Bombers are playing the Stampeders or the Elks. And I’m equally certain that he has left his mark across Manitoba, through the leadership, mentorship and inspiration he has provided at all levels of the RCMP. Rob, I am confident that I am joined by everyone else in this room in wishing you the very best in Alberta, and in offering our sincere appreciation for your thoughtful insights, and your dedication of energy and time to making our communities safe and healthy. Be safe. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

March 14, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba  MANITOBA LEGAL CLINIC FOR THE ARTS LAUNCH RECEPTION Government House Thursday, March 14, 2024 (please check against delivery)   Students of law and lovers of the arts, welcome to Government House and this celebration of an innovative and exciting new venture for legal education and public service. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I begin by acknowledging that this beautiful home and this city are located in the heart of Treaty One land and the homeland of the Red River Metis. Here, in the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Metis peoples, we value all the ways that the human experience comes to life in the arts. And as we work for reconciliation and healing, artists will continue to lead us forward. In my time as Lieutenant Governor – and during my earlier years in elected office and in education – I have had countless opportunities to speak about the remarkable strength of Manitoba’s arts community. I’ve especially enjoyed impressing visitors to our province with the wide range and long history of our arts community’s accomplishments, in all of the performing, visual and literary arts. A supportive community is essential for building the kind of artistic richness that Manitoba enjoys. And so, I was excited recently when Nick Slonosky, who is a long serving Aide-de-Camp, introduced me to the Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts and we discussed the idea of holding a public launch for the clinic here in Government House. Dealing with contracts and intellectual property or with business structure or tax requirements takes a skill set they don’t teach in art or music school. And for many artists, struggling to keep their heads above water as it is, the idea of seeking legal help might seem to be far outside their budget. Just like its sister clinic – the L. Kelly Vickar Business Law Clinic – this new service will break down barriers – especially those faced by women and Indigenous artists and entrepreneurs and those living in northern Manitoba. A healthy Manitoban arts community is one where creative people can focus more of their time and energy on developing their talents, sharpening their vision and bringing ideas to life – without legal worries holding them down. The benefits of this new clinic will flow both ways. I am certain that the law students involved will gain valuable hands-on experience working with clients and helping to resolve real-life issues. To all of those in at the University of Manitoba and in the legal community who have worked to make this possible – congratulations and thank you for the support you are bringing to the arts and to legal education. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

March 7, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba  INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY RECEPTION Government House Thursday, March 7, 2024 (please check against delivery)   Friends, sisters, fellow Manitobans, it is my pleasure to welcome you to Government House for this celebration of International Women’s Day. I begin by acknowledging with gratitude and respect that this beautiful home and this city are located in the heart of Treaty One land and the homeland of the Red River Metis. Here, in the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Metis peoples, we are committed to hearing the wisdom of the grandmothers – and all women – as we work for reconciliation, healing and opportunities for all. I am thinking that you might be wondering how it was that you came to be invited to join us today.  Well, let me tell you. I, and my team are always looking and listening for stories about outstanding Manitobans – in this case women – who through their words and deeds make our city, province and world a better place for all. So, at some point over the past year – whether through media, a chance meeting or a shared story, your contributions to our community have been noticed. As I look around this room, I am in awe about the number of Manitoba women, like you, who continue to be such shining examples of power, change and influence in our communities. Every day you work to breakdown barriers and advance equity. You were invited here today in recognition of the good work you continue to do, whether as volunteers or professionals, in making our province better and inspiring others to follow suit. Each of you is a worthy role model, not only for other women, but for everyone striving to make a difference in the world. International Women’s Day is the day we remember and celebrate women leaders and women’s rights activists both in our own neighbourhood and worldwide. This day provides a forum to highlight the larger discussion that human rights are women’s rights, that gender parity and inclusivity are important to our well-being. We are aware of the many challenges in crisis that take place in other parts of the world, many among us fight for the advancement of human and reproductive rights. Many search for freedom from sexual harassment and gender based violence be it an intimate partner, through violence, or as a weapon of war. Overarching among many Canadian women is the call for justice for all indigenous women. This is part of our identity here and abroad. While we are not immune to those injustices, we can use our voices, talents and experiences to effect change for those around us. Through both baby steps and grand gestures, women must continue to work towards genuine equality. The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is “Invest in Women; Accelerate Progress.”  I am sure you will agree that is good advice, as well as a sound strategy for success in any endeavor. Through your achievements big and small, and the positive example you have set for your family, friends, and community, you personify the value of investing in women and the progress that inevitably results.  Bravo! On the eve of International Women’s Day, I honour each of you. Every day, you show Manitobans why the world celebrates the contributions made by women in all aspects of our society. I hope you are proud of who you are, what you have achieved, and remind yourself of the many people whose lives are better because of you.  The contributions that each of you made in your own sphere of influence is truly amazing I hope you will take the opportunity this evening to connect with other outstanding Manitoba women. One never knows knows what creative ideas and collaborations may come out of a first hello or a glass of wine. Thank you for what you do, and the many good things I know you will do in the future.  Our province, our world, today and for generations to come, is better for your efforts. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom.

February 20, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba WOMEN’S MUSICAL CLUB OF WINNIPEG 130TH ANNIVERSARY Government House Tuesday, February 20, 2024 (please check against delivery)   Lovers of music and community, on behalf of Lieutenant Governor Anita Neville – my mother – it is my pleasure to welcome you to Government House for a celebration of an organization that has nurtured beauty and dreams in our city and province for 130 years. I begin by acknowledging that this building and this city are located in the heart of Treaty One land and the homeland of the Red River Metis. Here, in the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Metis peoples, we are committed to reconciliation, opportunity, healing and greater harmony. Manitobans are justifiably proud of the artistic accomplishments of the people of this province. And we have long celebrated the rich bounty of cultural offerings that enhance the quality of life. Here in Government House, we sampled a bit of that musical bounty last week when Caitlin Broms-Jacobs and Madeline Hildebrand performed for our regular series of Evenings at Government House. As part of the program, Kathryn Young reflected on the history and accomplishments of the Women’s Musical Club of Winnipeg. It’s important to celebrate the organizations that support the arts, because a city doesn’t just develop great cultural excellence and diversity by accident. As with most forms of progress and learning, our rise as a musical centre began with a small, passionately committed group – the six women who were determined to bring classical music to a small booming city dominated by the percussion of construction and the whistle of steam locomotives. Those six women must have been amazing, inspiring organizers. The rapid growth of the Women’s Musical Club and its subsequent success in attracting great artists to the city – including Sergei Rachmaninoff, Maureen Forrester and Glenn Gould – show the power of a great vision. An essential part of that vision was the commitment to foster the development of Manitoban musicians through scholarships, which have helped generations of Manitobans develop their talents to the highest level. So all who love music have a great deal to celebrate in this 130th anniversary year. And all Manitoba music lovers will be thrilled by your gala in April, when you bring Tomson Highway, a past recipient of the WMC’s scholarship, back to town to enthrall and entertain. To all who have contributed to the success and development of artists over the years and to all who help to make this anniversary year one to remember – thank you for supporting music and community in Manitoba. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom

January 19, 2024

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba WINNIPEG 150 RECEPTION Winnipeg City Hall Friday, January 19, 2024, 12 noon (please check against delivery)   Friends, proud fellow Winnipeggers, and Manitobans, it is my absolute pleasure to join you today to kick off a year of celebration of the city we love. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I acknowledge and honour that the space in which we are gathered today is located in the heart of Treaty One land and the homeland of the Red River Metis. Though the city of Winnipeg is only 150 years old, we know that this land at the meeting of the rivers has been a home of Indigenous peoples for millennia – just as our province is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Metis peoples. Exactly 150 years ago today, Winnipeg’s brand-new city council got down to business in its first-ever meeting – and I’m sure the agenda then was dominated by establishing civic government for a small but rapidly growing city. Today, this city and this province are working to build a future where all people have opportunities to live healthy, fulfilling and secure lives. I’m pleased to see that reflected in the beautiful logo developed for this milestone anniversary year. Cities have long been drivers of innovation and creativity, freedom and opportunity. They are places where different visions, beliefs and cultures meet and mingle and learn from one another, where partnerships are made where the seeds of great ideas can take root. And Winnipeg has long been such a place. In the arts and sciences, in the evolution of rights for women and for workers, in the growth of the idea of multiculturalism, in the dawning awareness of the need for work for justice and reconciliation, ideas born in this city have changed our country and our world. The well-known scholar of urbanism, Jane Jacobs, became famous in the last century for championing the creative power of cities. She also made it clear that justice and democracy are prerequisites for the benefits provided by cities. “Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody,” she said, “only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” As we celebrate 150 years of Winnipeg, let’s give thanks for all of the visionaries who created and continue to create our city. And let us commit to a future where all Winnipeggers have a role in continuing the growth and evolution of this wonderful place we call home. Happy 150th, Winnipeg. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

December 14, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba MEMORIAL FOR VIVIAN SILVER Asper Jewish Community Centre Thursday, December 14, 2023 (please check against delivery)   Dear friends and fellow Manitobans – today we are gathered in remembrance and in sadness, to honour the life of a distinguished Winnipegger. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I join you in mourning for Vivian Silver – a peacemaker, a leader and inspiration to many. A beloved friend and family member to many  gathered here tonight We live in a time when the most horrific images of world eve can be beamed into our homes 24 hours a day. We live in a time of increased radicalization and polarization driven by the algorithms of social media. And of course we live in a time of increased antisemitism – around the world and unfortunately right here in Winnipeg. It would be easy to give in to despair. It would be easy to say there’s no solution, no way to bring people together to resolve disagreements through dialogue. Today, as we gather to remember Vivian Silver, it is our responsibility to honour her vision by avoiding despair. I never met Vivian Silver. But I certainly wish I had. I have read that this Winnipeg-born peace activist “never gave up on people.” I have heard that she insisted at all times that: “There’s always hope.” Vivian Silver worked to make a better and more just world possible. She co-founded an important peace movement. She built bridges of understanding. How can we pay tribute to a woman who lived her values so profoundly – and whose murder was such a cruel denunciation of those values? We can work for a culture of listening and understanding. We can build bridges in our own neighbourhoods and communities. We can teach our children to hold hope close in their hearts. It is unlikely that anyone here has a plan to create world peace. But perhaps world peace is the sum of billions of small-scale acts of peace. Perhaps in that way we can help bring Vivian Silver’s vision closer to reality. May we all find peace in our hearts, and offer kindness to others at a time when the world needs it so desperately. Thank you.  Merci.  Meegwich.   Shalom.

December 14, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba 40TH ANNIVERSARY, WINNIPEG CHINESE CULTURAL AND COMMUNITY CENTRE Kum Koon Garden Thursday, December 14, 2023, 4:30 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Members and friends of the Winnipeg Chinese Cultural and Community Centre, thank you for the opportunity to share in this celebration of a great organization. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I would like to begin by acknowledging that we are gathered in the heart of Treaty One land and the heartland of the Red River Metis. We are meeting in a province that has always been home to many peoples, as the present-day and ancestral home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Metis peoples. Through listening and understanding, through sharing our traditions and our cultures, the people of this diverse province are working to build a province that provides opportunities for all. For 40 years, the Winnipeg Chinese Cultural and Community Centre has supported and enhanced this city’s Chinese community and brought Winnipeggers of all backgrounds together to enjoy the fruits of cultural diversity. By developing housing and infrastructure, organizing festivals and producing arts performances, hosting arts and cultural classes and workshops – you have brought life to Chinatown, the larger downtown area and the city as a whole. At the age of 40, an individual will often take stock and ask some challenging questions. Am I where I want to be in life? Am I fulfilling the goals I set for myself? When we look at the Winnipeg Chinese Cultural and Community Centre at the age of 40 we see an organization with many proud accomplishments to its credit. And with new events like night markets and the development of a museum at the centre, this is an organization that is very much looking forward. As Lieutenant Governor, I congratulate all of the volunteers, staff and board members, past and present, who have built and sustained this organization. And I thank all of those who have made today’s celebration possible. May you continue to enhance our city and our province throughout your next 40 years. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich.

December 10, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba COMMUNITY CHANUKAH CELEBRATION Chabad Jewish Learning Centre Sunday, December 10, 4:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)     Dear friends and fellow Manitobans – it is a pleasure to join you in carrying on a tradition of faith, resilience and community. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I would like to acknowledge that this celebration with its origins in the Temple in Jerusalem, is taking place in the heart of Treaty One land and the heartland of the Red River Metis. Long after the miracle of the holy oil we commemorate in Chanukah, the Jewish people carried this story with them throughout the Mediterranean world, throughout Europe and the Middle East, and eventually around the world. Along with the great body of Jewish learning and the traditions passed from generation to generation, the story of Chanukah eventually reached the deep, black soil of southeastern Europe. That’s where my own grandparents and great-grandparents learned, as children, of Judah Maccabee and the cleansing and rededication of the Temple. And when they found a new home here at the meeting of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, they found that the message of Chanukah had already taken root here in a young, growing city. In times of peace and in war, in times of prosperity and in times of want, gathering to light the candles of the menorah has brought this community together. By itself, a single candle does not provide a great deal of illumination. But the faith it symbolizes has brightened Jewish lives through the darkest times in history. By lighting these candles and by sharing the joy of songs, games and treats, we affirm that we will endure, we will support one another and we will keep the culture and beliefs of our people alive. I wish you all a happy and healthy Chanukah. May hope, faith and community continue to brighten your days next year and for as long as this tradition is passed from generation to generation. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

December 7, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba CHANUKAH AT THE MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE BUILDING Legislative Building Thursday, December 7 (please check against delivery)   Dear friends and fellow Manitobans – it is a pleasure to bring Chanukah’s light of hope, faith and community to the Manitoba Legislative Building. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I would like to acknowledge that this celebration, with its origins 2200 years ago in Jerusalem, is taking place in the heart of Treaty One land and the heartland of the Red River Metis. The story of Chanukah has been carried by the Jewish people throughout the Mediterranean world, throughout Europe and the Middle East, and eventually around the world. When my own grandparents arrived in a bustling young city at the meeting place of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, Chanukah and the great body of Jewish learning and the traditions had already taken root here. In times of peace and in war, in times of prosperity and in times of want, gathering to light the candles of the menorah has brought Jewish families and communities to share the warmth of tradition together. The faith symbolized by the miracle of burning candles has brightened Jewish lives through the darkest times in history. A light in the darkness reminds us one day a dawn may come. And now, at a time of war, polarization and rising antisemitism, I urge all Manitobans to fan the flame of understanding and compassion in their hearts. To people of all religions and cultures let us share light. May hope, faith and community brighten your life this week and in the years ahead. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

December 5, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba 65TH ANNIVERSARY OF INCLUSION WINNIPEG Government House Tuesday, December 5, 2023, 5:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)     Friends of Inclusion Winnipeg and builders of a more caring Manitoba, welcome to Government House and this celebration of a great community organization. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I always begin by acknowledging that we are gathered in the heart of Treaty One land and the heartland of the Red River Metis. In a province that is the present-day and ancestral home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Metis peoples, building a more inclusive and just society requires that we listen and learn, break down barriers and build bridges. As we all know, there are many intersecting and overlapping kinds of barriers – barriers based on race, culture, religion, language, gender, age and, of course, disability. Creating a more just and fair province has been the work of generations of Manitobans and many organizations – working separately and working together. Today, we are celebrating Inclusion Winnipeg for its 65 years of work to enhance the lives and protect the human rights of children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Your organization provides an inspiring illustration of how progress is made in many areas of justice and human rights. Often, as with the parents who came together in the late 1950s to advocate for a school for their children, progress starts with a small group of people and one specific obstacle to be overcome. And often, work toward that particular goal builds the confidence to look more widely, to ask more fundamental questions, to raise awareness well beyond the founding coalition. By combining individual advocacy and family engagement, public policy research and social justice advocacy, professional development and community mobilization, staff members and volunteers at Inclusion Winnipeg create ripples of change throughout our province and our nation. Thank you for opening doors in education and employment. Thank you for enhancing accessibility and equality and for changing our province for the better in so many ways. And in this milestone year, I congratulate all of the supporters, volunteers and staff of Inclusion Winnipeg and all of the individuals and families whose lives you’ve touched over the last 65 years. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom  

November 25, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba ST. ANDREW’S SOCIETY DINNER Caboto Centre, 1055 Wilkes Saturday, November 25, 2023, 5:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Friends and members of the St. Andrew’s Society of Winnipeg, its a pleasure to join you in keeping this long and revered tradition alive. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I honour and acknowledge that we are gathered in the heart of Treaty One land and the heartland of the Red River Métis. This beautiful and diverse province is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota Inuit and Métis peoples. Together, we must continue to work to hear truths, to advance understanding, healing and opportunity for all. In a province with the largest Indigenous community in Canada and a large share of the population with Scottish roots, there are countless connections of kinship and friendship uniting both communities. As we work to build a more inclusive, more just and more prosperous Manitoba for all, these ties have an important role to play. The Scottish story in Manitoba was already at least a century old when the first St. Andrew’s Society dinner was held here more than 150 years ago. Since then, generations of artists and scientists, leaders and builders with family origins in Scotland have helped to build the Manitoba and the Canada we know today. In areas as essential as public health care and transportation infrastructure, we benefit from the accomplishments of Scottish Canadians. We have absorbed influences of Scottish culture in our passion for curling and in the wealth of Canadian singer-songwriters carrying on the tradition of the celtic bards. And across Canada, when we wish to make a gathering especially stirring and soulful, we call on the pipers. Today, the St. Andrew’s Society of Winnipeg helps to keep that heritage alive by supporting pipe and drum bands, Scottish dance, festivals and education programs. And of course by carrying on traditions like this dinner. In an ever-evolving Canada, in which we welcome and cherish new traditions with origins around the world, the cultural heritage of Scotland remains an important part of who we are. For a century and a half, members of the St. Andrew’s Society of Winnipeg have worked to nurture that cultural flame and to pass it on. To all who support the society and to all who make this annual celebration possible, thank you for keeping the thistle growing in heart of Canada. Bon appetit and slainte (Slon tcha). Thank you.   Merci.   Meegwich.  Shalom.  

November 23, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba RCMP LONG SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL AND AWARDS Government House Thursday, November 23, 2023, 1 p.m. (please check against delivery) Family, friends, and members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, as Lieutenant Governor of this great province, I welcome you to this celebration of dedicated service. We recognize and respect that we gathered today in the heart of Treaty One territory and the homeland of the Red River Métis. Our province is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Métis peoples, and we must all commit to walking together so that all people can enjoy freedom and safety, dignity and opportunity. A just and healthy society requires the dedication of countless individuals in all walks of life. A special responsibility is carried by those who choose to serve protect the public, to assist people in need and to enforce the law. It is a commitment that comes with unique difficulties and dangers and heavy responsibilities. And it is one that has been continually evolving for 150 years, since the first members of the Northwest Mounted Police donned their uniforms. Today, we are recognizing individuals who have served the RCMP for at least 20 years – exhibiting irreproachable character and dedication to serving their fellow Canadians. We are recognizing both members of the RCMP as well as civilian staff whose contributions are critical in supporting the work of the police. In an environment of continual change, today’s award recipients have responded by continuous learning and adaptation. They work to meet new challenges and provide excellent service to Canadians from coast to coast to coast. This year, as the RCMP marks 150 years since its founding, we recognize that it is the commitment of its members to Canada and Canadian laws and values that makes this one of our country’s great institutions. To all of todays award recipients, congratulations, and thank you for your commitment to your community, your country, and your fellow Canadians. Thank you    Merci    Meegwich    Shalom

November 22, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba GALA 2023: RAISING OUR VOICES Canadian Museum for Human Rights Wednesday, November 22, 2023 (please check against delivery) Fellow Manitobans, friends, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the Raising Our Voices Gala. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I honour and  acknowledge that this spectacular building in which we gather this evening stands at a vital meeting place in the heart of Treaty One land and the homeland of the Red River Métis. This location has been a meeting place for Indigenous peoples for millennia – and it remains an important place in a province that is the current and ancestral home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Métis peoples. Together, we must continue to work to hear truths, and to advance understanding opportunity, and healing for all. Since 2014, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights has brought people to this site to learn, listen and share their stories. It has encouraged visitors to reflect on progress toward human rights and to learn from the stories within that recognize and reinforce that need for progress. We are living through a time where the reports of immeasurable tragedy throughout the world seem endless. And so it’s so very important that institutions like CMHR continue to bring people together to learn of advances in understanding and justice and progress in dismantling of legal and cultural barriers. Given that music has played an important role in our struggles for centuries, your upcoming exhibition Beyond the Beat: Music of Resistance and Change, will undoubtedly serve to inspire us, and will nurture hope and determination. Author Sanchita Pandey beautifully wrote: “Music with all its subtlety has immense power to unite people, spread love and bring peace in the world” I look forward to hearing from both Susan Aglukark and Alanis Morrissette – both gifted artists who unite people around the world in the spirit of love and peace. And I look forward to hearing from a non-musician – a true visionary, dedicated to bringing people together in harmony – tonight’s honoree, Moe Levy. Their contributions to human rights – and your support as Friends of the CMHR and organizers of this gala – help us all to envision a time when freedom, safety, dignity and opportunity are upheld in Manitoba, in Canada and around the world. Thank you    Merci     Meegwich    Shalom

November 18, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba PRE-SHOW DINNER, MANITOBA OPERA’S LI KEUR Centennial Concert Hall Saturday, November 18, 2023 (please check against delivery)   Creators and supporters of the arts, thank you for the opportunity to share in this milestone in Manitoba’s musical history. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, it is always my pleasure to acknowledge that we are gathered in the heart of Treaty One land and the heartland of the Red River Metis. That goes double tonight, when the event that has brought us together is a multi-lingual celebration of the Indigenous cultural richness of our province. As we work to build a more inclusive, more equitable and better society, celebrating the stories and fostering the creativity of all the people of Manitoba is an essential part of that work. I am sure many have all heard the famous words of Louis Riel: “My people will sleep for one hundred years, but when they awake, it will be the artists who give them their spirits back.” Tonight’s world premiere of Li Keur: Riel’s Heart of the North is part of a decades-long flowering of Metis expression in all art forms – and is further evidence of the power of Riel’s prediction. Like the rest of you, I look forward to encountering the vision and ideas of the team that has created Li Keur – librettist Suzanne Steele and composers Alex Kusturok and Neil Weisensel. I look forward to joining them and the entire cast and crew in this celebration of Metis women, language and culture. Opera is an all-encompassing art form. It is the product of many people who contribute their own special talents to create something greater than the sum of its parts. It’s a fitting metaphor for a healthy society. We all benefit, we all experience greater joy and beauty, when we work together with a shared vision. Doing so requires a large team behind the scenes and an even larger group of supporters who provide the resources to make creation possible. To everyone who has contributed to this premiere and who has helped Manitoba Opera to flourish – congratulations on this ground-breaking artistic achievement. Thank you. Merci. Meegiwich.    

November 16, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba NATIONAL BUSINESS SCHOOL CONFERENCE Winnipeg Art Gallery Thursday, November 16, 2023, 7:15 p.m. (please check delivery)     Leaders, visionaries, students of business and of life, welcome to Winnipeg and to The National Business School Conference. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, it is my pleasure to join you this evening in our wonderful Winnipeg Art Gallery – home of Quamajug (KOW-ma-yourk) – the world’s largest contemporary Inuit art gallery. We are gathered in the heart of Treaty One land and the homeland of the Red River Metis. This beautiful and diverse province is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Metis peoples. As we work for healing, inclusion and reconciliation in Manitoba and across Canada, a commitment to learning and intercultural understanding is essential. And in that endeavour, we will need innovative, creative and highly skilled thinkers and problem solvers. We’ll need people who can make our businesses and our public-sector organizations more effective and better able to fulfill their missions. We will need strong leaders. We will need you. As a delegate of this conference, you are already an executive of your respective Business Student Associations. You have shown that you have that spark, that drive to make a difference. But as talented and hard-working as I am sure you all are, you will be at your very best in the workplace, and in your community, through building and nourishing partnerships and relationships with others. The theme for this conference – Connect – is a reminder that none of us accomplishes all of our goals alone. We need to connect with others, to build teams, to find mentors and allies. The great British novelist E.M. Forster summed up his approach to literature and life with the word “connect.” “Only connect the prose and the passion, and both will be exalted.” Where Forster says “prose” think of the specialized skills and knowledge you’re developing – in finance or accounting, marketing or human resources, information systems or operations. Connect your skills and knowledge to your passion – a passion for learning, a passion for building, a passion for a better world for all. Connect – and you’ll have a career that will provide you with a life of learning, new experiences and profound satisfactions. Congratulations to all who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make this conference possible. I hope the next three days are productive, and fulfilling, and that you make many meaningful connections to last a lifetime. Thank you , Merci, Meegwich and Shalom  

November 16, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba RECEPTION FOR WORKING IN SUPPORT FOR EQUALITY (WISE) MANITOBA Government House Thursday, November 16, 2023, 5:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Members and supporters, advocates of equality for WISE Manitoba – welcome to Government House and this celebration of dedication to a better Canada. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, it is my pleasure to gather with you here in the heart of Treaty One land and the heartland of the Red River Metis. In a province with large and vibrant Indigenous communities – including the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Metis peoples – advocacy for equality and justice for women and girls is a vital part of the work toward reconciliation, fairness and opportunity for all Manitobans. Canadians are rightfully proud of our Charter of Rights and Freedoms with its protections for fundamental freedoms, democratic rights, mobility rights, legal rights, equality rights, official language rights and minority language educational rights. The 40th anniversary last year of the signing of the Charter commemorated one of the most important dates in our history. But we also know that achieving and protecting equality isn’t a one-time thing. Establishing the meaning and application of the Charter has taken decades of legal work and public advocacy across our country, and for 30 years. WISE Manitoba has played an essential role in translating the language of the Charter to day-to-day reality. And it’s not enough to define and refine the meaning of the Charter – just as important is educational work to ensure that Canadians know their rights. After all, you can’t defend your rights if you don’t know what they are. WISE Manitoba’s educational work – such as your No Means No and Youth in the Workplace programs – help to ensure that the legal achievements of the last forty years will continue to benefit Canadians for the next forty years and beyond. These and your many other programs in advocacy and mentorship are possible only through the passionate commitment of your supporters and volunteers. To all who dedicate their energy, their expertise and their valuable time, I thank you for continuing to breathe life into the Charter. Our province and our country have made important strides towards equality and justice through your efforts. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich.

November 15, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba  SALVATION ARMY – HOPE IN THE CITY BREAKFAST RBC Convention Centre Wednesday, November 15, 2023, 7:30 a.m. (please check against delivery)   Friends of the Salvation Army and nurturers of hope, it’s a pleasure to join you for this inspirational breakfast and launch of your kettle campaign. I would like first to acknowledge that we are gathered in the heart of Treaty One land and the heartland of the Red River Metis. As we come together to create a more caring and supportive community in Manitoba, we recognize that this province is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Metis peoples. As the days get longer, and the nights get colder, the Salvation Army has given us the opportunity to brighten and warm up our city by caring for our community’s most vulnerable citizens. They may be our family, our neighbours, our friends. I recently had the privilege of touring the Salvation Army’s Centre of Hope and was able to see first hand the level of care and compassion demonstrated on an ongoing basis. By supporting the Salvation Army’s kettle campaign, and the dedicated staff and volunteers who ensure it’s success year after year, we can all play a role in creating hope in the city – and beyond. The name of this annual event brings to mind perhaps the most famous poem by Emily Dickinson. “Hope is the thing with feathers – That perches in the soul – And sings the tune without the words – And never stops – at all.“ The image of that poem – hope as a singing bird – seems so appropriate, especially in Manitoba. Who among us has not been cheered up on a cold winter day by the sight of a brave little chickadee, chirping in a tree, reminding us that spring will eventually come? Each of us has that thing with feathers perched in our soul. Through acts of kindness, through the affirmation of the worth and dignity of all, the Salvation Army works to keep that little bird singing. And attending this breakfast and hearing the story of today’s special guest, Joe Roberts, will warm up the bird of hope inside you. Thank you to all the members, supporters and volunteers of the Salvation Army who have made this morning and this year’s campaign possible. May it continue to support positive change in lives across this city and province. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich.

November 10, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba ROYAL WINNIPEG BALLET SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP PRESENTATION Royal Winnipeg Ballet-380 Graham Avenue Friday, November 10, 2023, 7:00pm (please check against delivery)   Students of dance and members of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet family, welcome to this celebration of blooming talents and sore toes. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, it is my pleasure to join you this evening here in the heart of Treaty One land and the heartland of the Red River Metis. This beautiful and diverse province is also the ancestral and the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Metis peoples. Together, we must continue to work to hear truths, and to advance understanding, opportunity, and healing for all. Manitobans are proud of the rich artistic diversity of our province – including the artistic contributions of large and vibrant Indigenous communities. Music and dance of all kinds bring us together and help us to better listen and learn and work for a better common future. It’s my pleasure, as Lieutenant Governor, to meet talented and hard-working young people at schools and colleges across our province. As somebody who previously had a close involvement in the K to 12 and career education fields, I always find it inspiring to see the flowering of young talent and the products of hard work. And so tonight, I’m looking forward to seeing the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s scholarship recipients in action. I know that, as students at Canada’s most esteemed ballet school, tonight’s honorees have been working for years to master the complex vocabulary of the language of ballet. They’ve been working on their pliés (plee-aye), jetés (je-tay), arabesques (ara-besk) and everything else. More importantly, they’ve been learning to express powerful ideas and emotions through movement, to create moments of beauty that cannot easily be put into words. As Martha Graham once said, “Your body says what words cannot.” I’ll have to rely on words. So to all of the students whose hard work is being recognized tonight: congratulations. May you continue to find expression and joy in dance. And to all of you who have supported these scholarships and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, thank you for supporting the arts, for enabling the creation of beauty. And thank you to all of those who have made this special celebration possible. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich.

November 8, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba GOLDEN DRAGON AWARDS GALA RBC Convention Centre Wednesday, November 8, 2023, 6:30pm (please check against delivery)     Friends of the Winnipeg Chinese Cultural and Community Centre, it’s a pleasure to join you in supporting a great organization and celebrating community leadership. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, it is my pleasure to acknowledge that this celebration of cultural diversity is being held in the heart of Treaty One land and the heartland of the Red River Metis. We are blessed to live in the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Metis peoples – and in a province where visionaries from many cultural traditions have been working together for many years to improve intercultural understanding. Our province’s community and cultural organizations strengthen and enrich Manitoba in countless ways. They provide educational programming, offer language instruction, enrich our arts and culture scene through music, dance and other forms of creative expression and develop housing and community support programs. They bring together members of our many ethno-cultural communities and they build bridges by providing all Manitobans with the opportunity to discover a wealth of artistic traditions. The Winnipeg Chinese Cultural and Community Centre has a long tradition of enhancing our city and province in many ways. And of course, that takes resources, so it’s good to see so many people turning out for this gala. Our province’s large and diverse not-for-profit sector relies on the support of Manitobans who invest their time, expertise and personal resources in making this a better place to live. So I am pleased to join you all in saluting tonight’s recipients of the Golden Dragon Citizen of the Year Awards – Jim Gauthier and Guo Gia Quiang. (G-wah Teeyah-Tyong I look forward to learning more tonight about the Golden Dragon awards and the many ways these leaders have contributed to life here in Manitoba. I also look forward to an exciting and inspiring evening of entertainment – made possible by the Winnipeg Chinese Cultural and Community Centre. To all who have made tonight possible, thank you for sustaining a great organization and enhancing a great city and province. Thank you, merci, meegwich.

November 7, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba RIDEAU HALL FOUNDATION AND CATAPULT CANADA GATHERING Canadian Museum of Human Rights Tuesday, November 7, 2023, 5:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Fellow Canadians, believers in the transformative power of learning – welcome to what I am sure will be an inspiring gathering for all participants. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, it is my pleasure to join you here in the heart of Treaty One land and the heartland of the Red River Metis. As residents of a diverse province that is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Metis, we have an obligation to work for a healthier future for all Manitobans. To do that, we must listen and learn, open our minds and work to create opportunities for all. The Canadian Museum of Human Rights is a fitting setting for a conference dedicated to dismantling barriers to education. When visitors come to this museum they encounter this phrase, enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: “Everyone has the right to an education.” And that education, as the declaration phrases it, is aimed at the “full development of the human personality.” Canadians are proud that our country ranks near the top in international measurements of education. But we also know that access to education is not distributed evenly. For too many young Canadians, social, economic and geographic barriers stand in the way. And so I look forward to learning more about how Catapult Canada and its partners are working to give young Canadians opportunities to learn and build skills. It’s encouraging to see representatives of many education and community service groups come together from coast to coast to share knowledge in order to help bring down barriers. With support from the Rideau Hall Foundation, these initiatives will help young people become independent and contributing members of a society built on listening and sharing ideas. To all who are working to improve access to learning, I thank you for your commitment and I wish you well in helping our country demonstrate its full commitment to the right to education. Thank you to the Rideau Hall Foundation and Catapult Canada for bringing us together tonight to reaffirm our commitment to learning.  

November 4, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba HINDU SOCIETY OF MANITOBA DIWALI CELEBRATION RBC Convention Centre Saturday, November 4, 2023 (please check against delivery)     Friends, members and supporters of the Hindu Society of Manitoba, thank you for the opportunity to share in this celebration of Diwali. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, it is my pleasure to acknowledge that this celebration of cultural diversity is being held in the heart of Treaty One land and the heartland of the Red River Metis. We are blessed to live in the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Metis peoples – and in a province where people from cultural traditions originating around the world are working together for a brighter future for all. One thing that all Manitobans have in common at this time of year is the ominous sense of the growing darkness we will live with for the next four or five months. As the days get shorter and the nights get longer, it’s easy to feel trapped by the darkness. So what better time than now for a celebration of light – and a celebration of all that light symbolizes? In a world where misinformation and division spread rapidly on the internet, tonight we celebrate the victory of knowledge over ignorance. Tonight, we celebrate not just light, but enlightenment. I have learned that embracing difference and diversity allows for so much more learning and for a deeper understanding of all the great questions of life and of society. And I have learned of common themes that can be expressed in many different ways. Themes of family and community, themes of hope and courage, themes of caring and compassion, themes of learning and understanding. I look forward to the beautiful ways in which tonight’s performers express the messages of Diwali. And I look forward to sharing this celebration with old and new friends from Manitoba’s Hindu community. Thank you to the Hindu Society of Manitoba and all the organizers, volunteers and performers who have made this evening possible. Thank you, merci, meegwich and happy Diwali.

October 24, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba GRACE HOSPITAL GALA Victoria Inn Tuesday, October 24, 2023, 6:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)     Friends of health care and a family of great Winnipeggers, it’s a pleasure to join you tonight in support of the Grace Hospital Foundation. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I acknowledge and honour that we are gathered in the heart of Treaty One Territory and the heartland of the Red River Metis. As residents of a diverse province that is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Metis, we have an obligation to work for a healthier future for all Manitobans. To do that, we will listen and learn, advance our understanding, and work to create opportunities for all. Few fields see such rapid advancement as health care. New technologies and medications for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illness are rapidly evolving, almost daily, changing every aspect of health care delivery. But its core is still compassion and empathy. It is those core values that propelled the Salvation Army to establish the Grace Hospital nearly 120 years ago – before penicillin, before insulin, and at a time when people in Winnipeg were still dying of typhoid from drinking Red River water. Improvements since then have been the product of countless health professionals and scientists working around the world. They have also been made possible by the steadfast support of people who are passionate about improving outcomes for all – citizens who have supported health care and research and donors who have contributed funds to enhance research and care. Bob and Cathy Tallman, the Tallman Family, the Princess Auto Foundation and Trans Canada Brewing have been great supporters of this hospital – and of the community at large. As supporters of health, education and culture, and creators of prosperity and opportunity – the Tallman family and their businesses have improved life for many Manitobans. As Lieutenant Governor, I’m also especially pleased that the honour they are receiving is the Pearl McGonigal Award. As a great supporter of the Grace Hospital, a voice for St. James-Assiniboia, and Manitoba’s first woman Lieutenant Governor, Pearl McGonigal has spent a lifetime making this city and province a better place to live. Congratulations Bob and Cathy, and the entire Tallman family. Thank you for all that you have done and continue to do for the greater good. This recognition, this celebration is so well deserved. And to all who support the Grace Hospital Foundation and who made this wonderful evening possible, thank you for continuing the Grace’s 120 years of caring. Enjoy the evening. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich.    

October 21, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba First Annual Muslim Legacy Fund Gala RBC Convention Centre Saturday, October 21, 2023, 6:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Good evening, ladies and gentlemen: As the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I am pleased to welcome you here in the heart of Treaty One land, and in the heartland of the Red River Métis. As we build and sustain healthy and diverse communities across Manitoba, we acknowledge that this province is the ancestral and the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Métis peoples. For all of us, our work of building a province of which we can be proud includes listening and learning, advancing understanding and working for opportunity, and healing for all. I am happy to join you this evening in celebrating the Muslim Legacy Fund, the progress it has already made and the good works it is supporting in our province. As many of us know, former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill famously said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” In a remarkably short time, the Muslim Legacy Fund has grown substantially, reflecting the generosity and community spirit of those who have contributed to this worthy cause. This evening, the first funding grants will be awarded to three organizations – the Canadian Muslim Women’s Institute, the Islamic Social Services Association and the Manitoba Islamic Association – each of which continues to work to support and strengthen the provincial Muslim community. Their individual mandates may be different, but their intentions and achievements are equally honourable in striving toward the greater good. I am sure our fellow Manitobans would join me in thanking the boards, staff and volunteers of these organizations for their outstanding efforts. These organizations, and the Muslim Legacy Fund itself, are valued contributors to our province’s outstanding cultural mosaic, reflecting the diversity and spirit of inclusion that add so greatly to the quality of life for all of our citizens. Your dedication to your work, and the positive results it creates, will benefit Manitobans, not only today, but also tomorrow, and for generations to come. You are making a positive difference in people’s lives and there are few things more honourable than that. Congratulations to the board of directors, donors, volunteers and friends for your efforts in establishing the Muslim Legacy Fund and organizing this gala dinner.  To you, and the fund’s first funding recipients, I wish you continued success and a wonderful evening. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich  

October 20, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba LEADERSHIP WINNIPEG SESSION Government House Friday, October 20, 2023, 9:00 a.m. (please check against delivery)   Leaders and leaders-in-training, welcome to this day of dialogue and discovery. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, it is my pleasure to welcome you to Government House, in the heart of Treaty One land and the heartland of the Red River Metis. For 140 years, this landmark building has hosted monarchs and prime ministers and generations of leaders in the arts and sciences, public service and industry. That makes Government House a perfect place to bring together a group of women and men who are spending a year developing the many skills involved in leading our province forward. We will need you and the talents you bring in order to build a healthier, more equitable Manitoba that provides opportunities for all. In every society, in every occupation and in every branch of the business and not-for-profit sectors, a central task of a leader is making sure that the world can go along without you. With an eye to the certainty of change, we all need to make sure that new generations develop the knowledge, wisdom and commitment to respond to new and unpredictable developments. That’s why this joint initiative of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce and Volunteer Manitoba plays such an important role in our province. As participants in Leadership Winnipeg, each of you will discover the diversity and strengths of our province’s people. Each of you will come face to face with complex challenges and the creative solutions being devised to meet them. Each of you will have the chance to listen, to share ideas, to hone communication skills and to tackle projects. You come to this program with many different cultural, educational and work backgrounds. You may have experience in business, labour or the volunteer sector, in culture, social services, health or education. You will learn from the mentors and leaders you meet in this program – such as the stellar line-up to come today. But you’ll also learn from each other. This experience will open doors for you and create memories of an exciting time in your life. But as beneficial as Leadership Winnipeg is for its participants, there are countless other people, some perhaps not even born yet, who will benefit from the leadership you provide in the years and decades to come. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I thank you for your commitment. And I thank Doneta Brotchie and her team at Leadership Winnipeg for creating this learning opportunity. May this be a great year of discovery for you all. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich.

October 20, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba WINNIPEG POLICE GRADUATION RBC Convention Centre Friday, October 20, 2023, 1:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)     Members and friends of the Winnipeg Police Service, welcome to this celebration of great beginnings. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, it is my pleasure to join you here in the heart of Treaty One land and the heartland of the Red River Metis. Today, we are celebrating a group of new recruits who are launching careers protecting and serving the people of a diverse city – the capital of a province that is home to the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Metis peoples. Members of recruit class 168 will be part of a great societal commitment to listen and learn, to advance understanding, and to work for opportunities, dignity and healing for all. As Lieutenant Governor – and in earlier years as school board trustee – I’ve had the opportunity to attend many graduations – from kindergarten up to graduate and professional programs. Certain sentiments are universal at such events. Graduates are proud of their accomplishments. They are relieved to have their tests and exercises over. And they are looking forward to the new challenges and experiences that await them. I can’t say, however, that many other groups of graduates I’ve met have had an experience quite like yours. Exacting physical tests and psychological assessments classroom learning on law investigative techniques and the social factors of crime hands-on training with firearms and behind the wheel of a police car These make for a demanding learning experience for each participant. And the commitment you are making as members of the police service is also unique. The unpredictable environments you go out into; the complex social, economic and psychological factors that affect the work you’ll do; the rising expectations society places on police – these will require all your experience, judgement and knowledge. And they will require a commitment to continuous learning throughout your career. Your fellow Winnipeggers and Manitobans are counting on you. And I’m confident that the discipline and focus that have brought you this far will allow you to meet and exceed those expectations. May your career bring you satisfaction and the pride of an important job done well. Thank you to all the instructors and mentors, and also your family and friends who have and will continue to support you. And finally, to the graduates of Winnipeg Police Service class 168, thank you for answering the call to serve. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich.

October 19, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba  INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION CANADA AWARD CEREMONY Government House Thursday, October 19, 2023, 12:30 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Friends and colleagues of a great Manitoban, welcome to this celebration of service to the public good. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, it’s a pleasure to welcome you to Government House, in the heart of Treaty One and the heartland of the Red River Metis. Like the Legislative Building next door, this historic structure is symbol of a province that is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Metis peoples. And as we gather to celebrate leadership, excellence and integrity in carrying out public responsibilities, we acknowledge that those responsibilities include hearing truths and advancing understanding, opportunity, and healing for all. The job of overseeing the public business in a province of 1.4 million people requires many talented individuals with expertise in leading staff, managing money, analyzing technology and assessing needs. But it requires more than high-level professional skills. It requires the commitments enshrined by the Institute of Public Administration of Canada – commitment to personal integrity, democratic governance, respect, continuous learning and reflection on values and ethics. The Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration is an annual award recognizing Manitobans who have accomplished great things in their public sector leadership while setting an example as citizens and as human beings. Through this award, I’m very pleased to join you in recognizing Dr. Digvir Jayas as an exemplar of a public administrator. We will hear in more detail shortly about Dr. Jayas’s many contributions in his leadership positions at the University of Manitoba and about his many other contributions and the benefits his work has brought to Manitoba. I do feel privileged in that I have had opportunity over the years to personally observe Dr. Jayas’s many accomplishments. We are fortunate in Manitoba to have such people leading our public sector institutions. The Institute of Public Administration, in supporting such excellence through this award and through its other activities, plays an important role in ensuring that the standard of public leadership remains high. Dr. Jayas, thank you for meeting and exceeding that standard throughout your career, and thank you to all who make this annual award possible. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich.  

October 17, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba ST. JOHN AMBULANCE INVESTITURE AND AWARDS CEREMONY Government House Tuesday, October 17, 2023, 5:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)     Members and friends of a great organization, welcome to this celebration of dedication to the health and safety of others. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, and Vice-Prior for St. John Council in Manitoba, it is my pleasure to welcome you to Government House – a landmark in the heart of Treaty One land and the heartland of the Red River Metis for 140 years. This building, like the Legislative Building next door, is a symbol of a province that is the ancestral and present-day home for Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Metis peoples. Together we must commit to learning and listening, to advancing understanding, opportunity and healing and to a build a just and fair province for all its people. The St. John Ambulance has been a Canadian symbol of caring and dedication for nearly as long as there has been a country called Canada. Since the first chapter was founded in Canada in 1883, countless Canadians have learned to give first aid and have supported the St. John Ambulance’s other programs. Those trained first aid providers have become a fixture at events and special gatherings across our country – helping to ensure the safety of their fellow Canadians. That spirit of concern for the well-being of others is the essence of a healthy society. Looking out for one another is the glue that holds a village or a nation together. The individuals receiving Life Saving Awards today, whether or not they have taken first aid training or been involved with the St, John Ambulance, represent the same spirit of concern for others that animates this great organization. Though every life-saving encounter is unique and involves its own challenges, in each of the stories of these award recipients there’s a common theme. Somebody has been in distress and danger and somebody else has made the decision to get involved. Deciding to get involved is the building block for everything of value in society. Each of us, if we want a better world, can step forward to contribute in some way. Indeed, that’s the only way we’ll get that better world. One way to make that contribution is to strengthen and lead this great organization. The Order of St. John recognizes those who have contributed substantially to an entity that works for the health and emergency preparedness of Canadians. I am so proud to have the opportunity to recognize some outstanding Manitobans today, and honoured to be able to present the Vice Prior Award to my predecessor, The Honourable Janice C. Filmon.  Congratulations to you all, and thank you for the contributions you have made and the example you are setting for your fellow Manitobans. And to the St. John Ambulance, thank you for the incredible work you do throughout the world and for bringing us together today to celebrate dedication to community. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich.  

October 14, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba Daniel McIntyre Collegiate Institute 100th Anniversary RBC Convention Centre Saturday, October 14, 2023 7:00 p.m. (please check against delivery) Good evening, ladies and gentlemen: As the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I am pleased to welcome you here in the heart of Treaty One land, and in the heartland of the Red River Métis. As we build and sustain healthy and diverse communities across Manitoba, we acknowledge that this province is the ancestral and the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Métis peoples. For all of us, our work of building a province of which we can be proud includes listening and learning, advancing understanding and working for opportunity, and healing for all. I am happy to join you this evening in celebrating this remarkable milestone anniversary of Daniel McIntyre Collegiate, the school affectionately known as Daniel Mac. Like many of you, I am a firm believer in the value of education to engage, enlighten and inspire.  It is the great equalizer in our society, expanding minds and opening doors to opportunity and self-fulfillment, forever enriching students’ lives. The poet, William Butler Yeats, once wrote “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” For 100 years, Daniel Mac has been a community hub in Winnipeg’s West End, igniting a love of learning for generations of students.  It is that special place that sparked lifelong friendships, illuminated career paths and provided many sweet memories of the trials and tribulations associated with growing into young adulthood. Past and present educators have their own unique memories of teaching at Daniel Mac. Not only have they helped students learn and nurture their individual talents in academics and athletics, but also contributing to your school’s great legacy of teaching excellence. In its century of service to the community, Daniel Mac has carried on its good work amid historical events and significant social change.  Just imagine how the world has changed since your school first opened its doors. The Great Depression, a world war, societal evolution, technological advances and so much more…yet the school, and all it stands for, has endured. Much like the value of an education, itself, endures. Congratulations to the Daniel Mac administration, the organizing committee, volunteers and sponsors for your commitment and hard work in bringing this celebration together so well. To the students and staff of Daniel Mac, past and present, I hope you will always treasure fond memories of your time at this exceptional school, appreciating its influential role in shaping the person you are today. We come together tonight to pay warm tribute to Daniel McIntyre Collegiate – the Home of the Maroons – I wish you a very pleasant evening of celebration and reminiscing. .Thank you. Merci. Meegwich.

October 14, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba MANITOBA METIS FEDERATION ANNUAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY Assiniboia Downs Saturday, October 14, 2023, 9:30 a.m. (please check against delivery)     Friends, Manitoba Metis citizens, it’s a pleasure to join you during this historic year. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I am pleased to acknowledge that we are gathered in the heartland of the Red River Metis and in Treaty One land and that this province we love is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Metis and Inuit. Gatherings such as this annual general assembly play an essential role as we work to hear truths and to advance understanding, opportunity, and healing for all. This has been a memorable year in the long and proud history of the Red River Metis. Your special membership meeting in June, with the approval of the Red River Metis Self Government Recognition and Implementation Treaty, will be viewed by historians of the future as a key event in history of the Metis, of Manitoba and of Canada. Perhaps just as significant is the process of consultation and the democratic structure that made it possible. With its seven regions, 135 locals and general and special assemblies, the Manitoba Metis Federation sets an example of democratic decision-making. The passionate commitment of Metis citizens across Manitoba shows us all how democracy thrives on the involvement of the people. The dedication of members of the Manitoba Metis Federation enables the MMF’s stream of accomplishments – in areas from housing and child care to economic development and environmental protection. Building a better, more fair, more just province and country is not just a job for people who find themselves in leadership positions. It is the work of all of us. By sharing our ideas and experiences, by listening and learning, by giving our time and energy to matters of public interest, we all have the power to change our community and our world for the better. The Manitoba Metis Federation and its dedicated members and its strong leadership show us all the power of working together. Congratulations on your achievements. May you continue to enjoy growth and prosperity throughout Manitoba and beyond. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich.  

October 12, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba EMS EXEMPLARY SERVICE MEDAL CEREMONY Government House Thursday, October 12, 2023, 5:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Friends and members of a vital profession, welcome to this celebration of service, compassion and courage. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, it’s a pleasure to welcome you to Government House, in the heart of Treaty One land, and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. In this province, the ancestral and the present-day home of First Nations, Metis and Inuit, we give thanks to all who dedicate their careers to protecting others. Together, we will continue to learn and to advance understanding, opportunity, and healing for all. The Governor General’s Exemplary Service Medals are part of the national honours system, – presented to exceptional members who have exhibited the highest standard of service under trying and urgent, and often perilous circumstances. It takes years of service to be eligible for these honours. It takes a special kind of dedication that motivates professionals to head out into the dark of night, into the blizzards of winter and the tempests of summer, to run toward fear and uncertainty. Today, we are recognizing and celebrating EMS Professionals who have served others in this fashion for twenty, thirty and even forty years. Each of today’s award recipients has served the people of our province by continuously learning and upgrading skills. Each of them has lived with the possibility that any moment of calm can suddenly be upended by an emergency. Each of them has had times of fatigue that had to be pushed aside to help somebody. They have provided urgent emergency care to the young and old, to women and men and children. And they have served as mentors and leaders for newcomers to their profession, using the accumulated knowledge and wisdom of decades to strengthen emergency care. Their service makes our communities safer and healthier and sets a standard of dedication for all. In the process, they help to strengthen the spirit of community that does so much to make Manitoba the place we love to call home. To each of today’s award recipients, thank you for all you have done for your fellow Manitobans. May you wear your medal with pride and in good spirits and good health. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich

October 11, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba 2023 MAHATMA GANDHI PEACE AWARD GALA RBC Convention Centre Wednesday, October 11, 2023 Reception: 6:00 p.m. Dinner: 6:30 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Honoured guests, ladies and gentlemen: As the King’s representative in Manitoba, I am pleased to join you this evening in celebrating those who, through service, example and achievement, continue to advance the great legacy of Mahatma Gandhi. I am pleased to serve as Honourary Patron of this distinguished program, and proud to lend my support to such an important organization, the guiding principles of which provide us all with hope for a better world by recognizing and encouraging the best in humanity. Inspiring role models, this year’s award recipients have shown themselves to be leaders who are making a positive impact on their communities, their countries and the world, through integrity, determination and commitment to the greater good. “The future depends on what we do in the present,” said Gandhi. This evening’s honourees reflect the wisdom of that philosophy in action, as well as the power of the individual to make a genuine difference in the world. Your organization’s late founder, Dr. Krishnamurti Dakshinamurti  (Dr. KRISH-NA-MERTY  DAK-SHEENA-MERTY) was, himself, a difference maker. A brilliant physician, researcher and dedicated proponent of global peace, he left an indelible mark on our province, setting a high standard of community service along the way. In that same spirit of exemplary public service, this evening will officially recognize the significant achievements and many good works of Canadian Treasury Board President, the Honourable Anita Anand.  An accomplished lawyer and esteemed public servant, her professional credits are numerous and laudable, including her most recent leadership roles in enhancing public safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, and coordinating our country’s military aid to Ukraine. A trailblazer, she is the first Hindu to become a federal minister in Canada As First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska (O-LAY-NA ZEL-EN-SKA) has exemplified remarkable grace, courage and dedication in her ongoing efforts to help protect her country’s most vulnerable citizens amid the inherent challenges presented by a brutal, unjust war.  Through her humanitarian efforts, she has brought light into the darkness of extreme adversity, and helped countless innocents in need. Both are truly remarkable women and most deserving of the prestigious awards they will receive tonight. Congratulations to the Mahatma Gandhi Centre of Canada’s board of directors, volunteers and supporters whose shared vision and hard work have made this program, and evening of celebration, possible.  I wish you continued success and a very pleasant evening. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich          

September 28, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba SOVEREIGN’S MEDAL FOR VOLUNTEERS AWARD CEREMONY Government House Thursday, September 28, 2023, 5:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Friends and volunteers, welcome to Government House and this celebration of the gift of time, effort and vision. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I am pleased to welcome you here in the heart of Treaty One land, and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. As we build and sustain healthy and diverse communities across Manitoba, we acknowledge that this province is the ancestral and the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Metis and Inuit. For all of us, our work of building a province we can be proud of includes listening and learning, advancing understanding and working for opportunity, and healing for all. Time is one treasure we all possess and, like all things of great value, it’s a limited resource. We spend our time to acquire the things we need for daily life and maintain our homes and our health. We spend it to experience those things that bring us joy and that recharge our spirits. And in a fast-paced world of work and family and social commitments, we often feel we don’t have enough of it. So to spend that precious treasure of time on activities designed to benefit complete strangers is a special kind of generosity. And that is the generosity – a generosity of spirit – that we are celebrating today with the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers. The Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers is the highest honour for volunteer service in Canada. It was established in 2016 and evolved from the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award, which was established in 1995. The Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers recognizes Canadians for their unpaid, sustained and significant contributions of time and energy to community. “Sustained” typically means 10 years or more – with exceptions for younger volunteers who have made significant volunteer contributions. Many recipients of this medal have been active volunteers for considerably longer. Their contributions reach into every aspect of life. They keep festivals, cultural organizations and sports events humming. They provide services in schools and hospitals. They make communities safer and healthier. They are mentors for youth and friends to seniors. They build and sustain vital community resources. On behalf of Her Excellency, Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, I thank all of today’s award recipients for the gift of enthusiasm, the gift of problem-solving, the gift of empathy … and the gift of time. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich.  

September 24, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba POLICE AND PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY Memorial Park, Winnipeg Sunday, September 24, 2023, 11:00 a.m. (please check against delivery)   Friends, families, protectors of peace and fellow Manitobans, welcome to this ceremony of remembrance and of gratitude. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty One land, and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. The province we love – and that police and peace officers make secure – is the ancestral and the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Metis and Inuit peoples. Together, we each have a part to play in building understanding, goodwill, healing and opportunity for all in this beautiful province. As Manitobans and as Canadians, we long to live in safe communities with high levels of public trust and co-operation. We want to live in a province and a nation where disagreements are resolved through discussion, where lives and valuables are secure and where rules designed to keep society functioning fairly and safely are respected by all. However, human nature being the way it is, that ideal won’t come to life on its own. We require a legal system enforced by dedicated professionals to protect the lives and the rights of all Canadians. Today, across Canada, we remember the men and women who have lost their lives in service of that vision while protecting their communities as police and peace officers. This annual memorial day was established in 1998 in Canada. Each September since then, we have gathered to pay tribute to the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the safety of others. And as we bow our heads to those lost, we also give thanks to all who serve in this capacity. Theirs is a life of long and odd hours, serving in all weather, in all conditions, responding to emergencies and working with the knowledge that a deadly danger can emerge out of the most innocent moment. Their dedication makes the people of our province and our country safer and better able to enjoy all the benefits conferred by life in Canada. Whether you work in policing, in corrections, as a conservation officer, or in any other capacity as a peace officer, as Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba and representative of His Majesty King Charles, I thank you for your dedication to your country and your fellow Canadians. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich.    

September 23, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba 100TH ANNIVERSARY NARCISSE WOMEN’S INSTITUTE Inwood Memorial Hall Saturday, September 23, 2023, 1:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)     Friends, residents of Manitoba’s beautiful Interlake, it’s a pleasure to join you in celebrating a century of strengthening communities. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba I first acknowledge that this province of deep roots is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Red River Metis and Inuit peoples. Here on Treaty One land, as elsewhere in Manitoba, we honour the treaties that made the sharing of this beautiful land possible. And as we work for healing and understanding of past and present wrongs, we strive to make equitable, resilient, healthy and just communities for all. Manitobans are proud to live in a province of community leaders and volunteers. And we are equally proud of the strong sense of community that animates cities and towns and rural areas from the 49th parallel to Hudson Bay. That sense of community has been nurtured by generations of women – in Narcisse and in every other Manitoba community. And many of them have been part of the Women’s Institute movement. Manitoba’s Women’s Institutes have played an essential role in rural communities since 1910 – through the world wars, the Great Depression and the continuous changes brought by new technologies. It’s a source of pride for Canadians that the Women’s Institute movement began in our country. And it should be a source of pride for all members of Manitoba’s Women’s Institutes that so many important initiatives have come into effect through the advocacy efforts of these groups. Women’s Institute members have spoken up for improvements in education, health, human rights, community services. They have advocated for changes to benefit all Manitobans and all Manitoba families. And they have especially advocated for rural areas, to ensure that people in places like the Interlake have access to health, communication, education and other services that people in larger centres take for granted. It’s a pleasure to meet women who have contributed to life in Narcisse, the wider Interlake region and Manitoba as a whole. As Lieutenant Governor and the representative in Manitoba of King Charles, I thank you for all you have done to infuse our province with the spirit of community. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich.

September 22, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba HOMES FOR HEROES OPEN DOOR GALA RBC Convention Centre Friday, September 22, 2023, 7:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Good evening friends. I am so pleased to have this opportunity to join you tonight in seeking to open doors for many of Canada’s unsung heroes, our veterans. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I acknowledge and honour that we are gathered in the heart of Treaty One Territory, and the homeland of the Red River Metis. This beautiful and diverse province is also the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene and Inuit peoples. Together, we must continue to work to hear truths, and to advance opportunity and understanding, and healing for all. In cities and towns across Canada, we have seen the effects of homelessness and home insecurity. Too many of our fellow Canadians lack a safe and secure place of their own. And too many of them are veterans of Canada’s armed forces. Without a stable home, meeting the basic needs of life can be overwhelming. Keeping clean, eating healthy food, getting to appointments or to work – these can be insurmountable challenges if home is a tent on the riverbank or a cot in a shelter. Serving in the military can bring with it traumatic experiences that are difficult enough to overcome without these additional obstacles. Our veterans deserve the opportunity to rebuild their lives in a place they can call home. For all of those reasons, the innovative plans developed by Homes for Heroes hold great promise. Our homelessness crisis in Canada has many causes and won’t be solved by any single solution. But an essential part of the solution is to build support for the goal of meeting the housing needs of Canadians. The leadership driving Homes for Heroes is doing so much more than just providing communities of veterans with four walls and a roof. The success of Homes for Heroes communities, will undoubtedly inspire other not-for-profit organizations seeking to build similar communities for other homeless populations. In that respect, the residents of the Homes for Heroes communities, having served Canada in the past, will again do this nation a great service. To all who work for solutions to homelessness, including all who have made this evening possible, thank you for your vision, your dedication and for your efforts in building a better, and more just nation. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich.

September 21, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba NELLIE MCCLUNG TRAILBLAZERS SCHOLARSHIP RECEPTION Government House Thursday, September 21, 2023, 5:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Friends of learning and equity, welcome to Government House and this celebration of trailblazers and the foundation that encourages them. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I first acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty One land, and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. From the 49th parallel to the 60th, this province has been and remains the home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Metis and Inuit. As we work to build opportunity and prosperity, we must continue to learn about past and present injustices, to hear truths, and to work for understanding and healing for all. This historic residence has been home to Manitoba’s Lieutenant Governors since 1883 and has stood watch over continuous transformations in that time. And none have been more profound than the changes women have fought for and achieved in that time. For 20 years, the Nellie McClung Foundation has worked to raise awareness of those hard-won achievements and the woman who played a central role in the fight for legal equality for Canadian women. And fittingly, the foundation and its supporters have created the Nellie McClung Trailblazer Scholarships to support continued progress toward economic and educational equality. These scholarships, encouraging young women to pursue their dreams in STEAM, encompassing the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering the Arts and Math as well as in business and underrepresented trades. The increasing number of women entering these fields are a reflection of Nellie McClung’s vision of a world where women would enjoy the freedom and independence made possible by education. As Nellie put it: “The economic dependence of women is perhaps the greatest injustice that has been done to us.” Nellie McClung made that observation in an age when so many careers were either formally or informally off limits to women. And by the purest of coincidence, these happened to be careers that paid the best. Today, we have seen women make great strides in many fields – including law and medicine – that were previously male-dominated. But there are still many fields where the needle of progress has been stubbornly slow. In the years ahead, as recipients of these scholarships advance further into their chosen careers, they will light a pathway for more young women and inspire them to search out opportunities to learn, to meet needs in society, and to support their future dreams. To all of the recipients of these scholarships, since 2019, congratulations on your achievement. May this encourage you to further learning. To all those who have supported the Nellie McClung Foundation and the creation of these scholarships, thank you for spreading knowledge of a great Manitoban and hope in the hearts of the women and girls of this province. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich.

September 14, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba 80TH ANNIVERSARY RECEPTION FOR U OF M FACULTY OF SOCIAL WORK Government House Thursday, September 14, 2023, 5:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)     Good evening, and welcome to this celebration of 80 years of social work education. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, it is an absolute pleasure to welcome you to Government House, the ceremonial home of all Manitobans, here in the heart of Treaty One territory. As we celebrate a faculty that is dedicated to human rights and dignity, to social inclusion and social justice, I acknowledge and celebrate that this beautiful and diverse province is the ancestral and the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree Dakota, Dene and Metis peoples. It also includes lands in the north that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Together, we must continue to work to hear truths, and to advance understanding, opportunity, and healing for all. The story of our province is one of a dawning of respect for the worth and dignity of all. It’s an ongoing process, and it’s one that has taken many steps, many struggles and many, many dedicated advocates. And for the last 80 years, the University of Manitoba Faculty of Social Work, and the dedicated professionals it has produced, have been and continue to be an integral part of shaping our community. For eight decades, graduates have worked to help individuals and families access health, housing, education and other services. They have advocated for the safety, rights and opportunities of the vulnerable. They have pushed society to listen and understand and re-examine its structures and biases. The social work profession is founded on bedrock values: respect for the inherent worth and dignity of all, pursuit of social justice, service to humanity, integrity, confidentiality. Advances in understanding within the profession and development of innovative community partnerships and services have been accomplished through the efforts of generations of U of M alumni. And so it is fitting that this 80th anniversary celebration is also an opportunity to honour recipients of the Helen Mann 50th Anniversary Award. The individuals recognized today will continue the long tradition of leadership and learning as alumni devote themselves to building a province that offers health and safety, community and compassion, and hope and opportunities for all. To all the partners and supporters, faculty and students, and graduates of the University of Manitoba Faculty of Social Work, congratulations on this milestone anniversary. Thank you for your leadership and dedication to our community, and to the greater good. May this celebration inspire you to continue to grow with open hearts and minds in the years to come. Enjoy the evening. Thank you.  Merci.  Meegwich.  

August 25, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba MORDEN CORN AND APPLE FESTIVAL OPENING CEREMONIES Friday, August 25, 2023, 6:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, it’s a pleasure to join you in celebrating one of the highlights of a Manitoba summer. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I honour and acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty One land, and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. This beautiful and diverse province is also the ancestral and the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples. I also recognize that northern Manitoba includes lands that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Together, we will continue to work to hear truths, and to advance understanding, opportunity, and healing for all. Events like the Morden Corn and Apple Festival are more than just the sum of the smiles and laughs they generate. Bringing people together to share moments of joy is an essential part of building a better, more caring, more cohesive province. This festival brings together the entire Pembina Valley region and also attracts  Manitobans from far and wide to visit this beautiful corner of our province. For three days in August, Morden’s Stephen Street becomes Manitoba’s Main Street – a place where neighbours and new friends meet and share music, arts and crafts, midway thrills and the simple pleasures of a free tasty treat. One of the wonderful things about this festival is its openness. There’s no fenced-off fairground. There’s no admission fee. All are welcome. That commitment to ensuring an affordable good time for all is in keeping with the welcoming and inclusive values of this community – and of the province we love. In its growth and success since its first offering in 1967, this festival symbolizes that of the community that supports it. And in the same manner, the dedication of the many Corn and Apple volunteers represents the passion for community that characterizes Morden and all of its sister cities and towns throughout this area. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba and representative in our province of King Charles, I thank all who have made this possible and I wish you all another wonderful festival. Thank you. Merci. Meegwech.  

August 17, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba LEARNING AT THE LEG TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAM Manitoba Legislative Building Thursday, August 17, 2023, 12 noon (please check against delivery)   Educators and fellow Manitobans it’s a pleasure to join you today as you explore our democratic system of government and prepare yourselves to inspire young people to learn. It is my privilege to acknowledge that we are meeting on Treaty One land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. I acknowledge that the province we love, and that I represent as Lieutenant Governor, is the traditional and the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Red River Metis peoples. Together, we are working to advance understanding, healing and reconciliation and come together as partners to build a better future. Our hopes for a better future – for a future of understanding and opportunity, fairness and justice – depend on our ability and eagerness to learn. More than ever, full participation in society requires the ability to learn new concepts and to think critically about ideas and information coming our way at ever-increasing speeds. Your students’ future ability to thrive economically will depend on their ability to acquire skills – some of which none of us can even anticipate right now. But their ability to have a voice in the world around them is equally important. In a rapidly evolving information ecosystem, they will need skills to assess claims about reality and find their way in a world of political, legal, social and economic disagreement. They will need to know how the decisions that affect them, their loved ones and their communities are made. For Canadians, bombarded as we are by news and entertainment making reference to presidents and governors or quoting the American Declaration of Independence, it’s even more important for students to learn about our system of government. In my previous work as a school trustee it was my privilege to witness the passion for learning that educators inspired in their students. It was gratifying and fascinating to learn how teachers brought material to life and it was thrilling to see how students made new ideas and understanding their own. As you take what you learn in this program back to your schools and develop new lessons, the obvious first beneficiaries of your work and dedication will be your students. But our entire province and country will ultimately benefit from the knowledge and engagement of citizens who better understand what government does, how it works and how the people can shape its actions and priorities. For you, Learning at the Leg is two days of discussions and presentations in this beautiful landmark building. The result for your students may well be a lifetime of commitment to a stronger, more responsive democracy. Thank you for your dedication to learning and to democracy. Merci. Meegwich.

August 15, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba ROTARY ADVENTURES IN HUMAN RIGHTS Government House Tuesday, August 15, 2023, 5:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)     Learners and leaders, it is a pleasure to welcome you to Government House during your adventure in human rights and personal discovery. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I honour and acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty One land, and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. This beautiful and diverse province is also the ancestral and the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples. I also recognize that northern Manitoba includes lands that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Together, we will continue to work to hear truths, and to advance understanding, opportunity, and healing for all. Your week in the Rotary Adventures in Human Rights program will give each of you the opportunity to advance your understanding of questions of fundamental importance. I’m pleased that you are able to visit here at Government House early in your week. This 140-year old landmark is the residence of Manitoba’s Lieutenant Governor – the representative in our province of Canada’s sovereign. In Canada, the representatives of the King in each province and territory as well as the Governor General of Canada have specific constitutional roles, such as opening sessions of Parliament or provincial legislatures and signing legislation to bring it into force. But we also have another role – speaking for the province or the nation as a whole, such as when conferring honours or, as right now, when meeting dedicated and conscientious young people who embody the hopes we have for our country and our world. This week, you learn about the struggle to enshrine and protect human rights, You will learn about violations of rights – both historic and very much with us today. And you will learn from people who are working to bring communities, cultures and generations together. I hope you will go home after this week inspired to learn more and to inspire others to work with you for a world of understanding, equity and justice. Each of you brings a unique perspective to this week – a perspective you have acquired from your personal experiences and the lessons you’ve learned at home, at school, in your community. You’ve brought these perspectives with you from across Canada and indeed, from around the world. I’m sure the learning you will experience at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, IRCOM and Fort Whyte Alive will open both your eyes and your hearts. But equally valuable is the opportunity to connect with other open-hearted peers. You’ll learn from each other how to listen and share and you will make new friends who will expand your awareness of the world. In the years to come, the work of building a just and sustainable world will fall on members of your generation. The ability to work with and share the perspectives of your peers will help you to address challenges of conflict and scarcity, fear and ignorance. Wherever the path of your life takes you, you will be better equipped to lead the way and to build communities that support the rights of all. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I congratulate each of you on making the learning commitment to participate in Rotary Adventures in Human Rights. And I thank the sponsors, organizers and leaders who have once again made this possible. I wish you a wonderful, exciting and mind-expanding week. Thank you. merci, meegwich    

August 7, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba  ICELANDIC FESTIVAL OF MANITOBA TRADITIONAL PROGRAM Centennial Park, Gimli Monday, August 7, 2023, 2:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, thank you for the chance to join you at the 134th running of the Icelandic Festival of Manitoba. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I honour and acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty One land, and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. This beautiful and diverse province is also the ancestral and the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples. I also recognize that northern Manitoba includes lands that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Together, we will continue to work to hear truths, and to advance understanding, opportunity, and healing for all. Sharing of stories is essential for our hopes, as Manitobans and as Canadians, to advance understanding and build a society that can work together for a better future. We need to know who we are and what we’ve been through. We need to understand the accomplishments and struggles, the achievements and the failures that shaped the generations before us. And we need to share this understanding with others. This festival has been a leader in that important endeavour since the early days of Manitoba’s Icelandic community. Of course, passing on stories is a long and important tradition in a culture that has been retelling sagas of epic journeys and nation-building for a millennium. The greatest stories have an unlimited capacity for growth and rejuvenation. We can continue adding sequels and spin-offs as we follow up those tales through the generations and the centuries. And we can look at these stories from different perspectives to imagine the lives of characters from the margins. That’s why this festival’s theme — Continue Your Saga – resonates so powerfully. The saga of this community encompasses the traditions brought by the Icelanders who arrived here in the 1870s – as well as those developed over a century and half of building a diverse community based on fishing, agriculture, manufacturing, culture and tourism. It also encompasses the stories of the many peoples who shared in the building of Gimli, the Interlake and the province as a whole. Together, as we enjoy this festival, as we listen to one another, as we share our experiences and express our visions, we will all continue the saga of the province and the country we love. Before concluding, I feel it is important to acknowledge those individuals that make this event possible. There are countless hours put in by passionate volunteers and community members that bring this festival to life for all to enjoy. My heart felt thanks to each of you for ensuring these traditions continue. Congratulations on another Islendigadagurinn and thank you for keeping our stories alive and growing.    

July 27, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba WORLD POLICE AND FIRE GAMES RECEPTION Government House Thursday, July 27, 2023 (please check against delivery)   Friends of the World Police and Fire Games, welcome to Manitoba and to Government House. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I honour and acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty One land, and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. This beautiful and diverse province is also the ancestral and the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples. I also recognize that northern Manitoba includes lands that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Together, we will continue to work to hear truths, and to advance understanding, opportunity, and healing for all. One of the great things about sport is the way it unites people – whether they are striving together as a team or cheering from the sidelines. It builds a sense of camaraderie that can turn strangers into friends and friends into brothers and sisters. Police and firefighters, sharing the unique challenges of their professions, already have such a bond. It’s a bond that is visible to outsiders when they come together to support one another in the wake of tragedy. But for the next 10 days, we’ll all see that camaraderie on display in good times, in moments of joy and triumph, and in shared excitement and laughter. Manitobans are looking forward to hosting those special moments and providing the setting for what will become cherished memories for some 8,500 athletes and their supporters. This gathering of competitors from more than 50 countries, taking part in more than 60 sports, will be Manitoba’s largest-ever gathering of athletes. Pretty impressive, given that we have twice hosted the Pan Am Games. Manitobans often refer to their province as the heart of Canada, or the heart of North America, as a reference to our location – midway between the east and west coasts and between the Arctic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. But we also like to think that we’re a place with a lot of heart – a place of caring and a place with a passion for life. I’m sure that all the competitors and spectators at these games will carry a piece of Manitoba in their hearts wherever they go from here. And I hope that tonight’s special guests from Alabama, New Zealand and Australia find that Manitoba feeling helpful in their planning for future Games Thank you to all of the visionaries and organizers who made these games possible – may they exceed your highest expectations. Thank you, merci, meegwich.    

July 26, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba OPENING RECEPTION: THE GIMLI FILM FESTIVAL Government House Wednesday, July 26, 2023, 6:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Fans of film and lovers of artistic expression – welcome to the Gimli International Film Festival. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I honour and acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty One land, and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. This beautiful and diverse province is also the ancestral and the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples. I also recognize that northern Manitoba includes lands that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Together, we will continue to work to hear truths, and to advance understanding, opportunity, and healing for all. Sharing of visions, ideas and experiences is an essential part of being human –it’s at the heart of our efforts to learn and to create a better world and to experience the beauty and share the challenges of the world we inhabit. It’s something that predates the invention of film by thousands of years – going back to those artists who ventured into caves in Spain and Indonesia 50,000 years ago to paint images by torchlight. At the Gimli International Film Festival we celebrate the diversity of visions created by artists who paint with light today. We gaze in wonder, we ponder dream-like images, we feel a shock of recognition or a wave of empathy, we flinch with suspense and we laugh. We share the worlds created by film artists from across Canada and from around the world, hearing stories told in English, French, Inuktitut, Arabic, Ukrainian, Icelandic, Tagalog, German and at least a dozen other languages. Whether we’re watching experimental short films in a small screening room or enjoying a blockbuster on Gimli Beach, the imagination and artistry of these creators brings us together for a special moment. Through film, music, dance, theatre, literature, painting, sculpture and more, Manitoba’s artists inspire, entertain and challenge us. They invite us to shake off the cobwebs and experience the world anew. To all of those who create and support this art and to all who make this festival possible, thank you for enabling this celebration of vision and sound. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich.

July 20, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba ORDER OF MANITOBA DINNER Government House Thursday, July 20, 2023 (please check against delivery)   Proud friends and family – newly minted members of the Order of Manitoba, welcome to Government House, since 1883,the ceremonial home of all Manitobans. Welcome to this celebration of you. It is my absolute pleasure to gather with you in this beautiful space on Treaty One land, in the heartland of the Red River Metis. We are committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people to hear truths and embrace the spirit of reconciliation. Today was my first Order of Manitoba investiture as your Lieutenant Governor, and I have to tell you I am so immensely proud of the incredible depth and breadth of talent throughout this province. As Chancellor of the Order, I attend the selection committee meeting and get to learn of just some of each of your many accomplishments. However, as Chancellor thankfully I do not have an actual vote, because it is not an easy process! Each one of you invested into the Order of Manitoba today is absolutely deserving of this prestigious award. You bring out the best in Manitobans, you inspire and motivate others through your leadership, your achievements, and through your ongoing commitment to this province and the world around you. Thank you Tonight, you will enjoy a fabulous meal in the company of some of the most talented, creative and fascinating men and women you will ever find under one roof. I hope you share stories and make new connections and maybe new friends. Relax and enjoy alongside your special guests, those who have encouraged and supported your journey. Congratulations again on your induction into the Order of Manitoba. You make all Manitobans proud. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich.            

July 20, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba ORDER OF MANITOBA INVESTITURE CEREMONY Legislative Building Thursday, July 20, 2023 (please check against delivery)     Fellow Manitobans – welcome to the Manitoba Legislative Building and this celebration of twelve remarkable individuals and their contributions to this province and the world. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I am honoured to share this space with you here, on Treaty One land, in the heartland of the Red River Metis. This beautiful and diverse province is also the ancestral and the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, Dene, and Inuit peoples. Together, we will continue to work to hear truths, and to advance understanding, opportunity, and healing for all. All Manitobans deserve to live in a healthy, just and prosperous province that provides opportunities to learn, to experience beauty and joy, and to support a family. Fortunately, we have no shortage of Manitobans working to bring that about, through family and volunteer commitments and dedication to their chosen field. We are also blessed to have in our midst Manitobans who have dedicated their great talents, their hard-earned knowledge and their precious time to enrich our province, culturally, socially and economically. The Order of Manitoba, as our province’s highest honour, recognizes outstanding individuals both for their achievements in their own field and for the many ways they have enhanced life in Manitoba, through leadership, philanthropy and community service. Members of the Order of Manitoba demonstrate that there are countless ways of using one’s skills, imagination and energy to create a better province. Some work for justice, human rights and multicultural understanding. Some improve our understanding of the causes and treatments of illness. Some strengthen the ability of Manitobans to understand and express themselves through the arts. Some build compassion and foster curiosity. Some create economic opportunities that support all these and more. Amid the great diversity of the contributions made by members of the Order of Manitoba, there’s one great unifying theme. Each of them, in their own area of endeavour or specialty, has seen a gap and worked to fill it. They’ve seen a public need that wasn’t being met. They’ve seen a mystery in need of solving. They’ve seen an opportunity to build something that did not exist – maybe not in Manitoba, maybe not in the whole world. And they’ve built it. To see something where there is nothing takes a special kind of imagination. It’s the kind of vision made famous by Michelangelo, who, according to legend, said the figure he sculpted was already in the block of marble – he just had to set it free. The achievements and the creative vision of these individuals have allowed them to inspire others to contribute to a better society. In so doing, they have multiplied their contributions past what their own time and talent could make possible. Each of them has encouraged, inspired and even challenged their fellow Manitobans to do what they can to enhance life in our province and beyond. It is a privilege and an honour to welcome today’s honorees to the Order of Manitoba. To each of you, congratulations on this recognition of your contributions and your leadership.   Thank you. Merci. Meegwich.  

July 13, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba CANADIAN MILITARY INTELLIGENCE ASSOCIATION PLAQUE RECOGNIZING MANITOBAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SPECIAL OPERATIONS EXECUTIVE Manitoba Legislative Building Thursday, July 13, 2023, 1:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)     Fellow Manitobans – it is a privilege to join you today in paying tribute to the contributions and sacrifices of Manitobans engaged in a secret struggle for freedom and human dignity. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I honour and acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty One land, and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. This beautiful and diverse province is also the ancestral and the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples. I also recognize that northern Manitoba includes lands that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Together, we will continue to work to hear truths, and to advance understanding, opportunity, and healing for all. Canadians have learned in recent decades to face the aspects of their country’s history that fall short of our vision of a just, fair and compassionate country. But that does not mean we no longer need to tell stories of bravery, innovation, dedication and sacrifice that show our fellow Canadians and fellow Manitobans at their very best. Paying tribute to such stories brings us together and creates a sense of common purpose in those who hear them. There surely is no group of Manitobans more deserving of a place in this Hall of Honour than those commemorated on this plaque created by the Winnipeg Chapter of the Canadian Military Intelligence Association. Like others who took part in the fight against fascism – whether in the sky over Europe, on the icy North Atlantic, in fields and forests and towns across Europe or anywhere else — the Manitobans honoured in this plaque risked all to end a genocidal tyranny. Those involved with the Special Operations Executive took on the most extreme challenges to do so. Secret flights over occupied Europe, secret missions in occupied countries, the uncertainty of clandestine operations that were often improvised gambles – these were some of the many difficulties they faced. The individuals memorialized here contributed in many ways. Some worked at the highest levels in planning and coordinating special operations. Others carried them out on the ground in constant danger. Many of them flew into enemy fire to insert agents or supply operations. And as we will see, many of them paid the ultimate price. Here, in this special place, consecrated to the principles of democracy, visitors will be able to learn about a group of Manitobans who played an essential part in the shadow war against tyranny. To the Canadian Military Intelligence Association and all of those who supported this project, thank you for keeping the light of history shining on this important story and these great Manitobans. May generations of visitors to this building find inspiration here. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich.  

July 10, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba WELCOME RECPETION, COUNCIL OF THE FEDERATION Legislative Building Monday, July 10, 2023 (please check against delivery)   Fellow Canadians, members of the Council of the Federation – welcome to the heart of Canada and to a gathering focused on issues close to many Canadians’ hearts. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I honour and acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty One land, and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. This beautiful and diverse province is also the ancestral and the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples. I also recognize that northern Manitoba includes lands that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Together, we will continue to work to hear truths, and to advance understanding, opportunity, and healing for all. As Canada’s premiers, you lead governments that have a direct impact on the lives of every Canadian – through health care, education, economic development, infrastructure and countless other responsibilities. Each of you has taken on a great commitment – to listen, to lead, to persuade, to envision new possibilities, to respond to new challenges. And to do all of this in the spotlight. Our form of government and our way of life would not be possible without the willingness of individuals to take on such responsibilities. In our interconnected world, the issues you must deal with are too great for any one province or territory. And indeed many of them across national borders as well. So gatherings such as this play an essential role in providing innovative and responsive government from coast to coast to coast. Canadians care deeply about the issues that you will be discussing during the coming days. They are proud of our health-care system and concerned about its future. Canadians cherish the vision of Canada as a place of opportunity, a place where a good life is within reach for all. And so the issues of health care, affordability and economic growth are central to the hopes and dreams of all the people you serve. Here in Manitoba, we like to call ourselves the heart of Canada, in part because of our geography. The East-West centre of Canada is just a little east of Winnipeg, and our port of Churchill gives us a direct connection to Nunavut. But we also like to think of the heart symbolically – to represent caring and compassion – Canadian virtues that Manitobans hold dear. I wish you a productive and successful meeting. And I hope that keeping in mind the lives of the Canadians you serve inspires you to innovation, co-operation and continued dedication to the challenges of leadership. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich.

June 29, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba JEWISH CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES NEWCOMER SENIORS PROGRAM Thursday, June 29, 2023, 10:00 a.m. (please check against delivery)       Friends, Manitobans – it is a privilege to join you to celebrate Canada Day and the learning you have accomplished through Jewish Child and Family Services. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I honour and acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty One land, and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. This beautiful and diverse province is also the ancestral and the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples. I also recognize that northern Manitoba includes lands that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Together, we will continue to work to hear truths, and to advance understanding, opportunity, and healing for all. With Canada Day approaching, I cannot think of a better way to mark the occasion than to join a group of newcomers in this community who have been learning about this country, its people and its history. On Saturday, across Canada, people of all ages and all backgrounds will come together to celebrate and to commit to maintaining and building a nation that realizes its potential to be a welcoming, just, peaceful and healthy home. At those gatherings, new Canadians will be among the most enthusiastic. And at those celebrations, Canadians will think of how people of different cultures and languages have built the country we live in today. That celebration of diversity has deep roots here in Manitoba.  This is where the first waves of non-English and non-French speaking newcomers found homes in the 19th century.  Among the first to come were large groups of Ukrainians, German-speaking Mennonites and Icelanders. By the early years of the 20th century, Manitoba became home to many more newcomer communities from southern and eastern Europe – communities that included my grandparents, who came here to seek opportunity for their families and escape a climate of murderous antisemitism. And over the past century, new waves of immigration have brought people from every continent to our province and country. I thought of my grandparents last fall, when I was installed as Manitoba’s 26th Lieutenant Governor in a ceremony at the Manitoba Legislative Building. Could they ever have imagined that their grand-daughter would someday represent the King of Canada? And how would I explain what that means? The role of Lieutenant Governor has two key aspects: a constitutional role and a ceremonial and celebratory role. The constitutional role of the Lieutenant Governor is to ensure that the democratic will of Manitobans is respected and that Manitoba always has a duly constituted government. After an election, the Lieutenant Governor invites the leader of the party that has won the most seats in the Legislature to form a government. The Lieutenant Governor summons the Legislative Assembly to meet and reads the Throne Speech, which lays out the government’s goals for the upcoming session. Decisions made by the cabinet of the government must be signed by the Lieutenant Governor to become the law. The ceremonial function includes meeting Manitobans at events like this and representing Manitoba in giving out honours for exemplary public service, volunteer service and accomplishments in all walks of life. An essential aspect of the position is that the Lieutenant Governor represents the Sovereign but does not wield power. The Lieutenant Governor – like the Governor General – is a unifying figure who is not involved in the debates and political campaigns of the day. This separation of political power from symbolic authority means that in Canada, the symbolism of the nation and the country’s identity is not the property of any one political party or movement. As the representative of the Sovereign, the Lieutenant Governor is Manitoba’s connection to nearly 1,000 years of the evolution of representative democracy, rights and liberties. Personally, that was something I experienced directly when I had the privilege to meet King Charles this spring just before his coronation. It was an inspiring and – I have to confess – surreal moment for me. But it gave me powerful understanding of many centuries of the growth of democracy and human rights that have created the Canada of today. And now I congratulate you on joining in this journey and thank you for adding new stories, ideas, traditions and experiences to the story of Canada. Thank you. Happy Canada Day. Merci. Meegwich.

June 28, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba  UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF THE NORTH CONVOCATION Thompson Wednesday, June 28, 2023, 1:00 p.m. (please check against delivery) Fellow Manitobans, welcome to this celebration of learning and service. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I honour and acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty Five land and that this beautiful and diverse province is the ancestral and the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene peoples and the Red River Metis. I also recognize that northern Manitoba includes lands that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Together, we will continue to work to hear truths, and to advance understanding, opportunity, and healing for all. Building a better, healthier, more just society is a collective responsibility. It is a task requiring commitment from all levels of government and public and private institutions of all size. It also involves countless individual commitments. None of those commitments is more significant than the commitment to a life of learning. Today, we are celebrating the achievements of graduates of the University College of the North’s diverse programs. We are celebrating graduates who have developed essential knowledge for careers in health care, education, business and government settings. And we are celebrating graduates who have earned university degrees and high school diplomas through UCN. This ceremony is the culmination of an important stage of learning for each of today’s graduates, who have dedicated their time and energy to grasping new concepts, practising new skills, working solo and in groups to attain this achievement. I know for many, this has been a time of balancing demands on their time – commitments to family and community that don’t take a break when a project is due or an exam is coming up. Education confers many benefits on the individual – new opportunities, growing confidence, new interests and new understanding of the world. Education also brings the opportunity for sharing those benefits – on the job, through volunteer service, with family and friends. The light of learning that shines on your path can illuminate the way for others. And if you dedicate yourselves to keeping alive the curiosity that UCN and your instructors have nurtured, you’ll find the light of others will brighten the way for you. Congratulations on this recognition of all you’ve learned to this stage. And in your future learning journeys, travel well and travel with eyes, ears and hearts open and minds. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Congratulations to all the graduates & their families!  

June 26, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba CITIZENSHIP CEREMONY Government House Monday, June 26, 2023, 2:00 p.m. (please check against delivery) Fellow Canadians – new and old – welcome to Government House and this celebration of citizenship. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I honour and acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty One land, and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. This beautiful and diverse province is also the ancestral and the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples. I also recognize that northern Manitoba includes lands that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Together, we will continue to work to hear truths, and to advance understanding, opportunity, and healing for all. Today, you have formally joined in the great family of Canadians, united by our laws and our constitution and the responsibilities of citizenship. The country you join as citizens today, Canada, is ever evolving, ever changing, as living things must. That healthy change and evolution is represented by the oath of citizenship itself, which, since 2021 has affirmed that the Aboriginal and treaty rights of First Nations, Metis and Inuit people are part of the laws and constitution of this country. The nation you are joining is continually re-examining itself, continually growing. Each and every one of you are an important part of that growth. You and millions of other new Canadians bring dynamism, creativity and optimism to our country and especially here to Manitoba. Each of you has your own story of what led to this special day. Some of you may have come to Canada first to study or to take up a specific job offer. Others may have arrived here in search of freedom and safety from hardship, persecution of war. Still others may have been drawn to Canada by family connections. Whatever your own journey has been, I hope you have found friendship and encouragement from the people who now are your fellow Canadians. Your presence here strengthens and enriches the country we love. In your life as involved, active citizens you will have the opportunity to shape Canada’s future in exciting new ways. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba – and as somebody who grew up hearing stories of migration, challenges and citizenship from my own grandparents – I am honoured and delighted to welcome you to Canadian citizenship. I hope your journey to Canada will bring you prosperity, community and peace. Congratulations. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich.  

June 23, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba MANITOBA HIGH SCHOOLS ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARDS Government House Friday, June 23, 2023, noon (please check against delivery) Friends, Manitobans – welcome to Government House and this celebration of learning with the mind, body and spirit. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I honour and acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty One land, and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. This beautiful and diverse province is also the ancestral and the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples. I also recognize that northern Manitoba includes lands that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Together, we will continue to work to hear truths, and to advance understanding, opportunity, and healing for all. All of our hopes for a better future, for a world that meets the challenges to come and that advances prosperity, justice, health and understanding depend on the passion of young people to learn and work together. The future will require teamwork, determination and a willingness to learn from mistakes. Those are precisely the characteristics that sports can teach. That is why high school athletics have long been considered an important addition to the learning experiences of the classroom, lab and library. The annual Manitoba Credit Unions Scholar Athlete Awards recognize the many ways that the lessons learned in formal education can be enhanced by those learned on hardwood, ice and turf. The best classroom teachers inspire students to analyze their work to see why they aren’t getting the right answer. They encourage students to use their creativity and ask “what if?” They motivate students to put in the time to master challenging skills. And the best coaches – often teachers themselves – do the same things. Today’s awards recognize students who have excelled in both of these overlapping kinds of learning. To be eligible for these awards a student must maintain a minimum of an 85 per cent academic average while participating in at least two sports, and many of them to a great deal more than that – with school leadership and volunteer commitments added to the mix. Over the years, going back to my time as a school board trustee, it has been my pleasure and privilege to meet many talented Manitoba students, to feel their passion to learn and witness the pride on the faces of their families. Days like today always fill observers with hope and optimism for a new generation. To each of today’s award recipients: congratulations on this achievement and may you continue to put your minds and bodies, your curiosity and your energy into discovering new skills, ideas and experiences. Thank you. Merci… Meegwich

June 21, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba PRAYER BREAKFAST, NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY Manitoba Legislative Building Wednesday, June 21, 2023 (please check against delivery) Fellow Manitobans, it is a pleasure to join you on the morning of National Indigenous Peoples Day. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I honour and acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty One land, and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. This beautiful and diverse province is also the ancestral and the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples. I also recognize that northern Manitoba includes lands that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Together, we will continue to work to hear truths, and to advance understanding, opportunity, and healing for all. The goal of reconciliation takes many steps – educational, legal, economic – and involves actions in classrooms, courtrooms, legislatures, council chambers and throughout society. But it also involves celebration and song, dance and dialogue. On National Indigenous Peoples Day, we come together to experience the diversity and depth of Indigenous cultures. And we see how gathering for this purpose lifts the spirit and opens the heart. This breakfast brings together men and women from a variety of faith traditions. Some will express prayers seeking divine inspiration and compassion as we work for a better province, country and world. Others will find their inspiration in the compassion of those around them and the shared humanity that we all have in common. All are engaged in the work of finding common ground and building a society that values the lives and experiences of all its members. This work builds on the Sacred Assembly chaired nearly 30 years ago by Elijah Harper. In that four-day gathering, elders and church representatives, chiefs and politicians, listened, learned, and sought answers. Learning, listening and seeking are as essential to our social progress and development today as they were then. On this special day, let us all commit to learn from this gathering, from the ceremonies and from the celebrations to come later today and from all of our interactions with our fellow human beings. Thank you. Merci. Meegiwch.

June 20, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba UNIVERSITY OF WINNIPEG CONVOCATION Duckworth Centre, University of Winnipeg Tuesday, June 20, 2023, 9:30 A.M. (please check against delivery) Fellow Manitobans, welcome to this celebration of learning and service. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I honour and acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty One land, and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. This beautiful and diverse province is also the ancestral and the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples. I also recognize that northern Manitoba includes lands that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Together, we will continue to work to hear truths, and to advance understanding, opportunity, and healing for all. For 122 years, this institution has brought the spirit of inquiry to the heart of this city. The growth of the University of Winnipeg has brought life and excitement to its neighbourhood as this university has evolved to meet the needs of its community, and no doubt, the U of W will continue to play a key role in the exciting partnerships and plans to make downtown Winnipeg a better and more equitable place. For generations, the beautiful Wesley Hall has stood as a symbol of learning and of an institution dedicated to the blossoming of light and truth. But it’s not buildings that make a university. It’s the passion, curiosity and discipline of the people those buildings house – the students, faculty and staff. Today we are celebrating members of the graduating class who have dedicated years of their lives to grappling with challenging concepts, asking questions, searching for answers, and testing those answers. We are celebrating graduates whose pursuit of knowledge has been motivated by a desire to help others – to help them learn, to help them heal, to help them understand their families and their lives. In an earlier stage of my career, I was privileged to serve on the board of the Winnipeg School Division, where I had the honour of meeting many women and men who had dedicated their careers to helping children on their own learning journey. I know that’s the career path many of you are setting out on. But I am sure all of you, whatever your ultimate career destination, will find opportunities to share your understanding and the benefits of your experience with others. In so doing, you will share the benefits conferred by this university and the great teachers and scholars you’ve encountered. The light that shines on your path through life will illuminate the way for others, and if if you dedicate yourselves to keeping alive the curiosity that this university and your professors have nurtured, you’ll find the light of others will brighten the way for you. Congratulations on this recognition of all you’ve learned to this stage, and in your future learning journeys, travel well and travel with eyes, ears and hearts open. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich.  

June 8, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba  BBYO GALA Glendale Country Club Thursday, June 8, 2023 (please check delivery) Fellow Manitobans, thank you for the opportunity to join in this celebration of youth, culture and community. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I honour and acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty One land, and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. This beautiful and diverse province is also the ancestral and the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples. I also recognize that northern Manitoba includes lands that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Together, we will continue to work to hear truths, and to advance understanding, opportunity, and healing for all. Any effort to build a better province, country or world has to involve the people who are going to live in that world the longest. That means giving young people the opportunity to develop awareness, confidence and leadership skills is vital to the future health of society. And so organizations like BBYO – which give youth the chance to organize events and give back to their community – have an impact that reaches far beyond their membership. The skills learned and the friendships made and the ideas encountered through BBYO activities and programming will prepare participants for challenges and opportunities throughout their lives. What’s really special about BBYO is that it allows teens to explore and celebrate Jewish culture, traditions and values and places them in touch with Jews worldwide as they bring ideas to life. Whether you are travelling abroad on a leadership learning experience or sharing Shabbat with your friends from BBYO – your involvement gives you the opportunity to see what thousands of years of Jewish heritage and teaching mean in your life. Your dedication to community service – whether you’re raising money to make children’s dreams come true or working to meet the needs of homeless Winnipeggers – shows that you’re following in a long Jewish tradition of working for justice, dignity and compassion for those in need. The opportunities you have enjoyed through BBYO would not be possible without the support of mentors, funders and sponsors – including alumni of this program. To all who have made this inaugural gala possible and who have nurtured this organization and its members, congratulations on another year of creating memories and learning experiences, and thank you for your dedication to youth, the Jewish community and Manitoba. Merci… Meegwich.

June 7, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba RECEPTION FOR THE RIGHT HONOURABLE MARY SIMON Government House Wednesday, June 7, 2023 (please check delivery) Your Excellencies, fellow Manitobans, welcome to Government House. It is a privilege to welcome Canada’s first Indigenous Governor General, the Right Honourable Mary Simon, to this historic residence in the heart of Treaty One territory and the homeland of the Red River Metis. Your Excellency, welcome to the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Red River Metis, Dakota, Dene and Inuit peoples – and to Canada’s Keystone Province. Together, we are working to hear truths, and to advance understanding, opportunity and healing for all. Manitoba has had a long history of connecting peoples and cultures – in our role as Canada’s traditional east-west crossroads, in the Indigenous, Francophone and Anglophone relationships of our 18th and 19th century roots, and in the connection to Nunavut made possible by the prairies’ only seaport. From the late 19th century to the present day, that tradition of bringing cultures together has grown as peoples from around the world have made a home in Manitoba. It’s an exciting time for a visit. In Manitoba today you can see the work of reconciliation carried on throughout our province, in partnerships for new cultural, educational and economic development initiatives led by Indigenous organizations all across the province. You are also visiting at a time when Manitoba is providing a safe haven for thousands of Ukrainians who have fled war and bombardment in their home nation. This is not the first time a conflict abroad has brought people to our province. We like to say that we are the province that helped establish the Canadian vision of diversity and multiculturalism. Like other Canadians, Manitobans are especially focused on creating opportunities for young people. We need to ensure that they have the educational, cultural and economic opportunities to live healthy, satisfying lives, and we also need to ensure that the planet they live in is healthy and sustainable. And so, Manitobans are proud that their province is a centre of research and advocacy for protection of our water and climate – including, of course the climate of the north. As we enter a period of commemorations – National Indigenous Peoples Day, Canada Day, Manitoba Day – those themes of uniting peoples and finding common ground provide us with reasons to come together and celebrate.  In cities and towns, rural areas and first nations, Manitobans are learning from the past and working for a better future. O we are pleased to greet you, on your first official visit, and take inspiration and pride and from your life of accomplishments and dedication to public service. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich.

June 6, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba  MANITOBA PREMIERE OF PURPLE CITY Government House Tuesday, June 6, 2023 (please check against delivery) Fellow Manitobans, welcome to an evening of story-telling, imagination and sharing a special place. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I honour and acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty One land, and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. This beautiful and diverse province is also the ancestral and the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples. I also recognize that northern Manitoba includes lands that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Together, we will continue to work to hear truths, and to advance understanding, opportunity, and healing for all. I am delighted to welcome to this historic residence a group of artists who have dedicated their talents and creativity to reimagining one of the symbols of our province. Like other lifelong Winnipeggers, I’ve passed below the gaze of Manitoba’s most famous statue so many times that I sometimes have to consciously look up to notice the Golden Boy. And when I do, like you, I think about what he represented to the artists who made him and the first generation that saw him take his post atop the Legislative Building, and I think as well about what he might mean today. So I am looking forward to seeing how Michael Walker, Noam Gonick and their talented cast and crew – many of whom live in the shadow of the Golden Boy at Lincoln Towers apartments – have brought this statue to life. This Manitoba premiere of their film “Purple City” reminds us what the arts can do. Artists have the power to lend us their eyes or their ears so we can see or hear something as if for the first time. They can take us into the life of another person – even a person who weighs 1600 kilograms and is covered in gold leaf. Through film, music, dance, theatre, literature, painting, sculpture and more, Manitoba’s artists inspire, entertain, educate and challenge us. They invite us to shake off the cobwebs and experience the world anew. For 50 years, the Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art has been doing just that by exhibiting art, nurturing artists, and acting as an incubator of new creation in a wide range of media. I cannot think of a better way of celebrating that anniversary than this Manitoba premiere of a film combining multiple voices, music, dance, animation … and the Golden Boy. As Manitobans, we can be proud of the artistic excellence and creativity that have deep roots in our prairie soil, and tonight we’ll get to see how a group of Manitoban filmmakers thrilled audiences this spring at the International Festival of Films on Art. Enjoy your trip to Purple City. May it make your imagination soar. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich.

June 6, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY AT MARYMOUND Marymound, 442 Scotia Street Tuesday, June 6, 2023, 1 p.m. (please check against delivery) Fellow Manitobans, thank you for the opportunity to join you at this celebration of culture, community and caring. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I honour and acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty One land, and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. This beautiful and diverse province is also the ancestral and the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples. I also recognize that northern Manitoba includes lands that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Together, we will continue to work to hear truths, and to advance understanding, opportunity, and healing for all. Building a better Manitoba – and a better world – is a big job and it’s one that takes a long-term commitment by us all. It takes dedicated people, like the staff and volunteers and friends of Marymound. It takes families and communities who look out for one another and celebrate one another. Young people, like those involved in programs here at Marymound, are the reason for that dedication. For many of us, seeing young people learn and grow and experience the world with joy is a kind of medicine that goes straight to the heart. As we witness joy and discovery and self-expression today at this National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration we will all get a bit of that heart medicine. Today – and at National Indigenous Peoples Day events throughout this month – we will experience the power and diversity of Indigenous culture, music, dance, and wisdom. I hope the spirit of this celebration will inspire and strengthen us as we all work for a future of caring, sharing and understanding. Thank you, Merci, Meegwich

June 4, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba 35th ANNUAL PRIDE FESTIVAL PARADE AND RALLY Manitoba Legislative Building Sunday, June 4, 2023, 10 a.m. (please check against delivery) Friends and members of the pride community, what a pleasure to join you this morning. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, as we gather on the steps of the Manitoba Legislative Building, I honour and acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty One land, and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. This beautiful and diverse province is also the ancestral and the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples. I also recognize that northern Manitoba includes lands that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Together, we will continue to work to hear truths, and to advance understanding, opportunity, and healing for all. Since the first brave marchers took to the street in Winnipeg’s first pride parade in 1987, Pride Winnipeg has been building a more understanding and diverse province and helping to make this a place where we can all be ourselves and celebrate our unique gifts. It is a joy to look out at this gathering and see Manitobans of all ages and  all backgrounds sharing in that spirit. We all know that the pressure to conform can be suffocating – for young and for old. So many of us have at one time or another been afraid of what others would think – about our bodies and clothing, our voices and words, our true selves. The LGBTTQ* community, through events like Pride parades and rallies, has taught all of us to stand up to those fears. The LGBTTQ* community has taught us all to have the courage to be who we are. There will be plenty of dancing along the parade route today and afterwards during the entertainment at the Forks. So many people are afraid to dance – afraid that they don’t have the right moves or rhythm, afraid that somebody out there will be watching them like the mean judge on a dance competition TV show. Pride has taught us all that, in the words of Gertrude Stein, “You look ridiculous if you dance. You look ridiculous if you don’t dance. So you might as well dance.” At a time when some are trying to attack our freedoms to be ourselves by pulling books from libraries – among them books with LGBTTQ* themes – you can dance to celebrate the achievements of Pride or you can dance to defy those people who don’t want you to dance. But either way, you might as well dance. Thank you and happy pride – Merci, Meegwich.  

June 3, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba TREE PLANTING IN MEMORY OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II Argyle, MB Saturday, June 3, 2023 (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, it is my pleasure to join you in celebrating deep roots and new growth in the province we all love. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I honour and acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty One land, and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. This beautiful and diverse province is also the ancestral and the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples. I also recognize that northern Manitoba includes lands that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Together, we will continue to work to hear truths, and to advance understanding, opportunity, and healing for all. As we build a better Manitoba – a place of understanding and healing, sustainability and beauty – we need to build bridges between our past and our future. Community museums like this – and the people who nurture them – show us the importance of retaining our memory and our connection to history. Knowing where you’ve been is essential if you’re trying to guide your way forward. But we also need to look to the future and think of the needs and desires of those who will live here decades or generations from now.  Nothing symbolizes that better than a tree-planting. As a Manitoba homesteader named Nelson Henderson put it: “The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit.” These seven spruce trees are a fitting way to commemorate the seven-decade reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Their deep roots will symbolize Canada’s long relationship with the monarchy and the stability and continuity it provides our country. The evergreen boughs – providing shelter and shade to all throughout the year – will symbolize the spirit of public service that was always a central message of Her Majesty. And just as the prairie soil nurtures these trees, so Manitoba has given root to a culture of volunteer service and leadership, in Argyle and in villages, towns and cities across our province. May these trees be silent witnesses to many years of health, happiness, prosperity and community spirit. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich.

May 29, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba  GRAND CHAPTER OF MANITOBA CELEBRATE 100TH GRAND SESSION Canad Inns Polo Park Monday, May 29, 2023, 7:30 p.m. (please check against delivery) Friends and fellow Manitobans, welcome to this celebration of a century of community and generosity. It is my privilege to acknowledge that we are meeting in the heart of Treaty One land, in the capital of a province that is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Red River Metis, Dakota, Dene and Inuit peoples. We acknowledge northern Manitoba includes lands that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit. In this beautiful and diverse province we are striving to advance understanding, healing and reconciliation and work as partners for a better future. As Manitobans, we all know that volunteers play a vital role in supporting healthy, safe, vibrant communities. We sometimes point to Manitoba traditions – from fund-raising socials to filling sandbags in flood years – as nurturing a prairie tradition of coming together to pitch in. But another important source of volunteer spirit here and elsewhere, has been the movement of fraternal organizations like the Order of the Eastern Star. Around the world and across Manitoba, members of your organization come together for fellowship and friendship and to support the needs of your communities. Since 1922, The Order of the Eastern Star has been a partner in building a Manitoba that meets the needs of all its people. A look at the list of charitable organizations you’ve supported gives a sense of caring and dedication of generations of your members. The funds you’ve raised over the years have addressed the most fundamental needs of people right here in Manitoba – the need for food, for shelter and for care and treatment during illness. As somebody whose previous work included time on the Winnipeg School Board, one item on a long list jumps out at me – your support for children’s breakfast programs. A bowl of cereal and milk may not sound like a big deal, but for a child who may not have nutritious food at home, it can make all the difference in the world for their ability to learn. Every act of generosity has the potential to make a big difference for somebody, and that is no doubt true for the donations you are presenting tonight the Eastern Star Chalet and Manitoba’s Neonatal Intensive Care Units. Thank you for a century of caring and volunteer service to your community and your world. Merci… Meegwich.

May 25, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba RECEPTION FOR THE MANITOBA ASSOCIATION OF FORMER MLAS Government House Thursday, May 25, 2023, 5:00 p.m. (please check against delivery) Fellow Manitobans, it is a pleasure to share this afternoon with you in beautiful Government House. It is my privilege to acknowledge that we are gathered here on Treaty One land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. I acknowledge that the province we love, and that I represent as Lieutenant Governor, is the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Red River Metis peoples. We acknowledge northern Manitoba includes lands that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Together, we strive to advance understanding, healing and reconciliation and work as partners for a better future. It is an honour to welcome to this historic residence a group of men and women who have dedicated their considerable talents and experience to the challenges of leadership. Each of you knows what it means to represent your fellow Manitobans. You know the complex balancing acts. You know the competing demands and mixed messages so often expressed by voters. You know the pressure, you know the moments of tedium, and you know the occasional feeling of profound satisfaction in accomplishing a difficult and important task. And you know, as well, that a healthy democracy requires the interest and involvement of its people. At a time when well-funded conspiracy theories, emboldened domestic extremists and foreign cyber warriors seek to erode belief in democracy, it is more important than ever to speak out for free and fair elections and open government. It’s more important than ever to speak out for the value of public service in all its forms, including serving in elected office. And so I’m especially delighted that this association has taken on as its mission: “Promoting citizen engagement in the democratic process.” I know that many of you have been active in volunteer public service since your time as MLA’s and MP’s – providing leadership and advice to not-for-profit organizations, and others, that make our province a better place. We all know there is nothing more vital to our values and quality of life than strengthening our democracy. For all you do and for all you have done for democracy, for good governance and for community… thank you, Merci, Meegwich.

May 24, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba  TREATY ONE LAND RECLAMATION CEREMONY – NAAWI-OODENA 500 Block of Kenaston Boulevard Wednesday, May 24, 2023, 9:30 a.m. (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, it’s an honour to join you for this historic occasion at this key milestone on a long journey. It is my privilege to acknowledge that we are gathered here on Treaty One land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. I acknowledge that the province we love and that I represent as Lieutenant Governor is the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Red River Metis peoples. We acknowledge northern Manitoba includes lands that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Together, we strive to advance understanding, healing and reconciliation and work as partners for a better future. Nothing better represents what is meant by moving forward in partnership than this exciting project, and the return of this land to the seven Treaty One First Nations, and shows us a way to work toward healing the rifts of our troubled history. As a beautiful and diverse community development arises on this site, with learning and celebration spaces to bring the people of this city and province together, we believe that Naawi-Oodena will become a living embodiment of the spirit of reconciliation. The journey to this moment has taken many years, and a growing number of people have come together along the way – the leaders and the members of the seven Treaty One First Nations, the architects and planners who have developed such beautiful plans, the Canada Lands Company, representatives of all levels of government and neighbours of this exciting development. The vision of Naawi-Oodena – that of combining prosperity and partnership, identity and community, knowledge and learning, design and innovation and sustainability – offers us all a path forward for a better future. In the years ahead, we’ll watch a community grow on this land, and people will live and learn, work and play right here. To all those who have dreamed and worked to make this possible, congratulations. I look forward to watching your vision come to life. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich.

May 22, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba MANITO AHBEE VIP BRUNCH Assiniboia Downs, 3977 Portage Monday, May 22, 2023 (please check against delivery) Friends, fellow Manitobans and welcome guests, thank you for the opportunity to experience this wonderful festival and the thriving cultures it celebrates. It is my privilege to acknowledge that we are meeting in the heart of Treaty One land, in the capital of a province that is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Red River Metis, Dakota, Dene and Inuit peoples. We acknowledge northern Manitoba includes lands that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit. In this beautiful and diverse province we are striving to advance understanding, healing and reconciliation and work as partners for a better future. This festival, now in its 18th year, shines a light for all to see a way forward. In the growth of Manito Ahbee, and the creativity and excitement it fosters, we see how the diverse and living Indigenous cultures of Turtle Island enhance life in Manitoba. Manito Ahbee brings together the past, present and future like nothing else. At this festival, pageantry and sacred traditions with ancient roots meet with new forms of creativity, leadership and entrepreneurship. Combining youth leaders, fashion designers, powwow singers and dancers, artists, athletes and businesses all in one place showcases the cultural richness and diversity of Indigenous communities. Participants from across Turtle Island enrich this festival with their own traditions, styles and innovations. Kicking off Manitoba’s summer festival season like this certainly will ignite our spirit. The excitement of today’s Indian Horse Relay will no doubt bring crowds to their feet, and as fans cheer on their favourite horse and rider, we’ll be reminded that the cultural traditions and innovations of the Indigenous community give us all something to cheer about. To all those who make Manito Ahbee possible – staff and volunteers, performers and organizers, sponsors and donors – thank you for enriching the cultural panorama of this city, province and country. Thank you, merci, meegwich.

May 18, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba  LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR’S AWARD FOR HISTORICAL PRESERVATION AND PROMOTION Government House Thursday, May 18, 2023 (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, welcome to this celebration of history and the people who keep it alive. It is my privilege to acknowledge that we are gathered here on Treaty One land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. I acknowledge that the province we love and that I represent as Lieutenant Governor is the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Red River Metis peoples. We acknowledge northern Manitoba includes lands that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Together, we strive to advance understanding, healing and reconciliation and work as partners for a better future. In our efforts to build that society of understanding and partnership, nothing is more essential than preserving and promoting a rich awareness of our history. A phrase introduced into everyday use by action movies tells why the work you do is so important. You’ve probably heard variations on this yourself. A villain is eliminated and the good guy says “He’s history.” Or perhaps a villain makes a deadly threat: “You’re history.” The implication of course is that history is dead and gone. But nothing could be further from the truth. History is the living record of our attempts to understand the people and events of the past. It grows and changes like any living entity because there’s always something new to discover.  There is always some new perspective. Many of us grew up at a time when history focused almost exclusively on war and diplomacy, government and politics and focused almost entirely on a small number of male leaders. Later generations of historians brought new perspectives: social, cultural, technological. They invited new voices into the discussion of the ages. Today, when Manitobans think of their history, they think of a tapestry of many stories. They think of Indigenous people, Icelandic, Mennonite and settler communities.  They celebrate workers in the community who built the physical and social infrastructure of the society we live in today.  They think of the long struggles for human rights for all peoples. And that’s because of the dedication of people like today’s recipients of the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Historic Preservation and Promotion. Recipients of this award have dedicated themselves to finding and preserving artifacts and documents, building and sustaining museums, bringing stories from the past to life in the classroom, in various media and in live performances. Thanks to people like today’s recipients, the phrase “you’re history” should mean “you’re multi-faceted, evolving and fascinating.” Congratulations on this well-deserved award and thank you for making history in Manitoba. Thank you, Merci, Meegwich.

May 17, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba WINNIPEG POLICE SERVICE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDS My Church Winnipeg, 955 Wilkes Avenue Wednesday, May 17, 2023 (please check against delivery) Fellow Manitobans, I am delighted to join you for this celebration of public service. It is my privilege to acknowledge that we are gathered here on Treaty One land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. I acknowledge that the province we love and that I represent as Lieutenant Governor is the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Red River Metis peoples. We acknowledge northern Manitoba includes lands that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Together, we strive to advance understanding, healing and reconciliation and work as partners for a better future. As we envision the province and the nation we want to live in, most of us think of strong communities that are safe for all, where all members are treated with dignity, compassion and professionalism. That’s the kind of Canada, Manitoba and Winnipeg that I believe in, and it’s also part of the statement of values and beliefs of the Winnipeg Police Service. Bringing that to life, in the difficult environment faced by police, requires a strong personal commitment to excellence. It requires the kind of dedicated, long-term exemplary service that is being recognized today. Today’s award recipients have collectively served for hundreds of years – night and day, on holidays and weekends, during blizzards and storms. They have faced the unknown, run toward the danger, provided leadership and learning. And they have done so in times of continual change in their profession and in society at large. Today, we know more about the complex and interconnected social, historical, economic and even neurological factors at play in public safety and order, and we know that the technology of law breaking is continually evolving – from sophisticated cyber-crimes to increasingly dangerous and addictive drugs. These Exemplary Service Medals, a part of the Canada’s Honours system, recognize 20 years of professionalism, learning and courage amid these ever-changing challenges. To all of today’s award recipients, thank you for dedicating your careers to the safety of your community. This city and this province are better for your service to others. Merci… Meegwich.

May 16, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba  WINNIPEG PHILHARMONIC CHOIR 100th ANNIVERSARY RECEPTION Government House Tuesday, May 16, 2023, 5:30 p.m. (please check delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, welcome to Government House and this celebration of a memorable milestone season of music. It is my privilege to acknowledge that we are meeting in the heart of Treaty One land, in the capital of a province that is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Red River Metis, Dakota, Dene and Inuit peoples. We acknowledge northern Manitoba includes lands that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit. In this beautiful and diverse province, we are striving to advance understanding, healing and reconciliation and work as partners for a better future. For one hundred years, the Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir has brought beauty to this city and province and nurtured the talents of generations of Manitobans. I feel fortunate to have witnessed this centennial season recently during your April Gala. Now that you’ve caught your breath after the challenge of Rachmaninoff’s Vespers on Sunday, I hope you have the energy to celebrate a wonderful season and century. There’s a magic in the way a choir can become something so much more than the sum of its individual voices. I think of the talent and training of each choir member and the discipline each singer has put into learning and rehearsing a part, and then I think of how they all work together in service of something more beautiful than any one series of notes. If there’s a better metaphor for a healthy and vibrant society, I haven’t heard it. Creating a great city or province — a place of caring and beauty, a place of creativity and energy – requires countless individuals to play their part. The focus may be on the sopranos at one moment, or the tenors at another, but all voices are required to make a great piece of music come to life. Founding and sustaining an arts organization, like performing in a choir, requires a similar coming together of talents and discipline. To all who bring the music of the Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir to life, congratulations on a century of beauty. Thank you for enhancing this province and this city that we love. Merci… Meegwich.

May 6, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba  COMMUNITY SERVICE OF THANKSGIVING FOR THE CORONATION OF KING CHARLES III Cathedral Church of St. John the Evangelist, Winnipeg Saturday, May 6, 2023, 2 p.m. (please check against delivery) Fellow Manitobans, it is a pleasure to join you in celebration of this historic day. It is my privilege to acknowledge that we are gathered here on Treaty One land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. I acknowledge that the province we love, and that I represent as Lieutenant Governor, is the traditional and the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Red River Metis peoples. We acknowledge northern Manitoba includes lands that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Together, we strive to advance understanding, healing and reconciliation and work as partners for a better future. As Canadians, we have the good fortune to live in a nation that embraces an evolving identity while maintaining a connection to its history. The Canada we live in today is not the Canada we were born in – just as none of us are the people we were 50 years or 50 weeks ago. As individuals, we have learned new things, we have experienced joys and heartbreaks. We have changed and we have been changed. And so with our country. But while Canada is continually transforming – as all healthy, living entities must do – we also have symbols and that connect us to the Canada of last year and last century. As we gather at this beautiful place of worship, we celebrate continuity amid change, as represented by the coronation this morning of King Charles III. As the seventh Sovereign of Canada, King Charles has had a long relationship with Canada, strengthened by tours of our country for more than 50 years. His Majesty has been with us for celebrations – from the Manitoba Centennial of 1970 to the Canada 150 commemorations of 2017, and he has witnessed decades of Canada’s social, economic, cultural and constitutional evolution. It can be an extraordinary experience. I had my own special Royal encounter just last week, when I was privileged to have a Royal audience with King Charles at Buckingham Palace. As I have said before, it was in many ways a surreal experience. On the one hand, you’re meeting a fellow human being, somebody with a family, a job, interests and passions – like anybody else, and yet, not at all like anybody else, because you are also coming face-to-face with a thousand years of political, social and cultural change. He explained some of the history of the coronation ceremony to me which began in the year 973 with the coronation of King Edgar.  It certainly brought home to me the deep history of the monarchy.  This was an unusual and powerful moment for me. Today, we give thanks for our lives in a nation that advances to the future, equipped with awareness of its past and with institutions capable of responding to the shifting winds of time. With courage and compassion, with determination and imagination, we can make sure that the Canada that evolves throughout His Majesty’s reign is one we can all be proud of. Thank you, Merci, Meegwich.

May 5, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba  CELEBRATION TEA FOR THE CORONATION OF KING CHARLES III Government House Friday, May 5, 2023 (please check against delivery) Fellow Manitobans, thank you for joining me this afternoon on the eve of an historic event. I am delighted to welcome you to Government House, in the heart of Treaty One land and in the homeland of the Red River Metis. I acknowledge that the province we love and that I represent as Lieutenant Governor is the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Red River Metis peoples. We acknowledge northern Manitoba includes lands that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Together, we strive to advance understanding, healing and reconciliation and work as partners for a better future. We are meeting on the eve of a ceremony that most of us have either never experienced before, or can only dimly recall from childhood memories. The celebration tomorrow of the coronation of King Charles III will be much more than just a show of pageantry and glamour – though there will be enough of that to keep you glued to your television. For Canadians, it will be an opportunity to think of the role of the monarchy in our country and the evolution of Canada under the seven monarchs since Confederation. In Canada, the Monarch is a symbolic embodiment of the nation – one that is not part of the day-to-day debates and competition of political life. That is why our highest awards in Canada – for bravery, for public service, for artistic excellence – are bestowed by the Monarch’s representative, the Governor General. The monarchy in Canada serves as a living reminder of our past. And we need to know our history, because without knowing where we’ve been it’s very hard to know where we’re going. I’m sure that a number of you have come out in the past to watch Royal visits to Manitoba. Maybe you saw King Charles as a young man during the Royal visit at the time of Manitoba’s centennial in 1970. Or maybe during the 2014 visit, when His Majesty opened the Journey to Churchill exhibit at the Assiniboine Park Zoo. It can be an extraordinary experience. I had my own special Royal encounter just last week, when I was privileged to have a Royal audience with King Charles at Buckingham Palace. It was in many ways a surreal experience. On the one hand, you’re meeting a fellow human being, somebody with a family, a job, interests and passions – like anybody else and yet not at all like anybody else, because you are also coming face to face with a thousand years of political, social and cultural change. He explained some of the history of the coronation ceremony to me which began in the year 973 with the coronation of King Edgar.  It certainly brought home to me the deep history of the monarchy.  This was an unusual and powerful moment for me. I know that as Canadians you’ll celebrate the coronation of a king who has so often expressed his fondness for Canada. I took advantage of the opportunity to invite him to Manitoba again. I did this on behalf of all Manitobans, and I extended an invitation from the Treaty Commissioners and the Elders Council. As a lifelong Manitoban, who has watched the sun rise over  Lake Winnipeg for many years, I smile at the thought of one famous royal utterance: “Every time I come to Canada, a little more of Canada seeps into my bloodstream, and from there straight to my heart.” May tomorrow’s coronation inject a little more love of Canada and its history and traditions into all of our hearts. Thank you, Merci, Meegwich.

May 5, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba  ROTARY MODEL UNITED NATIONS OPENING CEREMONY Canadian Mennonite University Friday, May 5, 2023, 8:55 a.m. (please check against delivery) Students, educators, and delegates to the 65th Rotary Club of Winnipeg Model United Nations, I am delighted to join you this morning. As you gather here from four provinces and two states, it is my privilege to acknowledge that we are meeting on Treaty One land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. I acknowledge that the province that I represent as Lieutenant Governor is the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Red River Metis peoples. We acknowledge northern Manitoba includes lands that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Together, we strive to advance understanding, healing and reconciliation and work as partners for a better future. For 65 years, this Model United Nations General Assembly has provided young people with an opportunity to practice understanding and building partnerships. At this gathering, delegates have debated responses to the challenges of the last few generations – arms control, protection of human rights, protection of our air and water, and much more. As delegates to this assembly, each of you will have the opportunity to build skills in research and analysis of complex issues. You will develop your talents for organizing your thoughts and speaking in public. And of course, like delegates since the 1950s, one of the best things about a gathering like this is that you will make new friends from across town, across the country, and across the 49th parallel. Knowing the great value of all aspects of the gathering, I’m delighted that you are once again able to meet in person for these discussions and debates. In my previous career, I worked in education, both in the public school system and in adult career education. I know that learning by doing is one of the most effective kinds of education. This weekend will be a remembrance you will carry with you for life, and it would not be possible without the teachers and the Rotary volunteers who make this possible. To all who work to bring young people together in this special event, thank you for your dedication to youth and to the future. May this be a weekend of discovery and excitement for you all. Thank you, Merci, Meegwich.  

May 2, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba  RECEPTION FOR NEW KING’S COUNSEL Government House Tuesday, May 2, 2023 (please check against delivery) Fellow Manitobans, it is a pleasure to welcome you to Government House for this recognition of professional achievement and community service. It is my privilege to acknowledge that we are meeting on Treaty One land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. I acknowledge that the province we love, and that I represent as Lieutenant Governor, is the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Red River Metis peoples. We acknowledge northern Manitoba includes lands that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Together, we strive to advance understanding, healing and reconciliation and work as partners for a better future. As Manitobans, we share many common goals and values. We want to build a place of health and safety, fairness and opportunity, equality and diversity. But there will soon be a million and a half of us, and while we may share many goals and values, we each tend to define them and rank them in our own way. Only through a system of laws can we hope to find a way of reconciling all those individual visions and interests. And with the inevitable, increasing complexity created as knowledge expands, technology develops and population grows, that system of laws requires dedicated guides who can help us through the legal thickets. Each of the Manitoba lawyers being recognized today as King’s Counsel has shown long-term dedication to the practice of law. These 17 lawyers have worked with their clients in all aspects of law – administrative and corporate, family, criminal, Indigenous, immigration and insurance, and virtually every other field. In addition, they have served the legal profession, they have worked in legal education and they have worked to ensure that Canadians have access to the law. Beyond that, they have volunteered their very valuable time and expertise with a wide variety of not-for-profit organizations. In a few days we will celebrate the coronation of King Charles, who has spoken of the value of public service throughout his life. This first celebration of Manitoba King’s Counsel is a fitting way to mark this milestone. Congratulations to all of Manitoba’s new King’s Counsels on this recognition of careers of excellence and integrity. Thank you for your service to the law and to Manitobans. Merci, Meegwich.  

April 22, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba  A & O SUPPORT SERVICES VOLUNTEER VIRTUAL RECEPTION Video Remarks Saturday, April 22, 2023, 12:30 p.m. (please check against delivery) Fellow Manitobans, I am delighted to join you virtually for this celebration of community and caring. I would like to acknowledge that we are gathered in the heart of Treaty One land, home of the Anishinaabe and Red River Metis, and in the capital of a province that is home to the Cree, Dakota, Dene and Inuit people. I acknowledge northern Manitoba includes lands that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Here and throughout Manitoba, we are working to advance understanding, healing and reconciliation and build a better home for all. A great city, or a great province or nation, is not selectively concerned with the safety, health and quality of life of its people. Rather, a great city is one that works to meet the needs of all of its people. For more than 65 years, A & O Support Services and its volunteers, supporters and staff have been working to make sure that age does not present a barrier to a safe, secure and socially satisfying life. A & O’s commitment to its Three Pillars of counselling, safety and security and social engagement would not be possible without the time, expertise and empathy of its volunteers. The thousands of hours volunteers dedicate to your programs provide older adults in this city with emotional, social and material support that supports healthy, independent living. Whether your service is in person on online, whether you’re delivering information or food or gifts, whether you’re raising funds for A & O or the spirits of older adults, you are helping to make our city and province the fair, equitable and compassionate place we dream of. Your service during the challenges of the pandemic is especially valuable. These last few years and the isolation they brought were difficult for many of the people you serve. For some, the spark of hope and joy that you brought may have made all the difference in the world. I hope that spark brightens your days and warms your hearts for many years to come. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich.

April 20, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba  RECEPTION FOR NEEDS INC. Government House Thursday, April 20, 2023 (please check against delivery) Fellow Manitobans, it is a pleasure to welcome you to Government House and this celebration of a great organization and its people. It is my privilege to acknowledge that we are meeting on Treaty One land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis. I acknowledge that the province we love, and that I represent as Lieutenant Governor, is the present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Red River Metis peoples. We acknowledge northern Manitoba includes lands that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Together, we all strive to advance understanding, healing and reconciliation and work as partners for a better future. For generations, Canadians have believed that education is the key to a better future for everyone, and more recently, we have realized supporting education means helping students prepare to learn and helping them bridge their classroom experience with their lives in the wider world. Years ago, I had a window into observing the importance of a holistic and broad-minded approach to learning in my work on the Winnipeg School Board and in career education and training. Students come to the classroom with their own unique gifts and needs, experiences and dreams. We need to make sure each student is valued and encouraged to discover and to succeed. For students new to Canada, including those arriving as refugees, adapting to new languages, new cultures and new environments can by bewildering or isolating. That is why I’m so pleased to welcome the staff and supporters of Needs to Government House today. This is an organization born out of one immigrant woman’s challenges – and achievements – in adapting to a new country. An organization that grew into an agency that last year served 4,600 clients. What an inspiring made-in-Manitoba success story. As the grand-daughter of members of an earlier wave of Canadian immigration, I know that newcomers bring with them faith and hope for the future and a dedication to their children and their community, but I also know that the challenges of adapting to a new land are many. Your work – whether in helping children get ready for school, offering support in schools, or preparing young people to earn work experience – helps families across our city to achieve their dreams and benefit from all of the opportunities our country has to offer. By helping newcomers to Canada on their learning journey, you help Canada to become the welcoming, equitable and caring place we all dream it can be. Thank you for making our city, province and country better. Merci…Meegwich.

April 18, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba  HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY Legislative Building Tuesday, April 18, 2023, 12:00 pm (please check against delivery) Fellow Manitobans, I join you here today on a day of remembrance and defiance. I would like to acknowledge that we are gathered in the heart of Treaty 1 land, in the capital of a province that is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Red River Metis, Dakota, Dene and Inuit peoples. We acknowledge northern Manitoba includes lands that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Together, the people of this diverse and beautiful province are working to move forward in partnership to build a society of understanding, opportunity and healing. Today, we have come to keep the light of memory bright and to let it light our way forward. On Yom Hashoah – Holocaust Memorial Day – we rededicate ourselves to preserving knowledge of an attempt to erase memory itself. We commit ourselves to returning and acknowledging names and faces to six million Jews who had, in the minds of their murderers, been reduced to numbers. As we heard earlier, “unto every person there is a name”. On this day – and on every day – we repeat the often-cited words “never again.”  In doing so, we also acknowledge the present day atrocities around us as we strive for a world where all people can live in peace. As the Holocaust passes, with each year, beyond first-hand knowledge and experience, we reaffirm our commitment to keep its lessons alive. As Canadians and as residents of a province that is home to the Canadian Museum of Human Rights, we look to the Canadian contribution to drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. In that document, a world slowly rebuilding from the horrors of genocide and war created a framework for a better future. As Canadians, we also must remind ourselves that in our own country the policy in the 1930s for admitting Jewish refugees from the horror of Nazism was the shameful “none is too many.” At a time when online extremism has emboldened anti-semites and racists of all description, we need to remember and to act on those lessons. Whether we are standing firm as a nation against genocidal campaigns abroad or speaking up to counter the new language used – sometimes in our own cities and towns – for the vilest ancient lies, we work to build a united front against an evil that is both historic and contemporary. To the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg, who organized this ceremony, and to all who help to build that alliance of compassion and courage… thank you… and thank you all for being part of this day, and allowing me to be part of this day. Merci… Meegwich.

April 18, 2023

Video Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba JEWISH HERITAGE MONTH Video Greetings Tuesday, April 18, 2023 From the heart of Canada – Winnipeg, Manitoba, in Treaty One territory – I’d like to join you all in celebrating Jewish Heritage Month. In my home province, the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Red River Metis, Dakota, Dene and Inuit peoples, we are working to move forward in partnership to build a society of understanding, opportunity and healing. During Jewish Heritage Month my thoughts are drawn back to my family’s story. I think of my mother’s parents, who fled Bessarabia to escape a climate of murderous antisemitism – with my mother being born en route to a better life in Canada. I think of the difficult life they and my father’s grandparents had as new arrivals in a city and a country that wasn’t fully convinced of the benefits of immigration – especially not by the likes of them, and I think of the community they and other Jewish immigrants built. They built synagogues and schools. They built businesses and charitable organizations. They and their children and grandchildren created works of art, fought illness and intolerance, advanced the boundaries of knowledge and fostered prosperity that transformed Canada for the better – for their community and for all communities. This month, we join with the League for Human Rights of B’nai Brith Canada in paying tribute to the many Jewish contributions to our country and our world. As the first Jewish Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, and as the grand-daughter Jewish immigrants who travelled to Canada in search of human rights and human dignity, I invite you all to celebrate Jewish Heritage Month in Canada. Thank you, Merci, Meegwich.

April 1, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba WINNIPEG PHILHARMONIC CHOIR GALA Centennial Concert Hall Saturday, April 1, 2023, 7:30 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, I am delighted for the opportunity to join you at this celebration of music. I would like first to acknowledge that we are gathered in the capital of a province that is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Red River Metis, Dakota, Dene and Inuit peoples. We acknowledge northern Manitoba includes lands that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Together, the people of this diverse and beautiful province are working to move forward in harmony to build a society of understanding, opportunity and healing. Harmony will certainly be in the air at tonight’s musical gala, as we applaud a century of voices lifted in song and together creating beautiful sounds. Through generations of war and peace, privation and prosperity, social and cultural changes, the likes of which the founders of this choir could not have imagined, the Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir has allowed music lovers to experience the power and range of the human voice. Celebrating this centennial season with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra highlights the close relationship between these two essential, foundational arts organizations. Given the many ties between these two musical mainstays of Manitoba, it is fitting that this is also a year of celebration for the WSO. Seventy-five years as one of Canada’s most innovative and renowned orchestras is also an impressive milestone. The talented performers who will take us on tonight’s musical journey have brought joy to audiences across Manitoba and around the world. They give all Winnipeggers and all Manitobans something to cheer and a reason to cry “encore!” in anticipation of the next century of the Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir. To all those who create and support these musical institutions, thank you and congratulations on this milestone season. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich.

March 28, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba ROYAL MANITOBA WINTER FAIR OPENING CEREMONY Keystone Centre, Brandon Tuesday, March 28, 2023, 6:30 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, I am delighted for the opportunity to visit beautiful Brandon and share in this wonderful tradition. I would like to acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty Two land, home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota and Red River Metis people, a beautiful part of a province that is also home to the Dene and Inuit people. We acknowledge northern Manitoba includes lands that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Here and throughout Manitoba, we are working to advance understanding, healing and reconciliation and build a better home for all. As one of Manitoba’s largest industries, agriculture has been fueling Manitobans’ efforts to build a better future for generations, and for nearly 120 years, the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair has supported that effort by bringing people together, celebrating achievements and fostering innovation. Of course, this fair has always had another mission: building community, spreading joy and celebrating the arrival of spring. Tonight, you’ve come to see the beauty and skill of horses and riders, the energy and showmanship of canine all-stars, and the majesty of birds of prey, but it is also the opportunity to greet old and new friends and feel the warmth and excitement of a great community that draws 120,000 people to this fair. As Honorary Patron of the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba, I would like to thank all of the volunteers, sponsors, exhibitors, performers and staff who make this possible, and all those whose enthusiastic presence makes this such a highlight. Your work and support, and this fair’s importance to Manitoba, are the reason it is one of only two fairs in Canada to have the Royal designation. Enjoy tonight’s show and everything the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair has to offer. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich.

March 28, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba ROYAL MANITOBA WINTER FAIR VIP DINNER Keystone Centre, Brandon Tuesday, March 28, 2023, 5 p.m. (please check against delivery) Fellow Manitobans, I am delighted for the opportunity to visit beautiful Brandon and share in this wonderful tradition. I would like to acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty 2 land, in a province that is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Red River Metis, Dakota, Dene and Inuit people. We acknowledge northern Manitoba includes lands that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Together, the people of this diverse and beautiful province are working to move forward in partnership to build a society of understanding, opportunity and healing. Manitobans work together to build many great enterprises, institutions and events that bring people together. As Honorary Patron of the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba, it is my privilege and pleasure this afternoon to meet the people who make the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair possible. For nearly 120 years, this fair has celebrated and encouraged innovation in agriculture, while building community, spreading joy and heralding the arrival of spring. A fair like this does not just happen. You don’t draw 120,000 visitors without volunteers, sponsors and staff working hard to build a great event. You don’t put on a world-class equestrian and livestock show, agricultural displays and a week of family entertainment without a lot of work from the first planning meeting to the last clean-up. I am sure you’ve all heard that line from the movie Field of Dreams: “If you build it, they will come.” I think you will agree a more accurate version would be: “If you build it, if you nurture a love for it, if you grow it through new facilities and new features, if you ensure that it delights young and old – then they will come.” The designation Royal Manitoba Winter Fair recognizes this celebration’s central role to an industry with deep roots that reach into virtually every community in our province. Every person who works to keep this tradition alive and thriving can take pride in that distinction – and the fact that only one other fair in Canada received this designation from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. Congratulations on what is sure to be a great 2023 Royal Manitoba Winter Fair. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich.

March 21, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba MANITOBA OPERA 50TH ANNIVERSARY RECEPTION Government House Tuesday, March 21, 2023, 5 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, welcome to this celebration of music – those who make it and those who make it possible. I am delighted to welcome you to Government House, here in the heart of Treaty One land, home of the Anishinaabe and the Red River Metis people, in the capital of a province that is home to the Cree, Dakota and Dene people. We acknowledge northern Manitoba includes lands that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Here and throughout Manitoba, we are working to advance understanding, healing and reconciliation and build a better home for all. Across Manitoba, we are proud to speak of our province’s cultural treasures – performers, visual artists, creators of all kinds – and the cultural institutions that provide them with a chance to dazzle us. Manitoba’s artists have earned a place in the spotlight on a global stage. They, and the companies that nurture them, have made Winnipeg a world-class city for the arts. While the artists and performers themselves deserve the well-earned applause that rings through concert halls and theatres, these great accomplishments are also made possible by the devotion of patrons and volunteers and the passionate support of audiences. It is that long-term support that brings us to this celebration of the 50th anniversary of Manitoba Opera. Fifty years ago a dedicated group of opera lovers were determined to create a company here to perform out of the beautiful new Centennial Concert Hall. That determination has produced a half century of opera. It has encouraged the flowering of home-grown talent. It has enabled Manitobans to see international opera stars. It has allowed generations of Manitobans to be transported musically through works of timeless beauty and new imagination. To all of you who make that magic happen, congratulations on a musical milestone. May you keep hitting the high notes through your second half century. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich.

March 17, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba MANITOBA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION CONVENTION Delta Winnipeg Wednesday, March 17, 2023 (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans I am delighted to celebrate your dedication to a sacred duty. I am pleased to join you in the heart of Treaty One land, home of the Anishinaabe and the Red River Metis people, in the capital of a province that is home to the Cree, Dakota and Dene people. We acknowledge northern Manitoba includes lands that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Here and throughout Manitoba, we are working to advance understanding, healing and reconciliation and build a better home for all. Education is central to that journey of learning, just as it is central to all of our hopes for a better, more just, more prosperous and more sustainable world. A learning society needs advocates and leaders. It needs voices speaking up for education in every community. It needs people like you – members of the Manitoba School Boards Association. I was fortunate for 14 years to share in the important, inspiring and sometimes exhausting work that you do. In my time serving as a school trustee, I felt the passion for learning exuded by so many teachers and administrators. I saw the light of discovery shine from the faces of children in our division, and I heard the concerns and the dreams of the parents who entrusted their children to our schools. I also felt the pressures: the competing financial challenges, the social conflicts, the anxiety over change and values. Yours is a difficult role because the schools you oversee touch everybody in your community – and because so many people feel that their experience of going to school makes them an expert on schooling. But for all the challenging aspects of your job – the difficult debates over finance and policies – it’s a supremely rewarding one as well. When I think back to my time as a school trustee, my mind is drawn to the families we served. I loved the fresh faces of children entering kindergarten with enthusiasm and wonder. I remember the tears of pride and joy from parents watching their children graduate. I remember the curiosity and drive so evident when students demonstrated the things they had learned. You may not be in the classroom when that learning is happening, but everything you do as a school trustee helps to make that happen. I wish you a productive conference filled with learning, and I wish you well in your important work to support education in our province. Thank you, Merci, Meegwich.

March 16, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba COMMONWEALTH DAY RECEPTION Government House Thursday, March 16, 2023, 5 p.m. (please check delivery)  Fellow Manitobans, welcome to this celebration of international friendship and an organization dedicated to freedom, equality and understanding. I am delighted to welcome you to Government House, here in the heart of Treaty One land, home of the Anishinaabe and the Red River Metis people, in the capital of a province that is home to the Cree, Dakota and Dene people. We acknowledge northern Manitoba includes lands that were, and are, the ancestral lands of the Inuit. Here and throughout Manitoba, we are working to advance understanding, healing and reconciliation and build a better home for all. I know that the Royal Commonwealth Society of Canada is also committed to reconciliation and learning from history. Your advocacy of national commemoration of August 1st as Emancipation Day – recognizing the day slavery in the British Empire was abolished in 1834 – is a sign of that commitment. So too is your upfront acknowledgement of the Commonwealth’s roots in the British Empire. These are aspects of our history we can’t hide from. The transformation from an empire to a network of independent nations committed to freedom and equality of peoples is a story of the triumph of hope and goodwill. The Commonwealth’s history is a force for good – including its role in opposing Apartheid and investigating coups and attacks on democracy – gives us much to celebrate on Commonwealth Day. Commonwealth Day also reminds us of our ties to the other member nations with which we share ties of history, language, culture and values. This is not just the first Commonwealth Day of the reign of King Charles III. It is also the first in-person Commonwealth Day celebration since the pandemic, and it is a chance to bid farewell to a long-time and beloved president of the Manitoba Branch of the Royal Commonwealth Society, Mr. Murray Burt. Like the Commonwealth itself, this day is a story of continuity and change and enduring values that have gone through trials and become stronger. Your work helps to maintain awareness of and commitment to those values and that history. In so doing, you help transform our province and our country for the better. I will conclude by reading His Majesty’s Commonwealth Day Message… “Commonwealth Day was an occasion of particular pride for my beloved Mother, The late Queen – a treasured opportunity to celebrate our Commonwealth family, to whose service she dedicated her long and remarkable life.   In succeeding Her Majesty as Head of the Commonwealth, I draw great strength from her example, together with all that I have learnt from the extraordinary people I have met, throughout the Commonwealth, over so many years.  The Commonwealth has been a constant in my own life, and yet its diversity continues to amaze and inspire me.  Its near-boundless potential as a force for good in the world demands our highest ambition; its sheer scale challenges us to unite and be bold. This week marks the tenth anniversary of the Charter of the Commonwealth, which gives expression to our defining values – peace and justice; tolerance, respect and solidarity; care for our environment, and for the most vulnerable among us. These are not simply ideals.  In each lies an imperative to act, and to make a practical difference in the lives of the 2.6 billion people who call the Commonwealth home.  Whether on climate change and biodiversity loss, youth opportunity and education, global health, or economic co-operation, the Commonwealth can play an indispensable role in the most pressing issues of our time.  Ours is an association not just of shared values, but of common purpose and joint action.  In this we are blessed with the ingenuity and imagination of a third of the world’s population, including one and a half billion people under the age of thirty. Our shared humanity contains such precious diversity of thought, culture, tradition and experience.  By listening to each other, we will find so many of the solutions that we seek. This extraordinary potential, which we hold in common, is more than equal to the challenges we face.  It offers us unparalleled strength not merely to face the future, but to build it. Here, the Commonwealth has an incredible opportunity, and responsibility, to create a genuinely durable future – one that offers the kind of prosperity that is in harmony with Nature and that will also secure our unique and only planet for generations to come. The myriad connections between our nations have sustained and enriched us for more than seven decades. Our commitment to peace, progress and opportunity will sustain us for many more.  Let ours be a Commonwealth that not only stands together, but strives together, in restless and practical pursuit of the global common good.” Thank you, Merci, Meegwich.      

March 11, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba ASIAN WOMEN OF WINNIPEG DINNER Canadian Museum of Human Rights Saturday, March 11, 2023, 5:30 p.m. (please check against delivery)     Fellow Manitobans, I am delighted to join you in this beautiful venue at this inspiring event. We gather in friendship this evening here, in the heart of Treaty One land, home of the Anishinaabe and the Red River Metis people, in the capital of a province that is home to the Cree, Dakota and Dene people. Here and throughout Manitoba, we are working to advance understanding, healing and reconciliation and build a better home for all. With that in mind, you could hardly have picked a better setting for this dinner in celebration of International Women’s Day. Women’s rights are human rights, and every advance made in human rights has involved the hard work of women – speaking truth to power, building alliances, supporting those who have suffered from persecution and deprivation. Women have been at the forefront of efforts to recognize the value of diversity and to find common understanding among people with different backgrounds and beliefs. By representing women from the many cultural backgrounds originating in the world’s most populous continent, Asian Women of Winnipeg sets an example for all advocacy, support and community groups. Looking at the remarkable achievements of the women you have recognized since coming together in 2014, one of the ways you’ve been empowering women has been by inspiring them. This evening, I understand that you’re saluting the accomplishments and dedication of all the women gathered here. What a great idea. One of the great lessons of feminism has been that women have risen the most by lifting each other up. Those of us old enough to remember the first International Women’s Day may remember a popular feminist slogan from the 1970s: Women Hold Up Half the Sky. Well, nearly fifty years later, we’re still holding it up, and at the same time, many of us are breadwinners, children’s chauffeurs, menu planners and chefs, family health advocates, social organizers, and much more. We’ve narrowed the wage gap – though it’s still about 13 per cent in Canada – but we still seem to be stuck with the heavier half of the sky. By supporting and inspiring each other, by celebrating the diversity of your lives and accomplishments, you make that load a little lighter. Thank you for your contributions to Manitoba and to the recognition of women. Merci… Meegwich.    

March 10, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba UNIVERSITY WOMEN’S CLUB INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY LUNCH University Women’s Club Friday, March 10, 2023 (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, I am pleased to join you in reflection and rededication to principles we hold dear. I am delighted to welcome you to this gathering in the heart of Treaty One land, home of the Anishinaabe and the Red River Metis people, in the capital of a province that is home to the Cree, Dakota and Dene people. Here and throughout Manitoba, we are working to advance understanding, healing and reconciliation and build a better home for all. This week, I have had the pleasure of meeting with women of all ages and backgrounds at a series of events in recognition of International Women’s Day. It has been inspiring to see such diverse groups of women sharing a commitment to improving the lives of girls and women. Some of them were already very active in the struggle to attain equality for women back in 1975 when the United Nations proclaimed International Women’s Day. And there were a few whose parents weren’t even born yet. Now here I am meeting members of an organization that has been working for women in Manitoba since 1909. From 1909 to this day, it has taken courage to advocate for the rights of women and girls. We remember the scorn heaped on earlier generations of feminists – denounced as man-haters, harpies, bra-burners. And we know that today women who speak up still face a torrent of abuse in online comments and social media. And despite that, women remain firm in their principles. We celebrate advances, such as the gradual narrowing of the wage gap and the success of women in previously male-dominated careers. But we all know there’s much more to do. Those advances of the last fifty years have not been shared by all women. And far too many still feel their lives constrained by violence and abuse. On International Women’s Day – and throughout the year – we remember the words of the activist and organizer Fannie Lou Hamer. “Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.” I look forward to hearing from Wilma Derksen and learning more about her resolute commitment to advancing understanding and to shining a light in the darkness. May you all find inspiration, courage and hope from this gathering. And may that fuel future progress that we’ll celebrate in the years ahead. Thank you. Merci. Meegwich.

March 9, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba CONSULAR CORPS DINNER Government House Thursday, March 9, 2023   Friends, fellow Manitobans, I am delighted to welcome you to Government House, here in the heart of Treaty One land, home of the Anishinaabe and the Red River Metis people, in the capital of a province that is home to the Cree, Dakota and Dene people. Here and throughout Manitoba, we are working to advance understanding, healing and reconciliation and build a better home for all. As Manitobans, we have the good fortune to live in the province where the idea of multiculturalism truly took root. This is a province that joined Confederation through the effort of Louis Riel and the Red River Metis to preserve their rights. Here is where large-scale, non-English-speaking immigration began to transform Canada in the late 19th century. And though it may have taken generations to move attitudes from “grudging acceptance” to “celebration,” in time this became a province that celebrated its centennial with Canada’s first, largest and longest-running multicultural festival. Today, Canadians know that a diverse society is a more vibrant and healthier society. And they know as well that it’s a more prosperous one, as a result of trade opportunities and unleashed human creativity. One exciting sign of the diversity of our province – and the exciting opportunities that brings – is the growth in Winnipeg’s consular corps. Looking at the list of countries you represent, we can see Manitoba’s history of immigration. We can see our province’s major trading partners and future trading opportunities. We can see the birthplaces of myriad influences that have enriched our music, art, cuisine and ideas about life itself. I thank you for the work you do in building a more interconnected world – and a more worldly Manitoba. Enjoy this dinner and the excellent company of your colleagues in international friendship. Thank you. Merci. Miigwech

March 8, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY AT THE MANITOBA LEGISLATURE Golden Boy Dining Room, Manitoba Legislature Wednesday, March 8, 2023, 4:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, I am so delighted to join you at this celebration and this re-dedication to principles we all hold dear. I am pleased to join you here in the heart of Treaty One land, home of the Anishinaabe and the Red River Metis people, in the capital of a province that is home to the Cree, Dakota and Dene people. Here and throughout Manitoba, we are working to advance understanding, healing and reconciliation and build a better home for all. It may seem a little odd that we’re gathering for International Women’s Day in a place called the Golden Boy Dining Room. But this building is also protected by a bust of Athena – the goddess from Greek mythology who represents wisdom and ferocity. And those characteristics have been at the heart of the progress made by women ever since the first International Women’s Day in 1975. In politics, in law, in education, in every walk of life, it has required wisdom to imagine new and better ways of doing things. And women have had to be ferocious to stand up for their rights – and still do. Let’s not forget that Athena wasn’t just the goddess of wisdom and learning. She was no shrinking violet. Athena was also the goddess of strategy in battle. Strategy isn’t just about military matters. Strategy means focusing on your most important values, on the goals that align with those values, and on the tools you’ll need to attain them. So, as somebody who has had a long involvement in education – from the K to 12 systems through to adult career learning – I’m pleased that today we’ll be hearing from Liz Choi, CEO of Education Canada Group. I note that Liz’s personal blog is called Liz Ferocious, so I’m looking forward how she channels both sides of Athena in her thoughts on empowering women. On International Women’s Day we celebrate progress made by women and remind ourselves of challenges that remain. In Canada, we have narrowed the wage gap, but it’s still about 13 per cent. We have greater awareness of gender-based violence, but it has certainly not gone away, and it remains especially acute for Indigenous women and girls. I’m confident that the dedication, courage and wisdom of women like you and like countless others across our province and country will continue to give us reasons to celebrate International Women’s Day in the future. Thank you, Merci, Meegwich.

March 8, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba  INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY EVENT CFB Winnipeg Wednesday, March 8, 2023, 1:00 p.m. Fellow Manitobans and special guests, I am delighted to be here to share in this celebration of International Women’s Day and the spirit of equity. I am pleased to join you today here in the heart of Treaty One land, home of the Anishinaabe and the Red River Metis people, in the capital of a province that is home to the Cree, Dakota and Dene people. Here and throughout Manitoba, we are working to advance understanding, healing and reconciliation and build a better home for all. Today, as on every March 8th since the United Nations held the first International Women’s Day in 1975, we are celebrating the work of women who are building a better, more fair and equitable world. The International Women’s Day theme for 2023 is “Embrace Equity.” How do we do that? How do we embrace equity? To me, it starts with recognizing the unique experiences of each woman – the special challenges and barriers, and the priceless gifts and insights. It means much more than just the goal of earlier decades – the goal of breaking through the glass ceiling. In a fair and equitable world, whatever floor you’re on in that metaphorical building should offer opportunities for fulfillment and accomplishment. And if you want to go to a higher floor, there won’t be any secret key to the elevator available to those with the right connections. And in an equitable world, we recognize that the reality of many women’s lives – such as the unequal weight of family obligations – creates challenges not faced by many of their male colleagues. As people said about the dancer Ginger Rogers, “she did everything Fred Astaire did, but backwards and in high heels.” The Canadian Forces may not have regulation Jimmy Choos – but you know what I mean. Today we can celebrate successes. As Canadians, we can celebrate the fact that the Canadian Armed Forces are world leaders in the inclusion of women, with all military occupations open to women for more than 20 years. And we can also rededicate ourselves to addressing attitudes and assumptions that still hold women back – whether their work garb is a uniform, a business suit, casual wear or coveralls. Your work with the Canadian Forces defends Canada’s values every day. Today, on International Women’s Day, you defend those values by showing your embrace of the principle of equity. Thank you for inviting me to share in your commitment and in this celebration. Happy International Women’s Day. Merci… Meegwich

March 8, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY BREAKFAST Government House Wednesday, March 8, 2023 (please check against delivery)   Good morning fabulous women!  Welcome to this celebration of International Women’s Day and the spirit of equity. I am pleased to have you join us here in the heart of Treaty One land, home of the Anishinaabe and the Red River Metis people, in the capital of a province that is home to the Cree, Dakota and Dene people. Here and throughout Manitoba, we are working to advance understanding, healing and reconciliation and build a better home for all. Today, as on every March 8th since the United Nations held the first International Women’s Day in 1975, we are celebrating the achievements of women in building that better home and better world. Every advance women have made in those nearly 50 years has come about through women working together, building coalitions and networks and friendships. And so that it is my goal today: to help in connecting a diverse group of women from many backgrounds and with many different areas of expertise and life experiences. So if you were wondering why you were invited to Government House today, that’s why…. Because each of you brings a special mix of perspective and passion, insight and imagination. That is why I am so very pleased to see each and every one of you this morning. The International Women’s Day theme for 2023 is “Embrace Equity recognizing that building a fair and just world requires more than just breaking a glass ceiling. The principle of equity is that overturning a legacy of unfairness and inequality requires us to address structural barriers and the inequality in starting points. So throughout Canada, on International Women’s Day, we celebrate women and girls who dedicate themselves to helping others find shelter, support themselves and their families, and discover their own gifts and talents. And we also celebrate those who have inspired others by rising to the top in their field of endeavour – in politics, in business, in arts and culture, in sports, in all areas of achievement. There’s no age requirement for caring about your world, so I’m delighted that we have representatives of a new generation of women leaders with us this morning. For those of us old enough to remember that first International Women’s Day, it’s such a source of hope and inspiration to see young women carrying on this long journey to a healthier, more just, more equitable world. Whether your work is focused locally in your neighbourhood or on a provincial or global stage, each one of you shows us how women and girls in this province are taking the lead in making Manitoba the province we know it can be. Thank you for sharing in this celebration. Happy International Women’s Day. Merci… Meegwich

February 16, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba CORRECTIONAL EXEMPLARY SERVICE MEDALS CEREMONY Government House Thursday, February 16, 2023 (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans, welcome to Government House for this celebration of professionalism in service to Canada and its people. I am pleased to welcome you here in the heart of Treaty One land, in the traditional home of the Anishinaabe and the Red River Metis People, in the capital of a province that is home to the Cree, Dakota and Dene people. Here in Manitoba, we are working to infuse the spirit of reconciliation and understanding through all of our public services and institutions. For nearly 40 years Canada has had a series of Exemplary Service Medals to recognize individuals who have dedicated their careers to the protection of the safety of others – in positions that put them in difficult situations and in direct contact with danger. The Correctional Exemplary Service Medal was one of the first of these – recognizing both the challenges you face and the importance Canadians attach to your work. Not everybody is cut out for the work performed by correctional workers. Whether you are working directly with incarcerated people in a correctional facility or working in the community with individuals on parole or probation, your job requires a special mixture of empathy and strength. It takes a special set of skills and personal attributes to remain on guard to keep your community and your colleagues safe, and at the same time support an environment that enables rehabilitation. Your work creates an atmosphere of safety, dignity and hope in places that could very easily be soaked in despair. The special thing about these Exemplary Service Awards is that they recognize the day-to-day courage you show every time you go to work, with each interaction, year after year. We all need courage in our lives – but there’s a lot more to courage than we often think. It’s not just what you do in a rare emergency. It’s how you carry yourself every day. As the poet Maya Angelou put it, “without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous or honest.” Thank you for your service and thank you for practicing courage in its many forms. Merci, Meegwich

February 7, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR’S AWARD FOR ADVANCEMENT OF INTER-RELIGIOUS UNDERSTANDING Government House Tuesday, February 7, 2023 (please check against delivery)   Fellow Manitobans – thank you for joining us today as we celebrate a Manitoban who has dedicated his life to sharing his faith and his understanding with others. I would like to welcome you to Government House, here in the heart of Treaty One land, home of the Anishinaabe and the Red River Metis people, in the capital of a province that is home to the Cree, Dakota and Dene people. Here and throughout Manitoba, we are working to advance understanding, healing and reconciliation and build a better home for all. The Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Advancement of Inter-Religious Understanding was established in 2011 to recognize a Manitoban who has worked for greater understanding and harmony between people of different faiths. This award recognizes work that has brought together different religious communities in Manitoba and beyond. Every year since the establishment of this award we have seen just how timely it is – for Manitoba, for Canada and for the world. Interreligious understanding is especially important now, as our province and our country work toward reconciliation. How can we understand the harmful legacy of past actions or see the path to a better future, if we lack the ability to see the commonalities among the many faith traditions in our world? The search for meaning, for community and for ethical guidance is truly a universal one, and it is an ancient search, as archaeological artifacts show us. Burials from 130,000 years ago suggest that even our evolutionary cousins, the Neanderthals, were interested in questions of purpose and reverence for the sacred. But it is too often also a search that divides us into believers and unbelievers, into defenders and enemies of the truth. With that in mind, the committee overseeing this award each year puts out a call for nominations seeking people who have dedicated themselves to advancing harmony and understanding and who have shown a breadth of understanding beyond their own religious tradition. It’s encouraging to know that there’s no shortage of worthy candidates in our province, which is home to so many thriving religious communities. Today’s presentation will be no exception. I know Bill Weissman for his warmth and his ability to bring people together. As you will hear — his service as shames or lay clergy at Congregation Shaarey Zedek, his work as tour guide, cultural ambassador and public educator, his leadership role in Holocaust commemoration and education – these contributions and more demonstrate his long and deep commitment to understanding and harmony. Congratulations Bill on this well-deserved recognition. And to all of you, thank you for participating in this celebration and in helping bring searchers and seekers together in your own way. Merci, Meegwich.

January 29, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba  Black History Month and Martin Luther King Day Ceremony New Annointing Christian Fellowship Sunday, January 29, 2023 (please check against delivery)   Friends, Manitobans, members of a strong and vibrant community, thank you for the opportunity to share in remembering a great spirit and promoting a better understanding of history. I am proud to join you today here in the heart of Treaty One land, home of the Anishinaabe and the Red River Metis people, in the capital of a province that is home to the Cree, Dakota and Dene people. Here and throughout Manitoba, we are working to advance understanding, healing and reconciliation and build a better home for all. Part of building a better world is resisting the injustice that stands in the way – as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did throughout his life. Along with resistance, those other keywords in this year’s Black History Month theme are also crucial: Remembrance, Recognition and Education. Nationally, Black History Month has been recognized by the Government of Canada since 1995 on a motion put forward by my friend Jean Augustine – but here in Manitoba and especially among the members of this congregation these celebrations and commemorations have been a special part of the year for more than 40 years. Sometimes, decades of growth will seem to appear suddenly – just as a sapling planted in a yard will spend years building its root network and gaining strength until one spring the beauty of its great spreading leaves will be obvious to all. Likewise with broad awareness of the rich and deep history of the Black experience in Canada. How many more Canadians have learned about Viola Desmond since she appeared on the Canadian ten dollar bill in 2018? How many more Canadians will learn of the story of the Black railway porters as a result of Suzette Mayr winning our nation’s highest profile literary prize last fall for her novel The Sleeping Car Porter? And how many Canadians, outside the Black community, knew of the story of the Number Two Construction Battalion – and the struggle of its members to serve their country in the First World War – before the Prime Minister issued an apology last year for the racism the battalion faced? If there is today a dawning awareness among millions of Canadians of stories like this, it is only because of the many years of advocacy and public education by those who have worked to shine a light on this history. The many community organizations, educational and cultural institutions that have come together to organize a month’s worth of Black History Month events are fostering awareness and understanding to grow in our province, our nation and our world. I wish you a successful and inspiring Black History Month. Thank you, Merci, Meegwich.  

January 26, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba  Royal Lifesaving Society Rescue & Commonwealth Awards Government House Thursday, January 26, 2023, 5:00 p.m. (please check against delivery) Friends, Manitobans, members and friends of the Royal Lifesaving Society, welcome to Government House for this celebration of courage and commitment. I am pleased to welcome you here in the heart of Treaty One land, in the traditional home of the Anishinaabe and the Red River Metis People, in the capital of a province that is home to the Cree, Dakota and Dene people. Just as we celebrate learning and selfless action with these awards, in Manitoba we work to advance understanding, healing and reconciliation and build a better home for all. When Manitobans are asked what they love about our province, one of the most frequently mentioned features is our abundance of beautiful lakes and rivers. Another that comes up just as often is the strong sense of community and caring in Manitoba. So here we are in Government House at a celebration that brings both of those beloved aspects of our province together. Those lakes and rivers that are such an importance source of recreation and that provide for our inland fishery are too often scenes of tragedy. Water safety education and water rescue training help to prevent many such tragedies. Lifeguards and water safety instructors work every day to keep Manitobans safe in and around water. Volunteers with the Royal Lifesaving Society give their time and talent to ensuring that we have the resources and infrastructure necessary to train the next generation of lifesavers. When lives are on the line, Manitobans from all walks of life and of all ages, with and without rescue training, step up to help others. At sunny beaches and white-capped lakes, on swift-flowing rivers, at swimming pools and farm dugouts, danger can arise any time. The difference between life and death can come down to one person’s quick thinking and courage, or it can require a team working together to reach a person in need. As we will hear tonight, every water rescue is different. Every rescue presents its own complications and challenges, but what they all have in common is that powerful feeling in the heart of the rescuers. They all draw from that deep reservoir of compassion and caring that we value as the best feature of our province. As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I congratulate today’s award recipients, and I thank each of you, rescuers, lifeguards, instructors and supporters of the Royal Lifesaving Society, for your commitment to the lives of others. Thank you, Merci, Meegwich.  

January 20, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba  2023 MANITOBA CHINESE BUSINESS GALA Video Greetings Club Regent Event Centre Friday, January 20, 2023 Good evening members and friends of a dynamic and fast-growing Manitoba community. I’m pleased to join you virtually here in the heart of Treaty One land for this celebration of the Lunar New Year – and to recognize some of the many remarkable contributions of the Chinese business community. Manitobans often speak with pride of our commitment to diversity. We’re a key birthplace of the Canadian ideal of multiculturalism. One of the many benefits of diversity is that it allows for all of our people to develop and share their gifts. When we value people of all cultural, racial and religious backgrounds, we create an environment that encourages and rewards everybody’s  talents and energy and hard work. All Manitobans benefit from that. The achievements being honoured tonight – through the awards for community service, customer service, consumer choice and the Chinese business of the year – reflect the innovation, passion and commitment to society of Manitoba’s Chinese business community. We are all better off for your achievements and dedication. As you celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Rabbit, I join you in wishing for a happy, healthy new year for all. Thank you.

January 17, 2023

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba  AG DAYS Keystone Centre, Brandon, MB Tuesday, January 17, 2023, 1:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Farmers and ranchers, suppliers and supporters of our most essential industry, friends of AgDays – it’s a pleasure to join you as this learning event and community celebration returns to in-person life. I am honoured to meet with you here on Treaty Two land in the beautiful Westman region, home of the Anishinaabe, Dakota and Red River Metis people. Here and throughout Manitoba, we are working to advance understanding, healing and reconciliation and build a better home for all. As our province, along with the rest of the world, works to heal from the disruptions of the last few years, it’s appropriate that this year’s Ag Days theme is Farmer Health, Safety and Wellness. Since the first men and women learned to plant seeds and domesticate animals thousands of years ago, society has depended on the work of those who tend crops and livestock. As technological change, from the first steam threshers to tractors that communicate with satellites, has increased productivity in agriculture, we have all come to depend for our most basic of human needs on fewer and fewer people. The disruptions of the last few years showed us that, even as everything else was turned upside down, we could count on farmers – there was always food. But the hard work, long hours, dependence on weather and uncertainty over prices and expenses take a toll. So this year’s focus on health and wellness is fitting and timely. It’s nice to see as well that, with all the science, technology and agricultural economics on your agenda, you’ve also left time for laughter. No doubt one of the things that help health and wellness is simply having the chance to mix and mingle with old and new friends at events like this. As always, you’ll see a lot of amazing technology and fascinating equipment at this show. But the most important tools in our most vital industry remain the innovative, problem-solving brains and the strong, resilient hearts of the men and women in Manitoba’s agriculture industry. Enjoy AgDays and may 2023 bring you a bumper crop of pride and joy and deep satisfaction at an important job done well. Thank you, Merci, Meegwich.

November 29, 2022

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba  QUEEN ELIZABETH SCHOLAR RECEPTION Government House Tuesday, November 29, 2022, 5:00 p.m. (please check against delivery)   Students of life, citizens of the world, participants in and supporters of the Queen Elizabeth Scholars program, welcome to Government House and this celebration of learning and public service. It’s a pleasure to welcome you to this historic landmark in the heart of Treaty One land, in the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe and the Metis, in the capital of a province that is home to the Cree, Dakota and Dene peoples. As we work for healing, inclusion and reconciliation in Manitoba and across Canada, a commitment to learning and intercultural understanding will continue to be essential. Throughout 2022, across Canada, we have been celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – the 70th anniversary of the beginning of the longest reign in our history. The theme of these celebrations has been the public service that Her Majesty spoke of throughout her life – especially during her many visits to Canada. This event, recognizing ten remarkable years of the Queen Elizabeth Scholars program, is a wonderful way of honouring a long life dedicated to public service. Participants in this program have learned new approaches in problem-solving, found grounds of common understanding that transcend language and culture, discovered the many different dimensions of international challenges related to climate change, human rights and global security. They’ve made the world their classroom and their teacher and returned better able to lead our nation forward. The Rideau Hall Foundation and Canadian universities and community foundations have worked together to provide scholarships for more than 2,000 students seeking a greater global understanding. So it’s especially gratifying to know that a gift of $20 million from the Government of Canada this fall will allow even more students to participate in years to come. I’m sure each participant comes away from this experience with unique insights. But I suspect that each of you, on returning home has also discovered a truth expressed by the poet T.S. Eliot: We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time. I look forward to learning more about your life-changing experiences as Queen Elizabeth Scholars and to seeing how you apply your insights to make a better, more just, healthier and more prosperous Manitoba, Canada and world. Thank you, Merci, Meegwich.

November 28, 2022

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal Presentation Ceremony Manitoba Legislative Building November & December 2022 (please check against delivery)   Friends, Manitobans, people who put the heart in the heart of Canada, welcome to this celebration of life, community and service. We meet today for this ceremony in the heart of Treaty One land, in the traditional home of the Anishinaabe and the Metis, and in the capital of a province that is home to the Cree, Dene and Dakota people. Here in Manitoba, we are working to advance understanding, healing and reconciliation and build a better home for all. The work of building healthy, safe, prosperous and vibrant communities is never over. It requires dedication from people of all ages, from all walks of life – people who pose questions, find answers, build enthusiasm and see the work through. This year, across Canada, we have been commemorating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – the 70th anniversary of the accession to the throne of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth – by celebrating community leadership and public service. Public service was a central theme throughout Her Majesty’s long reign, and countless Canadians reflected on public service this fall during the time of mourning after Her Majesty’s passing. We have been reflecting as well on her passionate devotion to Canada – a country she visited 22 times, including six visits to Manitoba. Many of us had the honour of witnessing, first-hand or on the news, as Her Majesty met the people of Manitoba on tours that took her from the Red River Valley to the shores of Hudson Bay. She was gracious, engaged, and genuinely interested in everyone she met, whether she was visiting a farm, attending Manitoba’s centennial celebrations, unveiling the refurbished Golden Boy, or dedicating the cornerstone for the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. And so the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medals are also a celebration of dedication to all the people of this country. One thousand Manitobans are being selected for this honour – recognizing service to community and country, reconciliation and public service. Members of the Legislative Assembly have identified each of you for your outstanding dedication to others and for the great things you’ve accomplished for your community and for Manitoba and Canada. As recipients of the Platinum Jubilee Medal, each of you brings the spirit of public service to life. Each of you leads by example. Each of you takes responsibility for making your community, your province and your country better. And now, as you wear this medal with pride and satisfaction, you have the opportunity to show others how they can find their own route to public service and community leadership. Congratulations and thank you all for giving us a thousand more reasons to love this province and its people. Merci… Meegwich

November 26, 2022

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba ST. ANDREWS SOCIETY DINNER Fort Garry Hotel Saturday, November 26, 2022, 6:30 p.m. (please check against delivery) People of the pipe and drum, the thistle and the maple, members and friends of the St. Andrew’s Society of Winnipeg, it’s a pleasure to join you in celebrating this day and those who honour it. We are gathered tonight in the heart of Treaty One land, in the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe and the Metis, in the capital of a province that is home to the Cree, Dakota and Dene peoples. Here in Manitoba, the long historical ties and family ties between Scottish and Indigenous Manitobans have an important role to play in our work for healing, inclusion and reconciliation. There is much to celebrate for Manitobans on the feast day of the patron saint of Scotland. We all know of the outsized role the people of that small northern nation played in this country and this province. We know of the Scottish traders and mapmakers who made the fur trade possible. We know of the Scottish engineers who built the railways that connected this land. And we know of the Scottish community builders who established cities and towns, banks and factories. Today, our hearts still beat faster when we hear the bagpipes leading a parade and our feet move even faster when a Red River jig is played. As the grandchild of immigrants who came to Canada searching for freedom, security and opportunity, I find inspiration in a tradition that started with the arrival of Selkirk settlers over two centuries ago. In the centuries since the Selkirk settlers, dispossessed back home and desperately poor, this province has offered new hope to wave after wave of newcomers: Jews, Ukrainians and Mennonites fleeing Czarist or Communist persecution, Icelanders forced out by a volcanic disaster; people of many nationalities whose nations were devastated in the world wars; the boat people of Vietnam; Yazidis, Kurds and Syrians facing horrific persecution – they and countless others have found a place of safety and opportunity here. Of all the gifts Manitoba’s Scottish community has given this province, a legacy of community spirit and compassion is something we can all celebrate, every day. Congratulations to the St. Andrew’s Society of Winnipeg on bringing Manitobans together to work and play, dream and build for more than a century and a half. Thank you and enjoy this evening.

November 24, 2022

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba  UKRAINIAN CANADIAN CONGRESS MANITOBA PROVINCIAL COUNCIL 150 AWARDS CEREMONY Government House Thursday, November 24, 2022 (please check against delivery) Fellow Manitobans, dreamers and builders, mentors and motivators, members of a vibrant community, welcome to this celebration of leadership. As a lifelong Manitoban, I have many reasons to love this province. It holds my most precious memories. It is the setting of two crucial steps toward equitably sharing this beautiful, vast and richly endowed country– the signing of Treaty One between Canada and representatives of the Anishinaabe and the actions of the Metis Nation to protect their homeland that led to the creation of this province. It’s also the province where the notion of Canadian multiculturalism was born – through the hard work of generations of immigrants, their children and grandchildren who taught us to celebrate the diversity of languages, cultures and ideas that found a home here. And at the forefront of that long process was the Ukrainian Canadian community. Through their work, Ukrainian culture has come to be an integral part of Manitoban and Canadian culture. That has taken many decades of work by individuals and organizations involved in education, the arts, community service, advocacy and other fields. So it’s entirely fitting that part of the Manitoba 150 celebrations planned for 2020 was the recognition of 150 organizations and 150 individuals who have made significant contributions to the preservation and promotion of the Ukrainian community. The pandemic delay in holding this event means that recipients of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Manitoba Provincial Council 150 awards are being recognized at a time when all who love freedom and human dignity are united in support of the people of Ukraine as they resist a brutal invasion. Like all Manitobans, I have watched the tragic events in Ukraine unfold, and the outpouring of support from our community has been remarkable.  The bravery of the Ukrainian people and the doors and hearts that have opened across our province to those seeking support or shelter in this difficult time makes me even more proud to be a Manitoban. All of Manitoba has benefited from the passion and drive of the men and women and organizations honoured with these awards. May these award recipients inspire other Canadians and others in the world-wide Ukrainian community dedicated to free, just and healthy societies. Thank you, Merci, Meegwich.

November 22, 2022

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba PROVINCIAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN “CELEBRATING WOMEN GALA” Victoria Inn & Convention Centre Tuesday, November 22, 2022 at 7:30 PM (please check against delivery)   Women of passion and purpose, friends of the Provincial Council of Women of Manitoba and its affiliated organizations, fellow Manitobans. It’s a pleasure to join you this evening in the heart of Treaty One land, in the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe and the Metis, in the capital of a province that is home to the Cree, Dakota and Dene peoples. This evening’s event is a reminder of the central role of women and families in our essential work for healing, inclusion and reconciliation. The women of Manitoba have a long history of fighting for their rights and for health, safety and opportunities for their families. Over the years I have had the opportunity to attend Council meetings and saw first-hand the work of Manitoba women. The women who fought for the vote, women who fought for decent wages and working conditions, women who fought against barriers of race, religion or language – they have carried on, generation after generation, making this a better and more fair place. For more than seventy years, Manitoba women have come together through the Provincial Council of Women to multiply their voices and gain strength and support. Nearly a century ago, Manitoba women were at the forefront in the famous Persons Case – focusing on the specific definition of the word “person” in regard to Senate appointments. Since then, this organization and its federate members have worked on all aspects of women’s lives – advocating for change in regards to education, training, employment, community planning, family law, health and wellness, and much more. As the late Carol Shields noted: “It’s hard work being a person. You have to do it every day.” The individual women and the staff of the great community organization being honoured this evening put in that work of personhood in so many ways. They advocate for health care and illness prevention, they fight injustice, they work for healing, they create opportunities to learn, they bring beauty into the world. Thank you for the hard work you do and thank you for helping ease the burden borne by women across Manitoba.

November 17, 2022

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba ST. JOHN AMBULANCE INVESTITURE AND AWARDS CEREMONY Government House Thursday, November 17, 2022 (please check against delivery) Supporters of one of Canada’s oldest humanitarian organizations, members of the Order of St. John, protectors of life – welcome to this celebration of caring, compassion and capacity-building. I’m pleased to join you here in Government House, in the heart of Treaty One land, in the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe and the Metis, in the capital of a province that is also home to the Cree, Dakota and Dene peoples. I see this old building as a place of reconciliation and learning, where the principle known as “tikkun olam” —  translated as “repair the world” – can find a home It’s fitting that one of the very first receptions at this official residence during my time as Lieutenant Governor is for the St. John Ambulance. Construction began on this landmark in 1883, the same year the first branch of the St. John Ambulance was formed in Canada. For the last almost 140 years, this organization has been bringing Canadians together to help others. And for just as long this building has been a gathering place where that spirit of community is celebrated at events just like this. By offering first-aid training, first response services, therapy dog programs and other programs and services, St. John Ambulance touches countless lives across Canada – and particularly in the Manitoba, Northwest Territories and Nunavut region. These programs depend on the commitment of thousands of volunteers who give their time to improve the health and safety of their communities. Fortunately, many people who receive training from St. John Ambulance will never use it. But when that training is needed, the stakes could not be higher. The individuals being recognized with Life Saving Awards have found themselves in just such high-stakes situations. They responded with all their knowledge and experience, with all of their compassion and courage, when lives were on the line. In each of these individuals we see a great truth come to life. They are walking reminders of a famous saying in the Talmud, the ancient collection of Jewish teachings and commentaries: “Whoever saves a single life is considered to have saved the whole world.” In each mind, in each soul, there is a world of thoughts, perceptions, feelings, memories – in saving a life, you keep that world alive. Thank you and congratulations on this recognition. But it’s not just lifesavers whose contributions keep those worlds alive. Everybody who teaches the skills of lifesaving. Everybody who supports a great organization that teaches lifesaving. Everybody who helps to prevent tragedies through workplace safety, mental health and other initiatives. They’re also saving the world, one good action at a time. To those being recognized tonight for your exemplary service to the St. John Ambulance, congratulations. It’s an honour for me that with my investiture as Vice Prior for Manitoba, I’ll share a connection to the work you do. Together, we can all do our bit to make a healthy, safe and just community – we can all repair the world. Thank you, Merci, Meegwich.    

November 8, 2022

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba  RED RIVER COLLEGE POLYTECH CONVOCATION RBC Convention Centre Tuesday, November 8, 2022 at 7:00 PM (please check against delivery)   Graduates, educators, friends of a great and innovative institution of learning – it’s a pleasure to help celebrate the success of a promising and diverse group of Manitobans. We are gathering this evening in the heart of Treaty One land, in the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe and the Metis, in the capital of a province that is home to the Cree, Dakota and Dene peoples. It is especially encouraging that the institution holding this celebration is one that has made a powerful commitment to reconciliation, equity, diversity and inclusion. In my role as Lieutenant Governor, I promised that education, in all its forms, would be a central theme of my time in office. In a world of constant change, the ability to keep learning, in the classroom, at home, or on the job, has never been more important. As members of the Red River class of 2022, you are graduating at a time of innovation, transition and disruption.  This creates new opportunities and challenges for everybody in the workforce. Graduating from an institution where preparing for the needs of the future is such a high priority gives you a heads-up for your careers to come. You’ve learned skills that you’ll need today, and you’ve learned how to acquire the skills you’ll need in the future. A healthy and prosperous province needs skilled people – and it needs a great many very different skills, as the variety of programs at Red River shows. Our health and prosperity require talents of the head and of the hands – but we’re even more fortunate when those are accompanied by hearts full of passion and purpose. So I’m pleased that this evening I’ll be presenting the Lieutenant Governor’s Silver Medal for the first time. This award recognizes a student who has combined high scholastic achievement with dedication to college and community life and outstanding character. To all members of the class of 2022, I congratulate you on your achievements and I wish you well as you work for the continued growth and transformation of the province that we call home. Thank you, Merci, Meegwich.

October 28, 2022

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba  LEADERSHIP WINNIPEG WORKSHOP Government House Friday, October 28, 2022 (please check against delivery) Friends, Manitobans, leaders of today and tomorrow, welcome to a day of discovery, discussion and dreams. I’m honoured to welcome you to Government House, a heritage residence built more than 135 years ago in the heart of Treaty One territory. Here, in the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe and the Metis, in the capital of a province that is home to the Cree, Dakota and Dene peoples, we are working to build a better society, a place of understanding, healing and reconciliation. It feels fitting to me that the first event here at Government House in my term as Lieutenant Governor should be a workshop dedicated to adult education and leadership development. Education, in all its forms, is the theme I have chosen for my time as Lieutenant Governor. In my previous career, I was involved both with the K-12 education system and with adult life and career training. In an ever-changing world, education is what prepares us to understand – and withstand – those changes. And more than that: education allows us to work with those forces of change, to use them effectively. Education lets us see which way the wind is blowing and teaches us to set our sails so that, rather than capsizing us, it helps us to our destination. For that to be possible, we must continually seek out those who have a passion to understand the world around them, who are curious about how the world works and who dream about how it can work better. And we also need those people to seek a greater understanding of themselves. In all sectors of society, in business and government; in health, education and the arts; in non-profit and faith institutions, we need leaders who possess that passion and curiosity. That is what makes this year-long program such a wonderful investment in the future of our province, our country and our world. I hope you come away from this day filled with new insights and, perhaps more importantly, new questions. I applaud you on your decision to commit to developing as leaders. I wish you well, wherever this year-long journey of discovery takes you, and I look forward to learning with you today. Thank you, Merci, Meegwich.

October 25, 2022

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba  GRACE HOSPITAL FOUNDATION GALA Victoria Inn Tuesday, October 25, 2022, 6:00 p.m. (please check against delivery) Friends of health care, supporters of a vital institution, it’s a pleasure to join you this evening to celebrate a great Manitoban – and a hospital that touches tens of thousands of lives every year. For me, it’s a special pleasure to join you for an event honouring citizenship and community-building on what is my first full day as Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba. Here on Treaty One land, at the meeting of the Red and Assiniboine, in the traditional home of the Anishinaabe and the Metis and the home of the many peoples who now share this land, it’s imperative that we all work to build a community of healing, understanding and justice for all. Without a doubt, that is what tonight’s honoree has done for decades. When I accepted the Prime Minister’s invitation to serve as Lieutenant Governor, I knew one of the highlights of the position would be meeting extraordinary Manitobans. And wouldn’t you know, the first extraordinary Manitoban I come across is one I’ve known for many years. Like many of you, I’ve known Moe Zeid and his family for many years as a customer and friend through their grocery stores – especially the Lilac location. And also for many years I’ve witnessed Moe’s dedication to community and his belief in human rights and dignity – in his work on Arab-Jewish dialogue and support for New Canadians. So it’s no surprise to me that he is also a dedicated supporter of health care. As Canadians, we see equal access to prevention, screening and treatment of illness as a right.  We agree that we all deserve to be treated with dignity, fairness and equality. We’re fortunate to benefit from the dedication and skill of health-care professionals and support staff at the Grace and throughout our health-care system. We’re fortunate that they put those values into action every day. We’re grateful that these remarkable individuals have stepped up over the last two and a half years under the most trying circumstances.  They are all heroes. By supporting those efforts, the Grace Hospital Foundation and its generous donors – including Moe Zaid – help our province and our nation to live up to their potential. Their generosity makes Manitoba and Canada more just, more fair and more capable of inspiring that “true patriot love” we sing about. Congratulations Moe, and thank you to all who support the Grace Hospital Foundation in the crucial work they do for the benefit of all Manitobans. Thank you, Merci, Meegwich.

October 24, 2022

Remarks by The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba  INSTALLATION ADDRESS   Manitoba Legislature Monday, October 24 2022 (please check on delivery) The Honourable Janice Filmon, the Honourable Gary Filmon, Madame Premier, Chief Justice Chartier, members of the Judiciary, elected officials, friends and fellow Manitobans – it is an honour to join you here in the heart of Treaty One territory and the homeland of the Red River Metis as Manitoba’s 26th Lieutenant Governor. Here in the home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene and Metis peoples, I join all Manitobans in working toward reconciliation and harmony among all the people who share this beautiful province. I stand here today with both humility and anticipation as I join the group of exceptional individuals who have come before me.  My immediate predecessor, the Honourable Janice Filmon, has served this province with dignity and warmth as she has promoted leadership in all its manifestations throughout the province.  Her graciousness, kindness, and thoughtfulness to me during this period of transition is much appreciated. Manitobans all have benefitted by the efforts of the Honourable Philip Lee, the Honourable Yvon Dumont and the Honourable Pearl McGonigal, all of whom are here today, as well the late John Harvard and the late Peter Liba. Each has made a major contribution to this province and indeed left an indelible mark on our community.  I hope I can continue in the tradition of service that those before me have modelled. I want to welcome all who have gathered here today. My daughters Sarah, Elissa and Jessica are here with their husbands and children, as well as my brother and his family. I am particularly pleased that my very beloved grandchildren are all here. Friends have come from near and far…very far in some cases. I am beyond grateful and very honoured that you chose to be here today. A very special thank you to Elder Myra Laramee who has truly honoured me by her presence today.  Thank you to drummer Sarah Delaronde for participating in this ceremony.  Tracy Dahl – words cannot express my delight and joy that you are here.  The Women of Note Choir, thank you – you made the day special, and Rabbi Mass, your presence here today is important to both me and our community. I also want to take the opportunity to thank the staff of the protocol office, the Premier’s office and the Lieutenant Governor’s office of Manitoba, the Privy Council, and the Department of Heritage who have had to work very hard in a very short time frame to make this day happen. Allow me a moment of personal reflection on the path that led me here today. Until recently, I did not know that Government House was on my horizon. As a young Jewish girl growing up in Winnipeg in the 40’s it is not a path I would ever have foreseen. Indeed, the journey that brought me to this place, on this day, in this role, did not start with my birth in Winnipeg. It started more than a century ago, when my grandparents fled Bessarabia – in present-day Moldova – and Odessa – then part of Czarist Russia, today in Ukraine – to escape a climate of murderous anti-Semitism and to find freedom and opportunity. My paternal grandfather arrived in Canada as a teenage boy. His father worked in the coal mines of Wales to raise funds to bring his family to Canada.  My maternal grandparents at age 19 and 20 began their journey from Odessa, expecting a child.  My mother was born in Germany en route to Canada. Life for my immigrant grandparents had many challenges. It was characterized by sacrifice, uncertainty and hard work, a fight for survival, driven by the prospect of a better life for future generations.  As I stand here today, this legacy is not lost on me and is one I hope and intend to honour with my service. The story of survival is one shared by many Canadians – stories of immigrants like my grandparents, facing the homesickness of generations forever separated from parents, friends, neighbours, the surroundings of their youth.  It’s an old story, yet one that newly informs and animates our collective consciousness. But at the heart of these stories of resilience are the stories of Indigenous peoples – forced from their home in their own country, robbed of their language, forbidden from practicing their culture or educating their children, denied the right to speak against these actions. And as we saw with the arrival of thousands of Ukrainian, Syrian, Afghan and Yazidi refugees in the past few years, it is also a story of new beginnings, and new beginnings are seldom easy. Indeed, my own family’s stories are the stories of many gathered here today. These tales of hope and heartbreak, tragedy and joy are all stories of resilience, of healing, of community. This brings me to the central tenets of my faith: the concepts of Tzedakah and Tikkun olam – to make the world a fair and just place through acts of charity and kindness, to repair the world. Throughout my life, I have tried to live by these principles. Social responsibility and community service, important for a new community in a new country, was imprinted in my consciousness at an early age. I recall as a small girl walking along Main Street and Selkirk Avenue holding my Zaida’s – my grandfather’s – hand on our way to the Nicolaiew aid and free loan society. Here, alongside this gentle man, we would visit with other Russian immigrants, sharing information about job opportunities, housing and all manner of practical concerns for newcomers. Each visit was followed by a visit with those he knew at what was euphemistically called “the old folks home”.  I’d listen to Zaida chat with those who weren’t well, drinking tea, sharing stories, Zaida sometimes rolling cigarettes for those whose fingers were no longer nimble. Social responsibility – the obligation to