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.