Manitoba Lieutenant Governor

Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba

The Honourable Anita R. Neville, P.C., O.M.

Grand Chapter of Manitoba Celebrates 100th Grand Session

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.