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
