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
