Today on International
Women's Day,
we celebrate women
across the defence team
who defend our country
and demonstrate excellence
every day.
Women who speak truth to power,
and work hard to make our
military a more effective,
welcoming, and inclusive
organization.
Women who challenge the notion
that the way things are
is how they should be.
First and foremost,
today is about recognizing them
and the work they do.
In the field, in aircraft,
ships, and in tanks.
In leadership roles across
the entire defence team.
Their hard work is vital
to our organization's success.
Women like Chief Warrant
Officer Necole Belanger,
who knew she wanted to join
the military when
she was five years old.
She was driven by a desire
to serve her country.
That passion has been
the hallmark
of her 34 years of service.
In that time, she has served
as a member
of the Military Police,
and in other important roles
across the Canadian
Armed Forces.
In the early 2000s, she was
the mission security manager
for the Canadian Embassy
in Jakarta, Indonesia.
She and her wife were one
of the first out couples
to be posted overseas.
And, two years ago,
she was appointed
to her current position
of Command Chief Warrant Officer
for Canadian Forces
Intelligence Command.
Or Defence Scientist
Dr. Ritu Gill.
Her research on disinformation
is vital to our success
when CAF members deploy abroad.
She continues to advocate
for greater diversity of women
in the Science, Technology,
Engineering and Math fields
by reaching out
to high school students
to allow girls to see scientists
who look and sound like them.
Or Elizebeth Smith Friedman,
one of America's top
cryptanalysts
during World War II.
She helped break ENIGMA codes
that exposed Nazi spies.
She also solved puzzles
for the Canadian government,
tackled organized crime
and led a cryptanalytic effort
against smuggling.
Women at National Defence,
the Canadian Armed Forces
and the Communications
Security Establishment,
civilian and military,
do critical work like this every
day to keep our country safe
and contribute to a more
peaceful and prosperous world.
Over the past decades,
the Canadian Armed Forces
and the Department
of National Defence
have changed for the better,
but we have so much work to do.
We know the Canadian Armed
Forces has a culture rooted
in tradition and history,
and not all of that history
is good.
We must change this culture
to be more inclusive
and respectful.
Though institutional
change can be slow,
the time for patience is over.
We must re-double our efforts.
We must continue working hard
to ensure our policies,
attitudes, and behaviors
live up to Canadian values.
We must work harder
to build a safer
and more inclusive
workplace for women,
military and civilian alike.
And we must make sure
our efforts benefit all women.
So, this International
Women's Day,
let's keep pushing forward.
Let's recognize
the women who inspire us,
and who put words into action.
And let's celebrate the women
who make us a more resilient,
agile, and effective
organization.