June 3, 2008
OTTAWA-Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, will be in Toronto on June 5, 2008, to host a discussion that will officially launch the mentorship program, pairing up members of the Order of Canada with young Canadians. The theme of the discussion will focus on the motto of the Order of Canada: DESIDERANTES MELIOREM PATRIAM (They desire a better country).
In collaboration with Youth In Motion and their Top 20 Under 20™ program, the Governor General has created the Order of Canada Youth Mentorship Program, an initiative that matches members of the Order of Canada with the Top 20 Under 20TM award recipients, as well as five additional deserving young persons from across Canada. The Governor General is the honorary patron of Youth In Motion.
Members of the Order of Canada who will act as mentors and participate in the discussion with youth participants include Ms. Lynda Haynes, Mr. Jack Chiang, Mr. John Honderich, Mr. Craig Kielberger, Mr. Roland Gauvin, the Reverend Dr. Brent Hawkes, the Honourable Laurier Lapierre, Dr. Pierre Viens and Mr. Tom Jackson, among others.
In addition to this discussion, the participants will use modern online tools to communicate and continue the dialogue online throughout the year with their mentors. The Citizen Voices Web site (www.citizenvoices.gg.ca), launched in 2006 to create a space of dialogue for all Canadians, will offer the young participants and their mentors a secure space in which to connect with one another. They will also share their conversations with the public using blogs and forums. Site users will be able to follow along as participants go through this unique experience and see how the program enriches both sides of the mentoring relationship. A video blog by the Governor General, about the mentorship program, is also available on that site.
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Media event information: The discussion between members of the Order of Canada and the youth participants is open to media. The Governor General will deliver opening remarks. The event begins at 10 a.m. at the Design Exchange, 234 Bay Street, Toronto. Media interested in covering the event are asked to arrive by 9:45 a.m.
Media information
Lucie Caron
Rideau Hall Press Office
613-993-8158
www.gg.ca
www.citizenvoices.gg.ca
Marni Schecter-Taylor
Youth In Motion
416-962-4192
www.youth-in-motion.ca
www.top20under20.ca
