OTTAWA-Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada hosted a discussion that officially launched the mentorship program, pairing up 25 members of the Order of Canada with 25 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 20TM program, the Governor General has created the Order of Canada Youth Mentorship Program, an initiative that matches members of the Order of Canada with 25 young Canadians including 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, Dr. Pierre Viens and Mr. Tom Jackson, among others. The full list of mentors and mentorees is available at www.gg.ca.
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.
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