August 12, 2009
Governor General to participate in the Grand Rassemblement Jeunesse 2009 as part of the Congrès Mondial Acadien
OTTAWA—Their Excellencies the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, and Jean-Daniel Lafond, along with their daughter, Marie-Éden, will travel to Tracadie-Sheila in the Acadian Peninsula in New Brunswick to attend the opening ceremony of the Grand Rassemblement Jeunesse 2009, a gathering of youth to celebrate Acadian history and culture, on Wednesday, August 12, 2009. ***UPDATE : The following day, August 13, they will go to Bouctouche and meet with Acadian artists from various disciplines, and then visit Le Pays de la Sagouine. *** Their Excellencies will continue their regional visit in Moncton, where they will take part in the raising of the Acadian flag and host a Youth Dialogue on Friday, August 14, 2009.
Her Excellency is very proud to be the patron of the Grand Rassemblement Jeunesse 2009: “As I mentioned at the Université de Moncton in May, I know that here, in Acadia, I am among women and men, young people for whom history is a magnificent lesson in perseverance, and that now more than ever is the time to remember that we have agreed to open borders and reject standardized cultures. It is a great honour to be the patron of the Grand Rassemblement and to be surrounded by Acadian youth that is a great source of inspiration for youth across the country and abroad.”
The Governor General will give the opening address in front of young Acadians from the Atlantic provinces and a delegation of young people from across the country and abroad. She will talk about the importance of mobilization and solidarity among young people and salute all the efforts the Acadian people are making to preserve their cultural identity.
Their Excellencies will go to Moncton on Friday, August 14 to honour citizens’ accomplishments at a presentation ceremony for the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award—which was created by the eighth Canadian governor general, the late Roméo LeBlanc—and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards, of which the Governor General is the national chair. Their Excellencies will also take part in the raising of the Acadian flag on the eve of National Acadian Day. As part of the 2009 Youth Dialogues series, the Governor General will host a discussion focusing on building peace and solidarity.
Below is the detailed itinerary for this regional visit (local time):
Wednesday, August 12
Tracadie-Sheila, New Brunswick
2 p.m.
Visit to Tracadie-Sheila City Hall
3620 Principale St., Tracadie-Sheila
Their Excellencies and Marie-Éden will visit Tracadie-Sheila Town Hall where they will be welcomed by His Worship Aldéoda Losier, Mayor of Tracadie-Sheila, and by Ms. Françoise Enguehard, President of Société National de l’Acadie. During their visit, Their Excellencies will also sign the city’s guest book.
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MEDIA STATEMENTS—Media will be able to attend the statements from the mayor of Tracadie-Sheila, the president of Société Nationale de l’Acadie and the Governor General.
8 p.m.
Opening Ceremony of Grand Rassemblement Jeunesse 2009
Polyvalente W. A. Losier, 585 de l’Église, Tracadie-Sheila
Their Excellencies and Marie-Éden will attend the opening ceremony of the Grand Rassemblement Jeunesse 2009, a gathering of youth to celebrate Acadian history and culture. As the patron of this international event, the Governor General will give the opening address in front of young Acadians from across the country and abroad. She will address the importance of mobilization and solidarity among young people, and will also take this opportunity to acknowledge all the efforts the Acadian people are making to preserve their identity.
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Thursday, August 13
Tracadie-Sheila, New Brunswick
8:30 a.m.
Plenary Assembly as part of the Grand Rassemblement Jeunesse 2009
Polyvalente W. A. Losier, 585 de l’Église, Tracadie-Sheila
Their Excellencies will take part in a plenary assembly presented during the Grand Rassemblement Jeunesse 2009. The Governor General will officially open the plenary and will engage 40 young leaders in an exchange on the question of identity.
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*** BEGINNING OF UPDATE***
Bouctouche (Nouveau-Brunswick)
Early Afternoon
Lunch with Acadian artists
Their Excellencies will meet with Acadian artists from various disciplines and generations. Together, they will exchange views on what makes Acadian culture so vibrant and on the importance of the arts in that Canada region.
CLOSED TO MEDIA
3:30 p.m.
Le Pays de la Sagouine
57 Acadie Street, Bouctouche
Their Excellencies and Marie-Éden will be offered a guided tour of Le Pays de la Sagouine.
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*** END OF UPDATE***
Friday, August 14
Moncton, New Brunswick
9 a.m.
Presentation of the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards
Université de Moncton, Student Complex, Moncton
Her Excellency will award the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award to six recipients who have been involved in their community. Created in 1996 by the late Right Honourable Roméo LeBlanc, the award is presented to individuals and groups whose unpaid, voluntary contributions provide extraordinary help or care to people in the community. Recipients have served over a number of years and normally have not been recognized previously by a national or provincial honour. For more information, visit www.gg.ca/honours/awards/cca/index_f.asp.
As the national chair of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards, the Governor General will also present the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award to 10 young Canadians. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award was founded in 1956 by His Royal Highness, The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The Award is a program that encourages youth to be active, to participate in new activities and to pursue current interests in four different areas. It offers you the opportunity to set goals and to achieve results in fun and challenging ways. There are three Awards to achieve: Bronze, Silver and Gold. For more information, visit www.dukeofed.org.
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11 a.m.
Visit to Moncton City Hall
655 Main St., Moncton
Upon her arrival at City Hall, the Governor General will be welcomed by His Worship George LeBlanc, Mayor of Moncton, and city councillors. During her visit, Her Excellency will deliver a speech and attend the raising of the Acadian flag on the eve of National Acadian Day.
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2 p.m.
Visit to Youth QUEST Central
199 St-George St., Moncton
Her Excellency will visit the Youth QUEST Central to discuss with disenfranchised youth from Moncton who use the centre and have benefited from the services offered. Youth QUEST Central is a multi-resource centre for youth aged 16-24 who are either homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The facility includes, academic upgrading, vocational and job-readiness training, information sessions, counselling, directional planning, and artistic and recreational programming.
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3:30 p.m.
Governor General’s Youth Dialogue
Centre Culturel Aberdeen
140 Botsford St., Moncton
In the presence of Gold Medallist Curler Russ Howard at the 2006 Olympic Games in Torino, Their Excellencies, accompanied by Marie-Éden, will host a Youth Dialogue on arts as a tool to promote peace and solidarity. Having made youth one of the priorities of her mandate, the Governor General inaugurated the Youth Dialogues series in 2007, providing young Canadians with a space to voice their opinions on social transformation and to pursue this dialogue on the Citizen Voices Web site.
The Governor General is building on the discussions that have taken place across Canada and is embarking on a national Can We Talk tour for 2009. Visiting all Canadians regions, Her Excellency is engaging Canadians in a dynamic dialogue on the power of youth arts to promote peace and solidarity in our society. Through a series of Youth Dialogues, Canadians will be encouraged to become catalysts for hope and social transformation in their communities. The Governor General kicked off the tour in Nunavut and Nunavik in May 2009, when she undertook a journey of solidarity with the people of Canada’s North. She then hosted a Youth Dialogue in Edmonton during the Global Youth Assembly, in partnership with Apathy is Boring, in July. For more information, visit www.citizenvoices.gg.ca/fr/themes/youth_dialogues.
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Please note that this detailed itinerary is subject to change without notice.
Media Information:
Marie-Ève Létourneau Marthe Blouin
Rideau Hall Press Office Official Spokesperson to the Governor General
613-998-0287 613-993-0397
613-302-0912 (cell.) 613-301-3379 (cell.)
meletourneau@gg.ca mblouin@gg.ca
www.gg.ca
www.citizenvoices.gg.ca
