Governor General to Undertake Visit to the West Coast of the United States of America
Ottawa - At the request of the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, will conduct a visit to the West Coast of the United States of America, from April 28 to May 2, 2014.
"I'm honoured to be the first Governor General of Canada to visit the West Coast of the United States of America," said His Excellency. "During my visits to Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle, I look forward to engaging with government representatives, business leaders, innovators, academic influencers and researchers to share knowledge and expertise on the themes of innovation and trade, education, and philanthropy. The Canada-United States bilateral relationship is a model for the world. This working visit will not only be a reflection of the importance that Canada attaches to this relationship, but also an opportunity to demonstrate our country's leadership in terms of education, technological innovation, global health and international development. It will be driven by our intentions of creating and renewing existing partnerships with Canada's largest trading partner."
All timings indicated are in Pacific Daylight Time.
Visit To The West Coast Of The United States Of America
Los Angeles, California Monday, April 28
7 p.m.
Speech at the Milken Institute Global Conference Canadian CEO Dinner
His Excellency will address key Canadian and American business leaders at the annual Canadian CEO dinner hosted by the Consulate General of Canada on the occasion of the Milken Institute Global Conference, being held in Los Angeles from April 27 to 30, 2014. This event will be an opportunity for the Governor General to interact with conference attendees and to promote trade and investment between our two countries.
165 South Muirfield Road, Official Residence of the Consul General of Canada, Los Angeles
Photo Op - Official photographers only
Los Angeles, California Tuesday, April 29
8 a.m.
Milken Global Conference
The Governor General will attend panel discussion on innovation presented at the 2014 Milken Global Conference. He will also meet with key American business leaders involved in these particular fields, and engage with Canadian business leaders at the Invest in Canada booth.
The Milken Institute Global Conference welcomes 3 000 leading thinkers from disparate disciplines to exchange ideas and solve some of the world's toughest challenges. These high-powered CEOs, investors, innovators, policy-makers, philanthropists, educators and scientists challenge each other's thinking on topics from financial markets, economic development, energy, and global health, to public policy, education, media and technology. For more information, visit www.globalconference.org.
9876 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hilton Hotel, Los Angeles
Open To Media
11:15 a.m.
Visit to the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Campus with Vice-Provost for International Studies
Upon his arrival, the Governor General will be greeted by Cindy Fan, Vice-Provost of International Studies at UCLA, who will offer a tour of the campus, and provide an overview of the university and its relationship with Canada. In April 2012, the International Institute, under the leadership of Mrs. Fan, became the permanent administrative home for the Canadian Studies Program.
Founded in 1919, UCLA is known worldwide for the breadth and quality of its academic, research, health care, cultural, continuing education and athletic programs. UCLA's primary purpose as a public research university is the creation, dissemination, preservation and application of knowledge for the betterment of our global society. To fulfill its mission, UCLA is committed to academic freedom in its fullest terms: it values open access to information, free and lively debate conducted with mutual respect for individuals, and freedom from intolerance. For more information, visit www.ucla.edu/about.
Charles Young Drive, UCLA, Los Angeles
Photo Op
12 p.m.
Round-Table Discussion with UCLA Leadership and Canadian Studies Program Executive Committee
The Governor General will deliver an address on the theme of Canada-United States: Training the Next Generation of Researchers and Innovators.Officials and faculty from the UCLA Canadian Studies Program, the International Institute, the Burkle Center for International Relations, and the California Nanotechnology Institute will be in attendance. A discussion on innovation and the partnership between UCLA and Canada will follow, moderated byMrs. Fan,Vice-Provost for International Studies.
Established in 2001, the Canadian Studies Program at UCLA fosters a better understanding of Canadian society and its relationship with the United States. Through its teaching, research and public lecture series, the program facilitates awareness of issues of mutual concern to the two countries among students, faculty and the public at large. For more information about the program, visit www.international.ucla.edu/canada.
Faculty Center, UCLA, Los Angeles
Photo Op - Official photographers only
1:30 p.m.
Keynote Address at UCLA
The Governor General will speak on The Diplomacy of Knowledge: Innovation Exchange Across Bordersto UCLA officials, faculty and students. Following his address, he will participate in a question-and-answer period with the audience.
570 Westwood Plaza, California NanoSystems Institute Auditorium, Los Angeles
Open To Media
4:30 p.m.
Meeting with Order of Canada Recipients
The Governor General will meet with recipients of the Order of Canada living in California to recognize their contributions to both Canada and the U.S. He will discuss with them how Canada can increase its partnerships with creative industries located in the southern California region.
Established in 1967 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Order of Canada is the centrepiece of Canada's honours system and recognizes a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. The Order recognizes people in all sectors of Canadian society. Their contributions are varied, yet they have all enriched the lives of others and made a difference to this country. The Order of Canada's motto is Desiderantes Meliorem Patriam (They desire a better country). For more information, visit www.gg.ca/honours. 165 South Muirfield Road, Official Residence of the Consul General of Canada, Los Angeles
Photo Op - At the beginning of the meeting
5 p.m.
Friends of Canada Reception
In honour of his visit to Los Angeles, His Excellency will address Order of Canada recipients, local business leaders and eminent community members who offer continued and exceptional service in promoting and enhancing the Canada-United States relationship.
165 South Muirfield Road, Official Residence of the Consul General of Canada, Los Angeles
Open To Media
San Diego, California Wednesday, April 30
9:15 a.m.
Visit and Round-Table Discussion at Qualcomm Headquarters
The Governor General will visit Qualcomm's Technology Museum, which showcases the company's rich history of innovation, the impact of its technologies on the world today, and its vision for the future. His Excellency will then meet with senior executives to discuss innovation and Qualcomm's growing partnership with Canada through universities, Canadian employees, and research and development.
Qualcomm has close to 500 employees in five Canadian locations and is considered one of the top 15 best workplaces in Canada. It is one of the largest hiring companies of co-ops from the University of Waterloo and the University of Toronto. In March 2014, Qualcomm signed a 10-year Innovation Partnership Agreement with the University of British Columbia for collaboration on the Internet of Things, which refers to uniquely identifiable objects and their virtual representations in an Internet-like structure.
Since its founding in 1985, Qualcomm has become one of the principal drivers of San Diego’s high-technology economy, spurring numerous start-up companies and attracting other major players in the industry to San Diego. Qualcomm is the world's leading mobile chipset provider and employs 21 000 workers worldwide. For more information, visit www.qualcomm.com.
5775 Morehouse Drive, Qualcomm Inc. Headquarters, San Diego
Open To Media - Visit to Technology Museum and Patent Wall
Closed To Media - Meeting with Executives
La Jolla, California Wednesday, April 30
11 a.m.
Visit to the Moores Cancer Center at the University of California San Diego (UCSD)
Upon his arrival, the Governor General will be welcomed by Dr. Catriona Jamieson, Director of Stem Cell Research, who will offer him a tour of her research lab. At 11:30 a.m., His Excellency will then participate in a discussion with researchers from UCSD and the Canada-California Strategic Innovation Partnership in Cancer Stem Cells (CCSIP) to review the progress of this successful initiative and discuss future opportunities.
In June 2008, the Canadian Stem Cell Consortium (CSCC) established a formal partnership with California through the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) to explore possible collaborative funding of cancer stem cell research projects undertaken by Canadian and Californian research teams.
During the discussion, His Excellency will also acknowledge Dr. Napoleone Ferrara, UCSD Senior Deputy Director for Basic Sciences and recipient of the 2014 Canada Gairdner Award. Dr. Ferrara was recognized for his work identifying the role of the human vascular endothelial growth factor gene in promoting angiogenesis - the formation of new blood vessels that can feed tumor growth - and the subsequent development of two major monoclonal antibody drugs. The Canada Gairdner Awards were created in 1959 to recognize and reward the achievements of medical researchers whose work contributes significantly to improving the quality of human life. They are Canada's only globally known and respected international science awards. For more information about the award, visit www.gairdner.org/.
Established in 1978, the UCSD Moores Cancer Center is one of 41 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the United States, and the only one in the San Diego region. Such centres are prominent among the nation's leading institutions dedicated to scientific innovation and clinical excellence. For more information, visit https://cancer.ucsd.edu/
3855 Health Sciences Drive, Moores Cancer Center, UCSD, La Jolla
Open To Media - Tour of lab
Closed To Media - Meeting with researchers
Berkeley, California Wednesday, April 30
5 p.m.
Public Address at UC Berkeley
The Governor General will deliver a speech on The Diplomacy of Knowledge: Innovation Exchange Across Borders to the general public, students and faculty. Following his address, His Excellency will participate in a question-and-answer period with the audience. The event is hosted by UC Berkeley's Canadian Studies Program, the UC Berkeley Institute of Government Studies, and UC Berkeley International House.
The Canadian Studies Program at UC Berkeley was established in 1982, with the aim of institutionalizing the interdisciplinary study of Canada through instruction and research.
It encourages and facilitates an awareness of Canadian issues on the campus, in nearby institutions with no Canadian studies programs of their own, and in the wider community. For more information, visit http://canada.berkeley.edu/.
Morrison Reading Room, Doe Library, UC Berkeley, Berkeley
Open To Media
6:15 p.m.
Reception Hosted by the Chancellor of UC Berkeley
In honour of the Governor General's visit, Nicholas B. Dirks, Chancellor of UC Berkeley, will host a reception with senior university faculty and administrators, student, Canadian Studies Program staff and researchers, as well as Canadian students to underscore the relationship between Canada and UC Berkeley.
University House, UC Berkeley, San Francisco
Photo Op - Official photographers only
San Francisco, California Thursday, May 1
9 a.m.
Visit to the Canadian Technology Accelerator (CTA) at RocketSpace
The Governor General will visit RocketSpace, an accelerator for start-ups that focuses on providing space and support for early-stage innovators, particularly those in Internet-related subsectors. He will meet with Duncan Logan, founder and CEO of RocketSpace, and take a tour of the facilities. During the tour, the Governor General will learn about the company's vision and its role with corporate partners. He will then proceed to the CTA to witness project demonstrations from early-stage Canadian companies who are participating in the program.
In April 2011, the Consulate General of Canada in San Francisco/Silicon Valley chose RocketSpace as the site for the CTA. The program is designed to enable innovative Canadian technology companies to grow and succeed internationally. It does this through an intensive immersion experience of entrepreneurship; customer acquisition, supply and strategic partnerships; and venture capital formation. The CTA makes free office space available for three to six months where physical offices are located within existing business incubators. There are five CTAs in the United States located in the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City and Boston. For more information, visit www.tradecommissioner.gc.ca.
225 Bush Street, 12th Floor, RocketSpace, San Francisco
Open To Media
Palo Alto, California Thursday, May 1
10:45 a.m.
Discussion with the Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society (Stanford PACS)
The Governor General, joined by Ian Bird, President of Community Foundations of Canada, will discuss efforts to increase philanthropic funding in the United States and how it might serve as a model for increasing philanthropy in Canada. This meeting with representatives from the Stanford PACSand other American organizations in attendance will also be an opportunity to exchange views on the impact of social innovation on philanthropy, and to share information on Canadian efforts to actively engage more participation in philanthropy and volunteerism.
In his installation speech in October 2010, the Governor General spoke of his vision of Canada as a smart and caring nation where all Canadians can develop their talents, succeed and contribute to society. He set out three pillars necessary to achieve this vision: supporting families and children; reinforcing learning and innovation; and encouraging philanthropy and volunteerism.
Stanford PACS is a research centre for students, scholars and practitioners to develop and share knowledge to improve philanthropy, strengthen civil society and effect social change. Its primary participants are Stanford faculty; visiting scholars; post-doctoral scholars; graduate and undergraduate students; and non-profit and foundation practitioners. As the publisher of the Stanford Social Innovation Review, Stanford PACS informs policy and social innovation, philanthropic investment and non-profit practice. For more information, visit http://pacscenter.stanford.edu/.
Quadrus Conference Center, Palo Alto
Photo Op - Official photographers only
12:15 p.m.
Canadian Innovation Luncheon with Business Leaders
The Governor General will attend an innovation luncheon, where he will address members of the C100 - a non-profit, member-driven organization dedicated to supporting Canadian technology entrepreneurship and investment-, local business leaders and other eminent members of the community. The luncheon will also include brief testimonials from two Canadian expat leaders who will talk about the strength of Silicon Valley-Canada business connections.
QCC Room, Quadrus Conference Center, Palo Alto
Open To Media - Governor General's remarks and testimonials from two Canadian business leaders
Mountain View, California Thursday, May 1
2 p.m.
Visit to Google Headquarters and Discussion with Canadian Googlers
Upon his arrival, the Governor General will visit the Google Campus during which he will have the opportunity to try on the Google Glass. Following the tour, he will meet with company executives from the United States to explore trends in how educational institutions are providing the proper training and producing the right type of employees in the fields of information technology and communication. The discussion will also focus on Canada's impressive co-op programs that place Canadian university students at numerous Silicon Valley tech firms. The Governor General will then participate in a round-table discussion with Canadian employees working at Google Headquarters to learn more about their experience, their work environment and the company's innovative culture.
In September 2013, Google implemented a Global Tech Hub Program in Waterloo, Canada, to provide start-up companies with exclusive access to Google experts and products, and to encourage participation in Google events. Google also has offices in Toronto, Ottawa and Montréal. There are more than 300 Google employees in Canada, with the majority working at the Waterloo office.
1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Google Inc. Headquarters, Mountain View
Photo Op - Official photographers only
San Francisco, California Thursday, May 1
5:45 p.m.
Friends of Canada Reception
In honour of the Governor General’s visit to the city, Mr. Edwin Lee, Mayor of San Francisco, will make a special presentation to His Excellency before an audience of elected officials from the federal, state and municipal levels; business and community leaders; academics; and Canadians living in California. The Governor General will deliver remarks on this occasion.
Room of The Dons, 999 California Street, Mark Hopkins Intercontinental Hotel, San Francisco
Open To Media - Special presentation and remarks
Seattle, Washington Friday, May 2
8:45 a.m.
Discussion on Philanthropy with Senior Officials from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
The Governor General will tour the Visitor Center of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to see first-hand the partnership that exists between the Foundation and Grand Challenges Canada, which supports innovators developing new approaches and instruments to help accelerate progress in global health.
The Governor General will then meet with senior officials to share philanthropy strategies and approaches pertaining to global health and post-secondary education in American institutions. The meeting will also be an opportunity to reiterate Canada's commitment to continuing its leadership in areas of mutual interest such as maternal, newborn and child health, as well as food and nutrition security.
Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people's health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people - especially those with the fewest resources - have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Jeff Raikes and Co-chair
William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates, and Warren Buffett. For more information, visit http://www.gatesfoundation.org.
440 5th Ave North, Seattle
Open To Media - Visit to the Foundation's Visitor Center
Closed To Media - Meeting with executives
11:30 a.m.
Round-Table Discussion on Innovation
The Governor General will meet with academic, business and innovation leaders to discuss major innovation and trade trends, opportunities and challenges that characterize the technology ecosystem in Seattle.
Edgewater Hotel, Seattle
Photo Op - Official photographers only
Redmond, Washington Friday, May 2
1:45 p.m.
Meeting with Executives at Microsoft Corporation
Upon his arrival, the Governor General will visit Microsoft's Envisioning Center, which offers a hands-on experience with the future of business and leisure - and also serves as a laboratory for the company's engineering teams. The facility encompasses scenarios at home, at work and places in between, and is inspired by product teams, Microsoft Research and by trends throughout the industry. Highlighted technologies include workplace collaboration tools, novel touchscreens, voice recognition and ubiquitous computing.
Following the visit, the Governor General will meet with senior executives to discuss Canada's opportunities to support Microsoft's global research and development. The discussion will also focus on Canada's strategy to better integrate technology into classrooms; and on immigration as a key component to our country's workforce development, namely with the recently launched Start-Up Visa Program, which attracts skilled workers and entrepreneurs to Canada.
Microsoft employs approximately 3 000 Canadians at its headquarters in Redmond, along with about 1 300 full-time staff at its Microsoft Canada subsidiary. The company remains one of the largest multinational information communication technology investors in Canada. Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. For more information, visit www.microsoft.com.
Executive Briefing Center, Microsoft Headquarters, Redmond
Photo Op - Upon His Excellency's arrival
Closed To Media - Visit to the Envisioning Center and meeting with executives
Seattle, Washington Friday, May 2
6:30 p.m.
Friends of Canada Reception
To conclude his visit in the United States, His Excellency will offer short remarks and meet with individuals who offer continued and exceptional service in promoting and enhancing the Canada-United States relationship.
Official Residence of the Consul General of Canada, Seattle
Photo Op - Official photographers only
Visits abroad by a governor general play an important role in Canada's relations with other countries. They are highly valuable as they help broaden bilateral relations and exchanges among peoples.
Members of the public can follow the Governor General's visit to the West Coast of the United States of America online at www.gg.ca, where speeches and photos will be posted.
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This itinerary is subject to change without notice. To obtain the latest updates, please visit www.gg.ca
Media information:
Marie-Ève Létourneau
Rideau Hall Press Office
613-998-0287
marie-eve.letourneau@gg.ca
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