Santiago, Chile
Saturday, November 29
11:45 p.m.
Arrival in Santiago
Upon their arrival in the capital city, Their Excellencies will be greeted by Patricia Fuller, Ambassador of Canada to Chile, and by representatives of the Government of Chile.
Santiago International Airport
Official photographers only
Santiago, Chile
Sunday, November 30
2:50 p.m.
Visit to the Museum of Memory and Human Rights
Their Excellencies will visit the Museum of Memory and Human Rights, inaugurated by Her Excellency Michelle Bachelet, President of the Republic of Chile, in January 2010. The Museum recounts the country's struggle for democracy and human dignity under the dictatorship of former Chilean President Augusto Pinochet, between 1973-1990. It serves as a place for reflection and debate on human rights, respect and tolerance. During their visit, Their Excellencies will also learn more about the Government of Canada's involvement in welcoming thousands of Chileans to our nation. For more information, visit www.museodelamemoria.cl.
Museum of Memory and Human Rights
Open to media
Santiago, Chile
Monday, December 1
11 a.m.
Wreath-Laying at the Monument to Bernardo O'Higgins
Upon their arrival, Their Excellencies will be greeted by Jorge Burgos, Minister of Defence in Chile, and General Leonardo Martínez, Commander of Santiago's military garrison. They will then lay a wreath at the Monument to Bernardo O'Higgins, a Chilean leader who freed Chile from Spanish rule in the Chilean War of Independence.
The Chilean War of Independence (1810-1821) was an armed conflict between pro-independence Chileans seeking political and economic autonomy from Spain, and royalists supporting continued allegiance to the Captaincy General of Chile and membership in the Spanish Empire.
Plaza de la Ciudadanía
Photo op
11:15 a.m.
Visit to the Crypt of Bernardo O'Higgins
Following the wreath-laying, Their Excellencies will proceed to the Crypt of Bernardo O'Higgins, where the remains of the Founding Father of Chile and heroic leader of national independence in Chile and Latin America are honoured and protected. Their Excellencies will sign the guest book in honour of their visit.
Plaza de la Ciudadanía
Official photographers only
11:40 a.m.
Official Welcoming Ceremony
The Governor General will be officially welcomed by President Bachelet. During the ceremony, the Governor General will receive military honours.
Constitution Square, La Moneda
Open to media
12:05 p.m.
Meeting with the President of the Republic of Chile
His Excellency will meet with President Bachelet to discuss Canada's ongoing strategic partnership with Chile.
Blue Room, La Moneda
Photo op for pool media only–At the beginning of the meeting between the Governor General and the President
Media availability–Following their meeting, from 1 p.m. to 1:10 p.m., the Governor General and the President will deliver statements and answer questions from members of the media in the Las Camelias Courtyard
12:05 p.m.
Meeting with Sebastián Dávalos Bachelet
Her Excellency Sharon Johnston will meet with Sebastián Dávalos Bachelet, Director of the Socio-Cultural Section of the Presidency, and visit the Palace and Centro Cultural de La Moneda.
La Moneda
Official photographers only
1:30 p.m.
State Luncheon Hosted by the President of the Republic of Chile
Their Excellencies will take part in a State luncheon hosted by President Bachelet, in honour of their visit to the country. The Governor General and the President will deliver remarks on this occasion.
Montt-Varas Room, La Moneda
Open to pool media only–During remarks delivered by the Governor General and the President
3 p.m.
Meeting with the President of the Supreme Court of Chile
His Excellency will meet with Sergio Manuel Muñoz Gajardo, President of the Supreme Court of Chile. The Supreme Court of Chile is the highest court in the country. The Court's 21 members are appointed by the President of the Republic of Chile and adjudicate over cases in groups of at least five judges, with the most senior judge presiding over each group.
Salón de la Presidencia, Supreme Court
Photo op–At the beginning of the meeting
3:30 p.m.
Visit to Fondacio by Her Excellency Sharon Johnston
Joined by Sebastián Dávalos Bachelet, Her Excellency will visit Fondacio, a non-governmental organization (NGO) that uses occupational and horticultural therapy to help people with physical and mental disabilities live independent, fulfilling lives.
She will be greeted by Paula Vargas, Head of Development and of Fondacio's Solidarity Program, and by Mónica Espinoza, the centre's project manager. They will provide insight on the program and its focus on teaching participants how to produce traditional herbal medicines.
Mrs. Johnston will then proceed to the greenhouse–built with the support of the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives–to participate in workshops with the beneficiaries. She will speak with them about how the program has helped them overcome their own personal challenges while allowing them to support the organization through the sale of medicinal plants in stores. For more information, visit www.fondacio.org.
Fondacio
Open to media
3:45 p.m.
Meeting with the President of the Chamber of Deputies
His Excellency will meet with Aldo Cornejo, President of the Chamber of Deputies.
Ex Congreso Nacional Building
Photo op–At the beginning of the meeting
4:25 p.m.
Meeting with the Mayor of Santiago
The Governor General will meet with Carolina Tohá Morales, Mayor of Santiago. Following the meeting, the Mayor and the Governor General will proceed to the Plenary Room, where she will award him the keys to the city and the title of "Illustrious Guest," in honour of his visit. His Excellency will deliver remarks on this occasion. The ceremony will conclude with a cultural performance in the foyer of City Hall.
Plenary Room and Foyer, Santiago City Hall
Official photographers only–Meeting between the Governor General and the Mayor of Santiago
Open to medi–Presentation of the keys to the city and cultural performance
8 p.m.
Friends of Canada Reception
On the occasion of his State visit to Chile, His Excellency will offer short remarks and present the Governor General's Visit Medallions to individuals for their continued and exceptional service in promoting and enhancing the Canada-Chile relationship.
Official photographers only
Santiago, Chile
Tuesday, December 2
9:30 a.m.
Panel Discussion on Fostering Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Upon arrival, the Governor General will be greeted by Alfonso Gómez, Executive President of Anacleto Angelini UC Innovation Center, before proceeding to the auditorium. The discussion will include testimonials from a Canadian-Chilean angel investor and the owner of a Chilean start-up who have established a successful business relationship. They will describe the major elements required to secure good projects from an investor's point of view, and how to attain angel funding from a start-up point of view. A panel of Canadian and Chilean experts will then share their comments and answer questions from the audience. The Governor General will summarize the discussion with closing remarks.
The Anacleto Angelini UC Innovation Center is a multidisciplinary and generalist centre conceived to promote innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives that will yield high economic, social and cultural impact. For more information, visit www.centrodeinnovacion.uc.cl/en.
Centro de Innovación UC Anacleto Angelini
Open to media
Maipú, Chile
Tuesday, December 2
10 a.m.
Launch of In Maipú, It Gets Better Project with Her Excellency Sharon Johnston
Joined by Alejandra Bustamante, Acting Mayor of the Municipality of Maipú, and by community members, teachers, students and project representatives, Her Excellency will attend the launch of the project En Maipú, Todo Mejora (In Maipú, It Gets Better )–the Chilean branch of the international It Gets Better organization. This new project, supported by Canada Fund for Local Initiatives, consists of a play and a discussion on gender identity. It will provide participating public schools in Maipú with the tools to promote and implement a safe environment for sexual diversity.
During her visit, Her Excellency will have a private discussion with youths who have been struggling with their sexual identity. She will then attend a theatrical performance with children on gender identity and respect for sexual diversity. Following the performance, she will engage the children in a discussion on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights.
Since 2012, Todo Mejora has been affiliated with the global It Gets Better Project, a network that seeks to improve the quality of life for LGBT people. The In Maipú initiative aims to evaluate existing levels of understanding about sexual diversity among students, to add human rights and sexual orientation rights to the school curricula, and to end the stigma associated with sexual diversity. For more information, visit www.itgetsbetter.org.
Garden of the City Hall of the Municipality of Maipu
Official photographers only–Discussion with youths
Open to medi–Theater performance
Santiago, Chile
Tuesday, December 2
12:30 p.m.
Visit to Circo del Mundo
Their Excellencies will be greeted by Alejandra Jiménez, Director of Circo del Mundo, and Alain Veilleux, Co-founder of Circo del Mundo. They will visit the facility and attend a performance by students from MiniCompañia under the circus tent. Following the performance, Their Excellencies will engage with the students, many of whom come from low-income communities in Santiago. They will describe how the circus has been beneficial to them, to their families and to their community as a whole.
Circo del Mundo is an NGO devoted to teaching, cultivating, promoting and professionalizing contemporary circus in Chile. Its mission is to enhance and promote the circus as a performing art and as an intervention tool for human development. Circo del Mundo was created through the initiative of Cirque du Soleil and Jeunesse du Monde in 1995, as part of an international co-operation project with Corporación Canelo de Nos, a Chilean NGO.
Circo del Mundo, Santiago
Open to media
2:15 p.m.
Working Luncheon on Women's Issues in Chile Hosted by Her Excellency Sharon Johnston
Her Excellency will meet with representatives from the Government of Chile, the United Nations Development Program, NGOs and the academic sector to discuss women's issues in Chile. The participation of women in public policy discussions and decision making is low in Chile, and among the lowest in South America. The dialogue will also focus on the Government of Chile's changes to its political system to increase the participation of women in politics by introducing mandatory quotas for candidates and financial incentives for political parties that favour female candidates.
Official photographers only
3:30 p.m.
Address and Discussion on Education at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
The Governor General will deliver a keynote address to academics and faculty from universities across Santiago. The Global Knowledge Economy: A Canadian Perspective will focus on the importance of collaboration through education, innovation and trade, as well as through the diplomacy of knowledge. A discussion with Canadian experts and a question period with the audience will follow. The Governor General will be awarded the Monsignor Larraín Gandarillas medallion, an honorary distinction awarded to people whose contributions to society, culture, economy or politics, both at an international and national level identify them as "Eminent Guests" of Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
Founded in 1888, the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile signed its first agreement with Simon Fraser University in 1995. Since then, it has signed 18 other agreements with institutions in Canada, including such top-ranked schools as Queen's University, Université de Montréal and the University of Alberta. These agreements range from general bilateral co-operation to MBA and PhD-specific exchanges. Over 520 students in areas such as administration and economics, education, engineering, and social sciences have taken part in these exchanges. For more information, visit www.uc.cl/en.
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Open to media
4:30 p.m.
Visit to Fundación de las Familias by Her Excellency Sharon Johnston
Her Excellency will visit the Peñalolén Centre of Fundación de las Familias, an organization that aims to improve the quality of life and social skills of some 300 vulnerable families through educational, sporting, cultural and integration activities. She will be joined by Sebastián Dávalos Bachelet, Daniela Baeza, the centre's director, and by Carolina Leitao Álvarez-Salamanca, Mayor of Peñalolén.
Her Excellency will tour the centre and learn about its green garden and recycling programs that provide a healthier environment for the community. She will also participate in various workshops and interact with participants whose everyday lives have been changed for the better, thanks to the services offered by the centre.
The Fundación de las Familias is funded by the Government of Chile. It helps people in need through group workshops, meetings and modules from four targeted areas of interest: sports, culture, green spaces and healthy living, and socio-family development.
Fundación de las Familias
Open to media
8 p.m.
Discussion on Innovation and Productivity
The Governor General and Luis Felipe Céspedes Cifuentes, Minister of Economy, Development and Tourism in Chile, will attend a discussion on Canada and Chile's respective priorities and agendas for increasing productivity, economic growth, innovation and competitiveness. Private sector representatives from Canadian companies, investors, Chilean government officials, and other stakeholders will also take part in the discussion.
Official photographers only
State visit to the Republic of Columbia
Bogotá, Colombia
Wednesday, December 3
Noon
Arrival in Bogotá
Upon arrival in the capital city, Their Excellencies will be greeted by Carmen Sylvain, Ambassador of Canada to Colombia, and by representatives of the Government of Colombia.
Catam–El Dorado–Bogotá International Airport
Open to media
12:40 p.m.
Official Welcoming Ceremony
Their Excellencies will be officially welcomed by His Excellency Juan Manuel Santos Calderón, President of the Republic of Colombia, and by the First Lady María Clemencia Rodríguez Múnera. During the ceremony, the Governor General will receive military honours and inspect a guard of honour.
Plaza de Armas, Casa de Nariño
Open to media
12:50 p.m.
Meeting with the President of the Republic of Colombia
The Governor General will meet with President Santos Calderón to discuss key areas of Colombian engagement with Canada.
Protocol Room, Casa de Nariño
Photo op for pool media only–At the beginning of the meeting between the Governor General and the President
Media availability– Following their meeting, from 1:45 p.m. to 2 p.m., the Governor General and the President will deliver statements and answer questions from members of the media.
12:50 p.m.
Meeting with the First Lady of the Republic of Colombia
Her Excellency will meet with the First Lady María Clemencia Rodríguez Múnera to learn about the strategic Early Childhood Program addressing vulnerable youth living in poverty.
Casa de Nariño
Official photographers only
2 p.m.
State Luncheon Hosted by the President of the Republic of Colombia
Their Excellencies will take part in a luncheon hosted by President Santos Calderón, in honour of their State visit to the country. The Governor General and the President will deliver remarks on this occasion.
Bolivar Room, Casa de Nariño
Photo op for pool media only–Receiving line
Open to pool media only–Remarks by the Governor General and the President
Bogotá, Colombia
Thursday, December 4
8:30 a.m.
Discussion with Colombian Leaders on Peace and Reconciliation Initiatives
The Governor General will participate in a round table with Gustavo Petro, Mayor of Bogotá, Humberto de la Calle Lombana, Chief Government Negotiator for talks with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Camilo Gonzalez, Director of the Centre for Memory, Peace and Reconciliation, and key Colombian leaders involved in peace and reconciliation initiatives. The discussion will be followed by a tour of the Museum for Historical Memory, during which Their Excellencies will have the opportunity to meet with victims of the armed conflict. As a symbol of peace and in honour of his visit, the Governor General will plant a tree on the grounds of the Museum.
Since 2006, the Government of Canada has contributed $34 million in support of Colombia's flagship peacebuilding initiatives such as victims reparations, land restitution, humanitarian demining and demobilization verification. The Museum recounts the armed conflict between the Colombian government, paramilitary groups, crime syndicates and left-wing guerrillas (such as FARC), and the National Liberation Army, who have been fighting each other to increase their respective influence over Colombian territory. The armed conflict began in the 1960s. It is historically rooted in the conflict known as La Violencia, which was triggered by the assassination of populist political leader Jorge Eliécer Gaitán in 1948, and in the aftermath of strong, United States-backed anti-communist repression in rural Colombia in the 1960s that led liberal and communist militants to reorganize into FARC.
Centre for Memory, Peace and Reconciliation
Open to media
10 a.m.
Inauguration of the New LaSalle College Campus and Round Table on Education
Their Excellencies, joined by Gina Parody, Minister of Education in Colombia, and Claude Marchand, President of LaSalle College International Education, will inaugurate the new LaSalle College campus in Bogotá, the only private Canadian educational institution with direct investment in Colombia.
The inauguration will be followed by a round table on education with representatives from Colombia Challenge Your Knowledge and Colciencias. Colombia Challenge Your Knowledge is a campaign supported by the network of accredited universities of Colombia, the Ministry of Education and other strategic local allies to promote Colombia as a destination for academic and scientific collaboration. Colciencias, the Colombian National Administrative Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, promotes public policies to improve research and development in these areas of study in Colombia.
The Minister of Education and the Governor General will deliver speeches on this occasion. His Excellency will conclude his visit with a tour of the new campus during which he will speak with alumni who have studied in Canada and who have initiated their own businesses after studying at the college in Bogotá.
With an international network of 18 establishments, LaSalle College International Education Network has become the most widespread Canadian educational institution worldwide. The College offers diplomas based on course content and methods developed in Montréal, Canada. It ensures that its educational programs are developed with the same approach and matches its training parameters with the demands of the job market. For more information, visit www.lasallecollege.com.
Bogotá Campus, LaSalle College
Open to media
12:15 p.m.
Launch of Canadian Rural Development Initiatives in Colombia
Joined by Aurelio Iragorri, Minister of Agriculture in Colombia, Their Excellencies will attend the launch of three Canada-funded rural economic development projects. These initiatives, totalling $45 million in Canadian assistance, will help small-scale farmers in Colombia strengthen their cooperatives, increase their production, and facilitate their access to financing and new markets. Their Excellencies will visit kiosks presented by key Canadian rural economic development partners (International Development Research Centre, Cooperative Association, SOCODEVI, Développement International Desjardins, McGill University, and the National University of Colombia) and will speak with project beneficiaries.
At 1 p.m., Their Excellencies will participate in a round table with key Canadian and Colombian partners on the subject of Canada's contributions to rural development in Colombia.
El Chicó Museum
Open to media
7 p.m.
Friends of Canada Reception
On the occasion of his visit to Bogotá, His Excellency will offer short remarks and present the Governor General's Visit Medallions to individuals for their continued and exceptional service in promoting and enhancing the Canada-Colombia relationship.
Official photographers only
Medellín, Colombia
Friday, December 5
11:15 a.m.
Visit to Handicap International by Her Excellency Sharon Johnston
Her Excellency will meet with Natalia Londoño, Head of Co-operation and Donations at Hospital San Vicente Foundation, and with senior staff of both the hospital and of Handicap International. They will provide insight on the use of anti-personnel landmines and mine action in Colombia. An adult who survived a landmine accident will talk about his experiences and the support he received from the government and from Handicap International towards his rehabilitation. Mrs. Johnston will then tour the hospital's rehabilitation ward and speak with staff about the different aspects of the integral rehabilitation programs, including psychological support and economic reintegration.
Canada has been a lead donor in mine action in Colombia since 2003, supporting mine risk education via UNICEF, victims' assistance via Handicap International, and humanitarian demining (Global Peace and Security Fund/Stabilization and Reconstruction Task Force) via the Organization of American States. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Development supports the Assistance to Civilian Landmine Survivors project via Handicap International to help with the recovery and socio-economic reintegration of landmine survivors, especially children and youth.
Hospital San Vicente
Open to media
11:15 a.m.
Discussion on Innovation and E-Training Session
The Governor General will be welcomed by Aníbal Gaviria, Mayor of Medellín, and Juan Camilo Quintero, Executive Director of Ruta-N. He will be given an overview on how the corporation encourages the development of innovative, technology-based businesses to increase the competitiveness of the city, revitalize the economy, and create better jobs for the citizens of Medellín.
Following the presentation, students benefiting from the Ruta-N and Pipeline Studios partnership will demonstrate how they use e-training for their design and animation studies. In 2014, Pipeline Studios, a Canadian production company that provides 3D and 2D animation services for the television, feature-film and entertainment industries, began a partnership with Ruta-N to offer training to Colombian students. Part of this training is offered remotely through a web-based application assisted by a local professor. The Governor General will interact with students and learn how e-training has been an essential tool in their studies.
Ruta-N is a corporation created by the city of Medellín to promote the development of innovative technology-based businesses. It is supported by public and private organizations, educational institutions and various science and technology organizations. For more information, visit http://rutanmedellin.org/index.php/en.
Ruta-N Complex
Open to media
1:45 p.m.
Address at the Faculty of Mines of the National University of Antioquia
The Governor General will meet with John Willian Branch Bedoya, Dean of the Faculty of Mines in Medellín and Manizales, to discuss mining, public-private partnerships, and professional accreditation of Colombian students in Canada.
Following the meeting, the Governor General will hear testimonials from two local miners who have transitioned from illegal to formal mining. He will then speak on the importance of the mining sector in both Canada and Colombia, and emphasize sustainable development and corporate social responsibility in both countries' mining activities.
Colombia is the world's tenth-largest producer and fourth-largest exporter of coal, with an annual production of 85.5 million tons in 2013. With over 40 active mining exploration and production firms, Canadian presence accounts for more than 60 per cent of Colombia's mineral (hard rock) exploration market.
National University of Antioquia
Photo op–Upon arrival and at the beginning of the meeting with the Dean of the Faculty of Mines
Open to medi–Testimonials from Colombian miners and the Governor General's address
2:45 p.m.
Meeting with ACJ-YMCA Medellín and Visit to Biblioteca San Javier by Her Excellency Sharon Johnston
Her Excellency will meet with Professor Orlando Sánchez, Director of Escuela Virtual, Alexandra Castrillón, Director of ACJ-YMCA Medellín, and Esperanza Monsalve, Director of International Programs at YMCA Greater Toronto. She will then proceed to a classroom where she will hear about the YMCA Medellin and YMCA Greater Toronto partnership. She will have the opportunity to meet with youths and their parents to learn more about Escuela Virtual's computer literacy program and how it is creating cohesive family links, as well as keeping youth away from violence. Mrs. Johnston will also visit the Biblioteca San Javier, to speak with youth and community members who have benefited from ACJ-YMCA programs such as the Memory and Mental Health Program, which promotes interactions between youth and senior citizens as a way to reduce isolation, share experiences on violence and conflict, and promote healing.
The YMCA of Greater Toronto has worked with ACJ-YMCA Medellín since 1992, to promote health, basic education and skills development for the youth of Comuna 13, an unplanned settlement in west Medellín. The Government of Canada has supported this work via funding for the YMCA Canada Investing in Youth Program and the International Youth Internship Program, which deploy Canadian youth to ACJ-YMCA Medellín on work internships.
Escuela Virtual and Biblioteca San Javier, Comuna 13
Open to media
7:30 p.m.
Friends of Canada Reception
On the occasion of his visit in Medellín, His Excellency will offer short remarks and present the Governor General's Visit Medallions to individuals for their continued and exceptional service in promoting and enhancing the Canada-Colombia relationship.
Official photographers only
Medellín, Colombia
Saturday, December 6
11:15 a.m.
Visit to the Community of Granizal-Bello
With an estimated population of five million people, Colombia has the second-highest number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the world. Since receiving its first IDP arrivals in 1995, the population of the Granizal-Bello community has grown to at least 18 000 people. Approximately 90 per cent are IDPs originating from all parts of Colombia. Violence and intimidation by armed groups, death threats, risk of kidnapping, landmines and illegal land seizures are the main causes of displacement.
Their Excellencies will visit Granizal-Bello, one of the largest informal urban settlements in Colombia. Upon their arrival, they will be greeted by Carlos Muños, Mayor of Bello. They will proceed to Casa de los Derechos, where they will meet with community leaders and representatives to witness first-hand how this human rights centre offers a wide range of social protection services to IDPs. Their Excellencies will also engage with development partners, beneficiaries and local authorities at Fundación Cometa, a local organization that provides access to education and training. As a token of appreciation, Their Excellencies will donate fruit trees to the community.
Since 2006, Canada's bilateral development program had provided more than $137 million in support of child protection, access to education, human rights protection, rural economic development, youth employment and trade-related technical assistance.
Casa de los Derechos and Fundación Cometa, Granizal-Bello
Open to media
2 p.m.
Official Departure from Colombia
Carmen Sylvain, Ambassador of Canada to Colombia, and representatives of the Government of Colombia will be in attendance for Their Excellencies' departure.
Rio Negro International Airport
Open to media
Members of the public can follow the Governor General's State visits to the Republic of Chile and the Republic of Colombia online at www.gg.ca, where speeches, photos and videos will be posted.
-30-
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
Follow GGDavidJohnston and RideauHall on Facebook and Twitter.
