Happy New Year, Canada!
This is a special time of year, when we pause, take stock of where we’ve been, and look ahead to the coming year.
For Canada, 2014 was a year of great celebration and commemoration. Canadians marked a number of significant anniversaries. Our accomplishments as individuals, as communities, as a country are many.
We live in a society that values fairness, democracy, human rights and diversity, and that is also prosperous and blessed with a rich natural environment.
With our good fortune comes great responsibility: to help and care for one another; to preserve the values that define us; to be innovative and progressive; to act as good stewards of our precious country.
Each year, I participate in citizenship ceremonies for new Canadians and travel abroad on official visits, and I can tell you that, in so many ways, Canada is the envy of the world. Why? Because our elders and our ancestors, through their hard work, built the communities in which we live; the institutions that help us care for one another; the wonderful country we call Canada.
Together, we must continue this heritage as we look ahead, and build a Canada for future generations. The 150th anniversary of Confederation, which we will celebrate in 2017, gives us a unique opportunity to think about the kind of country we desire, and to work towards it.
It is so important that we give back to our communities and to Canada. As my predecessor, Georges Vanier, once said:
“If Canada is to attain the greatness worthy of it, each of us must say, ‘I ask only to serve.’”
This statement of truth is elegantly simple. Each of us has something unique and important to offer, and the New Year provides an opportune time to commit to giving back to Canada.
It doesn’t matter how you get involved— just do it. By helping our fellow Canadians; by participating in our civic life; by working to build prosperity in our communities—this is how we build a smarter, more caring and resilient society.
I would also like to wish you an active New Year: 2015 will be the Year of Sport in Canada, and Canada will host a number of major sporting events, including the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games, the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the IIHF World Hockey Junior Championships, the 25th edition of the Canada Games, and the World Men’s Curling Championships.
The coming year will provide Canadians with many reasons to celebrate and many opportunities to participate. Let’s celebrate loudly and participate joyfully.
Happy New Year, Canada!
David Johnston
-30-
Julie Rocheleau
Rideau Hall Press Office
613-998-7280
julie.rocheleau@gg.ca
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