Governor General's Canada Day Message

OTTAWA, July 1st, 2015 /CNW/ - Happy Canada Day, everyone! As governor general, I regularly meet with kind, generous and talented Canadians from coast to coast to coast.

I'd like to take this opportunity to call on all Canadians to use their unique talents to give back to Canada—not just on this special day, but as we approach 2017, our nation's 150th birthday. 2017 is going to be some year! And it's just a year-and-a-half away!

Canada's 150th is a wonderful opportunity to reflect, take stock and imagine our future. As we look back, let us look forward, and let us each give a gift to Canada—something that expresses our belief in a fair and just society for each and every person who calls this land home.

There are so many possibilities, large and small, for giving back. It doesn't have to be complicated. You can volunteer. Donate. Join. Create. Celebrate. Share. Teach.

There are so many ways to strengthen this country. And with 2017 fast approaching, now is the time to put our plans in motion. Now is the time to turn ideas into action. Now is the time to act.

Because the country we dream of won't build itself. A good society requires imagination, will and shared initiative. A good society is created through millions of individual efforts that add up to something greater than the sum of its parts.

In fact, we can liken Canada to a great performance, unfolding upon a grand stage, one act at a time. In this performance, each of us has a role to play, and what better day to start acting than this day, Canada Day?

Let me share a very current example of how thousands of Canadians are playing a wonderful starring role. This is the Year of Sport in Canada, and that means volunteers across the country have been working hard to hold some major events. Some are even international in scope, such as the FIFA Women's World Cup and the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games! Thousands of people are helping to put on these great events—thousands of stars shining brightly. Now that's what I call giving back!

Today is Canada's day, so let's commit to giving back to our country as we approach 2017. And let's get giving now!

David Johnston

Please note that the video version of this message is also available on www.gg.ca.

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SOURCE Government House