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图/省督办公室 杜丝苇尔就任安省第29任省督
安省历史上的前两位女性省督是Pauline McGibbon和Hilary Weston。
就任省督前，杜丝苇尔担任加拿大高等院校委员会（Council of Canadian Academies）会长和行政总监。她曾经担任核废料管理组织（Nuclear Waste Management Organization）的创始总裁和行政总监、多伦多大学兼职教授、联合国环境规划署执行主任、联合国人居署执行主任、联合国副秘书长、本国联邦环境部助理副部长、沙省文化和青年副厅长，是加拿大官佐级勋章的获得者。
她随她的家人于1947年从北爱尔兰移民到加拿大。
杜丝苇尔昨天在就职演讲中表示，在联合国的工作经历影响了她的世界观：“我们时代所面临的挑战性议题，需要对话和系统的思考”。
关于安省，她说：“我们最大的优势之一是来自全球各地的人。”
她说，安省面临的三大挑战是如何确保每个人享有成功机会、环保和社会凝聚力。
她表示，她决定打破省督在就任时就设立工作重点的传统，将先聆听安省省民的心声，然后决定工作重点。
对于杜丝苇尔的就职，执政党和反对党领袖都表示祝贺和欢迎。
省长韦恩说：“我感到十分的欣喜，热衷于公众服务的杜丝苇尔毅然负起了这个重任。我们这位新省督的公众服务纪录显著。她曾在省级、联邦以至国际间担当领导职位。她一直鼓励我们，以深思熟虑的方法，透过公共政策来改善人们的生活，保护我们的环境，改善教育的素质及可持续的能源发展。”
安省进步保守党临时党领Jim Wilson表示：“我们热切期待源于她的愿景的超越政治的正面倡议。她将会将省督的传统职责发扬光大，提供一个同理心和理想主义的典范。”
安省新民主党党领贺华斯表示：“她在公共服务、教育和环保方面的杰出成就将有助于在全国和国际上推广安省。杜丝苇尔将是安省女孩的典范，将在省督一职上作出卓越成就，并秉持诚信。”
安省第29任省督杜丝苇尔的就职演讲
Premier, Chief Justice, Senator, Executive Councillors, Members of Provincial Parliament, First Nations, distinguished guests, family and friends, mes chers amis:
As I begin this remarkable journey, I want to thank each and every one of you for your support and encouragement and for sharing this day with me.
I am grateful to the Governor General and the Prime Minister for entrusting me with the responsibility of serving as the 29th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. I will be sustained by their confidence and by their warm welcomes. I accept the charge of representing Her Majesty The Queen with humility, but without hesitation.
Canada’s particular constitutional framework, our sovereign democracy, has allowed our system of governance to evolve in a peaceful and orderly manner. I have great respect and affection for The Queen, recognizing her dignity, strength and commitment to duty. I pledge loyalty to the traditions of our collective heritage, to acting with impartiality and protecting the integrity of the Crown.
I also recognize that along with the constitutional functions of Lieutenant Governor come unique opportunities to celebrate the achievements, large and small, of the citizens of this province. We have such talented artists, scientists, business people and educators—among the best in the world.
We commemorate the sacrifices of our military and the dedication to duty of those who provide essential services in our communities. And we recognize and encourage a healthy spirit of volunteerism, among young and old alike, that makes our communities more humane and compassionate.
There is yet another role that the Lieutenant Governor plays in our society. We encourage and support practical and tangible initiatives that enable Ontarians to contribute meaningfully to the life of this province.
I take the opportunity today to acknowledge and recognize the selflessness, hard work and dedication of my predecessors.
During the past few weeks, I have had the opportunity to observe their impact first hand, thanks to the generosity of David Onley in providing a space for me in the office at the desk of Ontario’s first female Lieutenant Governor, Pauline McGibbon. Indeed, how could I not be inspired in preparing for my role sitting at that desk, surrounded by the art and artifacts of Ontario’s viceregal history.
The focus of Mrs. McGibbon, and of her successor Hilary Weston, on the rightful place of women and girls in society, their recognition of the importance of culture and the arts in enriching our quality of life are ever present.
I have much to learn from Hal Jackman’s deep interest in our history and the events it behooves us to remember.
I take inspiration from Lincoln Alexander’s unique ability to bond with young people and to rally us all in the struggle against racism, and from Mr. Onley’s profound understanding of what happens when people of all abilities are presented the opportunity to achieve their full potential.
And just this past week, while joining The Countess of Wessex, the Premier, Mrs. Onley and a group of impressive women on a visit to KI First Nation in Northern Ontario, I had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the cementing of lasting relationships with Aboriginal peoples, relationships that were encouraged by the initiatives of Mr. Bartleman and Mr. Onley.
We left KI with some important insights into the challenges the community faces. We heard the knowledge of the Elders and the hopes and dreams of Aboriginal youth as they walk in two worlds. The continuing reconciliation process will take our collective courage.
I also want to recognize and applaud the universal motivations of citizenship expressed so well by our Governors General. We are indeed a “smart and caring” nation.
Be assured that I will continue to nurture the objectives my predecessors held dear.
And on this day of commencement, you deserve to know what I bring to this position, what has shaped my values and vision.
As you may be able to tell from this ceremony—my nephews Kyle and Cole, who accompanied me in the landau, and my niece Lauren, who has sung so beautifully—family comes first.
In 1947, my mother and father had the courage to choose this country, emigrating from Northern Ireland to bring up their children in rural Saskatchewan. They are here with me in spirit.
My parents placed a very high value on education and, although it was unspoken, we always knew our path would be one of continuous learning and ambition. Being a “child of the manse”, the daughter of a teacher and musician, and the eldest of eight siblings, I learned the values of compassion, honesty and respect.
I have also been blessed by an extended family of incomparable friends, role models and mentors, many of whom have travelled from afar to be here with me today.
Place matters—and the Prairies have a very special place in my heart. Saskatchewan taught me the value of strong community and nurtured a social consciousness, solidarity with those in less fortunate situations. It is in the very DNA of the place. It encouraged visions as broad as the endless prairie sky.
And, as my journey has taken me beyond the protective and sheltered existence of small-town Saskatchewan life, I have been able to draw upon a reservoir of strength, humour, common sense and risk-taking that was surely shaped by life on the Prairies.
But, like many Ontarians, although I was born and raised elsewhere, I have chosen to make this province my home. I have lived here for almost half of my life.
I have had the great good fortune to follow diverse paths of possibility on which I continue to learn and grow, seizing moments of opportunity, thanks to an education that included the physical, behavioural and social sciences, as well as the arts. From teaching, through public service at the provincial, federal and international levels, and ultimately to the private sector, each chapter of my story has expanded my horizons and taught me valuable lessons.
This is not the day to elaborate on the specifics of those experiences. Let me simply say that there is no more noble profession than that of the public service. It is something of which I am very proud.
In seeking to engage citizens actively in the public policy matters that impact their lives I came to know more about our country, listening to people in communities large and small, travelling the length and breadth of Canada and into the High Arctic. And certainly my work with the United Nations influenced and shaped my world view. The challenging issues of our time require deep dialogue and systemic thinking.
It was a privilege to see my own country from a distance and to be reminded of how very fortunate we are with our wealth of natural resources, our relative stability and our respect for each other as human beings. Generosity of spirit, tolerance and commitment to social justice must be nurtured.
We generally think of peace as freedom from war. But we are not at peace if there is not enough food to eat; if there is inadequate shelter; if people are sick and cannot get medical care; if they are impoverished and cannot hope to escape poverty’s grip. In these terms, millions of our fellow humans on this planet cannot be said to be at peace.
I believe my personal history will help me to serve Ontarians during my term as Lieutenant Governor.
Canada is approaching its 150th anniversary as a country. Undoubtedly, we will be motivated to reflect on the important and central role that this province has played in the development of the nation. But perhaps we can dare to also think about Ontario in the world. How can Ontarians contribute to and succeed in this changing and interconnected world?
Ontario has it all. This is a place and time of opportunity.
From the sands of Point Pelee to the shores of Hudson Bay and beyond, Ontarians are blessed with an environment of unparalleled, spectacular diversity, rich with life and resources that have sustained generations. We are also home to millions of people from all walks of life and corners of the world, living and working in every kind of community—from small and remote to large and urban.
Thanks to clean air, bountiful water and space to grow, our prospects for sustaining a flourishing society, culturally and economically, are the envy of the world.
We are at the crossroads of migration, attracting an optimism, commitment and dedication that inspire each generation to innovate, to build anew and to enrich the soil and the fabric of Ontario society.
Ontario’s future, like its past, is anchored firmly in the world. And the world is in Ontario. Just look around. One of our greatest strengths is the people that we have drawn from around the globe.
While we have so many gifts, we also have challenges. I would highlight three in particular – and they do not stand alone. They are interrelated.
Our first challenge is to ensure responsible and inclusive prosperity so that everyone has a meaningful opportunity to participate. How do we harness a strong and healthy innovation ecosystem with world-leading knowledge institutions in order to fuel and secure dynamic economic vitality and productivity for all? How do we develop talented, diverse and highly skilled workforces? How do we create opportunities for people, particularly youth, and create jobs that provide dignified work?
To meet this challenge, we must engage more and more with the world: learn about it, live in it, trade in it, work in it, and find new ways of deepening connections between Ontario and the world.
The second and related challenge is the fragility of our planet – our mutual vulnerability. Our citizens understand that a healthy environment is the foundation for life on earth. Ontario is home to some of the world’s best educational institutions, and we are among the most scientifically literate people in the world. Do we have the imagination and determination to set ambitious goals, mobilize our talents, our energies, and our environmental resources in a shared vision of the future.
Finally, there is a third challenge. As we protect our precious natural resources and develop economically, can we ensure social cohesion? We see growing conflict around the world among different religious, ethnic, and national communities exploding into violence. Ontarians draw strength and encouragement from the fact that we have tried to construct a different kind of society: one that welcomes diversity, is interested in the traditions of others, and is based on fairness.
But we cannot afford to become complacent. With changing demographics, increasing poverty, homelessness and mental health issues, we need to reach across divides, get to know each other better, humanize one another and create spaces—both public and private—where we can work and play together. Surely our goal must be to live with dignity in just and sustainable communities.
We stand at an interesting moment in history. The world’s most important problems are Ontario’s most fundamental challenges. Ontario and the world are mirror images of one another: to succeed at home, we must contribute to the world, and to contribute to the world, we must succeed at home. Each one enables the other.
I know that it has become traditional for incoming Lieutenant Governors to declare during their investiture the themes that will be their priorities. I offer a slightly different approach.
I want to start by listening. In the first months of my mandate, I will convene diverse groups of Ontarians to hear your ideas about Ontario’s place in the world – to deepen our understanding about the connections. What can we contribute and what we can learn from each other to meet the global and local challenges we face in common?
The aim will be to provide a forum for reflection in the Lieutenant Governor’s office, a safe space and a crucible for ideas. And in time priority themes will emerge.
To achieve an Ontario that works for everyone will require uncommon dedication, creativity and energy. I invite Ontarians to join me in this exciting, challenging journey into our shared future.
Thank you. Merci. Miigwech. |
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