March 8, 2022

Check against delivery

Hello,

I would first like to acknowledge that I am joining you today from Rideau Hall, which sits on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe people, who, for thousands of years, have cared for this part of the world. And they continue to show us how to care for this world. I encourage all of us to listen.

It's a pleasure to be here at this presentation of the Governor General’s Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case and to celebrate the accomplishments of these four leaders.

Monique (Aubry) Frize. Caitlin Salvino. Carina Gabriele. Bailey Greenspon.

You have each dedicated yourselves to fighting for women’s rights and gender equality. We are a stronger society because of your efforts.

In Inuit communities, women are leaders. They show us how to be strong, principled and self-sufficient. I learned all this from two powerful women in my own life: my mother and grandmother.

Yet, when I started my career, I was often the only woman in the room. It would take years before that started to change, before women took their place in civil society. Today, women are in more positions of power or influence, making decisions and discoveries that impact our daily lives.

These Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case are named as tribute to the landmark case decision of 1929, brought to the courts two years earlier by the Famous Five.

Just imagine. It took two years for the final declaration that, indeed, the word “person” included women. Two years for a decision to be reached. Two years to debate one word. 

Change happens, but it does take time, patience, perseverance and hard work.

The Famous Five, today’s four recipients and all past recipients of these awards have personified ajuinnata.

Ajuinnata is a word in Inuktitut, my mother tongue. It is a promise to never give up. It means a commitment to action, no matter how difficult the cause may be.

None of you gave up on the dream of a safer, fairer, more equal world for women. A world where we use our ingenuity, innovation, creativity and unique perspectives to build a better and more inclusive world for all of us.

We have so much more work to do to achieve true equality, but I know that the four of you will be leading the way.

Congratulations to all of you on this wonderful occasion and thank you for your continued work in making our country better. 

And to everyone in attendance here, I appreciate your support for these awards and for the cause of equality. Let us all work together to open our doors to even more opportunities for women.

Let this country hear from our daughters and granddaughters – our future leaders. Canada will be the better for it.

Thank you.