Speech — Order of Canada Investiture Ceremony

September 18, 2025

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We are gathered today on the unceded territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation, who have cared for this land for thousands of years.

Welcome everyone—and congratulations to our newest members of the Order of Canada.

For nearly 60 years, outstanding individuals like you have joined the Order of Canada.

Appointees come from every region and culture that enriches our country.

You have excelled in every profession, discipline, and field.

You have helped our society become more aware, more prosperous, more innovative, more inclusive — and more influential on the world stage.

This month, Canada lost two remarkable members of the Order.

The first was Oneida actor Graham Greene, from the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario.

I deeply admire the way he moved the world—through his talent and the rich tapestry of emotions and characters he brought to life.

He shattered the mould that once confined Indigenous roles on screen. And in doing so, he created space for future generations of actors to thrive.

He was, like all appointees to the Order of Canada, and like all of you, a trailblazer.

The second member of the Order we lost was hockey legend Ken Dryden.

Ken Dryden was also a trailblazer—on the ice and far beyond it. Not only did he achieve feats unmatched in NHL history, but he also helped redefine what it meant to be a professional athlete by pursuing intellectual depth and stepping into civic life with purpose.

There are so many other trailblazers among the members of the Order of Canada.

Think of Captain Marc Garneau, who dared to dream of space, and saw opportunity and adventure where others saw difficulty.

Think of unforgettable Canadian leaders like Louise Arbour or Retired Lieutenant-General Romeo Dallaire, who have advanced human rights and peacekeeping.

Or activists like David Suzuki and Naomi Klein, who have fought for climate justice and social equity.

Like you, they were bold enough to explore and to innovate.

You’ve all challenged conventions and the boundaries of accepted knowledge.

You did not fear hard work, nor failure.

When we do that, we can achieve something truly unique—something greater than ourselves.

So whether you’ve excelled in a sport—reaching all the way to the Paralympic Games;

whether you’ve pushed the boundaries of our knowledge in health, history, technology or social justice;

whether you’ve enriched our cultural landscape, or built bridges where others saw only division—

You are all trailblazers, visionaries, and innovators.

This year has tested our resilience as a country—and the years ahead will bring new challenges.

But the Order of Canada is more than a recognition of past achievements.

It’s a call to keep reaching higher, to keep driving positive change in your communities—so we can grow stronger in the face of whatever lies ahead.

Keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

Congratulations!

NT5