Remarks by
The Honourable John Harvard, P.C., O.M.
Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
Stradbrook Residential Services
Government House
Thursday, January 20, 2005 - 7:30 p.m.
Good evening and welcome to Government House – perhaps the oldest example
of supported independent living in Manitoba. This is an audience that
places a high value on independent living.
For more than 120 years, this beautiful old house has been home to Manitoba’s Lieutenant
Governors. And during that time, our Lieutenant Governors have relied upon the assistance of
household staff and aides in order to carry out their daily responsibilities.
Each year, many thousands of people like yourselves – from visiting international dignitaries
to Manitobans involved with important communities organizations like Stradbrook Residential
Services – enjoy receptions at Government House.
There's a big team that makes that possible – groundskeepers and gardeners
who make Government House beautiful in summer and provide flower arrangements
year-round, cleaning and catering staff who ensure that this old house
is an inviting place, maintenance staff who keep the utilities working.
Just as the team at Government House helps Her Honour and me to keep this home functioning, the team
at Stradbrook Residential Services helps many Manitobans with household or community tasks.
Your staff and volunteers help to make sure that independent living isn't
just a phrase in Manitoba, by providing services from home maintenance
and cooking to budgeting and socialization.
Those supports help clients to live comfortably and safely in their own homes in the community. By
making that possible, Stradbrook Residential Services helps Manitoba to live up to its commitment to human
dignity, personal freedom and respect for diversity.
We’re proud in Manitoba to live in a diverse community. By supporting community living for people with
disabilities, Stradbrook Residential Services helps to make a diverse society work.
Congratulations on the 25th anniversary of Stradbook Residential Service – to staff, volunteers, board
members and most especially to clients who are able to enjoy living independently in the community thanks
to this vital organization.
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