Remarks by
The Honourable John Harvard, P.C., O.M.
Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
2005 Northern Manitoba Trappers' Festival
Opening Ceremonies
The Pas
Wednesday, February 16, 2005 - 12:00 p.m.
Mayor Hooper, Chief Whitehead, friends and fellow Manitobans, thank you for the opportunity to experience northern hospitality and the beauty of winter in the boreal forest country.
Any time I travel this way I am struck by the vastness and beauty of Manitoba and of Canada.
And when I see the panorama of forest and lakes and rivers stretching out in all directions, I am reminded that there was a very good reason why the builders of Manitoba's Legislative Building decided to have our province’s symbol – The Golden Boy – facing north.
It's not just that the resources of the north are vital to the future of Canada, although that certainly is true.
I think the Golden Boy faces north because the north is so much a part of who he is – who we all are as Manitobans and as Canadians.
Even though most Canadians live in a fairly narrow strip of land along the southern edge of our country, our identity has been shaped by this rugged northern land.
No matter where you live in Canada or what you do for a living, the great adventure of the fur trade has an influence on you and your community.
The search for furs united this country, and brought together First Nations and Metis people, and speakers of English and French in multicultural communities long before the word "multicultural" was coined. Trapping and transporting furs in Canada's vast north created the role models for all Canadians who still feel a connection to wild country.
Here at the Northern Manitoba Trappers' Festival you celebrate those
living traditions through events like the King and Queen Trapper competitions
and world championship dog races.
It's wonderful to see such a broad community participation in this festival, from elementary school students who take part in their own mini-trapper competitions to elders and old timers who have lived long lives close to the land.
Only a great volunteer tradition can make an event like this possible and keep it thriving for 58 years.
And that too is a proud Canadian tradition that is particularly strong in communities like The Pas – a tradition of communities coming together to survive and thrive and warm up a chilly season.
As Lieutenant Governor I would like to thank the board and all the volunteers
and sponsors for making this festival a vibrant part of our province.
Enjoy the 2005 festival and may there be many more where this came from.
Back to January/February 2005 Speeches |
