Remarks by
The Honourable John Harvard, P.C., O.M.
Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
Lieutenant Governor's Winter Festival
Ukrainian Pavilion, Brandon
Thursday, February 3, 2005 - 6:00 p.m.
Mayor Burgess, Brandonites and Western Manitobans and friends. It’s a pleasure to be here tonight. I consider Brandon a part of my old stompin’ grounds – I worked here as far back as the late 50’s and grew up about 40 miles south east of here at Glenboro. For me, visiting the old Wheat City is a bit like a home-coming.
It gives me great pleasure to follow in the footsteps of Peter Liba, who was here last year to join in the excitement of the first Lieutenant Governor’s Winter Festival in Brandon.
My predecessor in this office took great pride in the fact that the people of Brandon desired to attach the words Lieutenant Governor to this festival. And so do I.
It’s wonderful to be connected to an event that celebrates so much of
what is best about Manitoba.
In Manitoba, we cherish strong communities and a vibrant culture. When a city of 40,000 people puts on an event that draws 9,000 people over a winter weekend, that’s a fantastic illustration of a strong community with a vibrant culture.
In Manitoba, we value our diverse culture. We are proud to be the province that helped to develop the concept of multiculturalism, the idea of a great variety of cultures mixing and mingling and keeping traditions and languages alive.
That this festival is growing in its second year to include 12 cultural pavilions – including a Global Village pavilion to encourage participation from members of smaller ethno-cultural groups – that certainly illustrates the way we value diversity in Manitoba.
And in Manitoba, we have learned that winter is not a four-letter word. We’ve learned in Manitoba that snow and ice are an opportunity for fun and games and healthy fresh air activities. Well, what better way of illustrating that than gathering on a February weekend to create or just to admire the snow sculptures at Stanley Park?
The people of Brandon took on a big challenge when they organized the first Lieutenant Governor’s Winter Festival last year. You then raised your challenge level this year by making an even bigger festival with more seating and more pavilions.
In that respect, this festival also illustrates the spirit of Brandon and of the Westman region.
This is a vibrant, growing community that offers unsurpassed quality of life, a community that’s not afraid of a challenge, and that is ready to be recognized as one of the best places in Manitoba to live, work and play.
That’s something worth celebrating for a winter weekend and all year long.
Thank you. Enjoy the festival.
Back to January/February 2005 Speeches |
