Remarks at the Maytree Scholarship 2007-2008 Ceremony
By Judy Broadbent, Maytree President

Graduation ceremonies mark the passage of time- but I think that this graduation ceremony has a particular significance for us today because it marks not only the success of those in the room, but in a sense it signifies the passage of time for Canada.

When I graduated from school we used to play baseball, hockey, basketball. You play all of these as well as soccer, cricket and badminton. Our favorite food was pizza and McDonald’s: yours includes Thai and curries. My friends all looked more of less like me in school- your friends are drawn from all over the world.

In more ways than one, you represent the future of Canada and in some sense, I represent the past.

Old Canada looked to its farms and rural communities for strength, new Canada looks to its growing urban centres for its future prosperity. Old Canada was dominated by immigrants from Europe, new Canada is increasingly multicultural and multi-racial. Old Canada worshipped in churches and synagogues; new Canada worships – maybe not so much – but when it does, in mosques and temples as well.

But old Canada and new Canada, you and I, are tied together. We have much to learn and give to each other. Both have strengths to build on and both have weaknesses to address. Old Canada has the strength of its institutions, its belief in strong government and public service. New Canada has energy, innovation and the capacity to take risks. New Canada can speak languages from all over the world. It has an intimate understanding of other countries and traditions and strong links to them. It has a broad world view. Old Canada must shed some of its rigidity, become less insular and rules oriented, become better at taking risks. New Canada in turn must strive to leave the tensions and conflicts behind in the old countries, must buy in fully to our evolving understanding of human rights and to our belief in the full equality of men and women.

We can and must rely on Government to create the policy frameworks that enable us to fulfill our dream of a just and caring society. But on a very personal level it is the thousand actions of a thousand individuals like you and me that set the pace for the future.

Chaviva Hosek, a former member of parliament and former English professor and long time champion of human rights, spoke at our most recent conference. She said that she came to Canada when she was young but never felt a real sense of belonging, never felt really at home, until she got involved in political action. She began trying to fix the place she was in. She became engaged. Our nation is a work in progress. So we need you to be proactive in not only identifying problems, but in identifying solutions and acting on them.

You are the Canada of tomorrow. We need you to take your share in building this nation. It is my dearest wish that you will all become engaged Canadian citizens, and engaged citizens of the world. That you will speak up against injustice, bad social policy, and barriers that prevent people from fulfilling their potential. And you must never take this country for granted. Go with confidence, aim high, contribute and believe in yourself. Fight for a just and equitable world. You are an amazing group of people. It has been a fantastic year. I thank you for that! Congratulations.