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The Right Honourable Paul Martin, Madam Chancellor, Mr. President
Mr. Dean, Dear Professors, Dear Students, and Invited Guests,
Today is about our class and our journey. Over the past several years,
we have learned from each other, and we have grown as people.
We are here today because of our perseverance and devotion to our studies.
We are also here because each of us was fortunate to meet professors and
university staff members who displayed boundless passion for enhancing our
learning experience. Thank you for opening your doors, and in turn, our horizons
I am immensely proud to be a part of the 2013 graduating class.
As I look out towards you – my fellow graduates, I am reminded of the diversity and quality of
what we have achieved.
To my peers in the psychology program, I know many of you work to empower
marginalized and vulnerable individuals in our community, including survivors of
abuse and exploitation. May you continue to find fulfillment in this critical work.
Moreover, I am convinced that thanks to you and our conversations in class,
we will become not just better researchers and clinicians, but better people –
and one day, better parents and spouses.
To all those graduating this morning from the International Studies and
International Development programs, thank you for opening our eyes to the
importance of reflecting on the long-term implications and ethical dimensions of
Canada’s engagement with the world.
Canada is an amazing country – and you, and everyone in this room, make it that way.
Maple syrup has an important role to play – but you are irreplaceable.
You define Canada on the global stage – you champion Canadian values by promoting
freedom, peace, and equality of opportunity for all.
That’s why today is also a day to remember our brothers and sisters who dream each day of
the opportunity to live in a free society.
But knowing is not the same as engaging – as using our skills to advance the
protection of human rights and of human dignity.
We must have courage, as Immanuel Kant put it, to use our own understanding.
Whether we’re in Kandahar, Afghanistan, on Parliament Hill, or in the Morriset Library,
I believe all of us can make a lasting contribution.
But this air of confidence should not cloud our vision the reality we face
- no, we’re social scientists, after all.
It’s our job to embrace complexity while building a healthy society
in what sometimes feels like a Tower of Babel.
Now I know that the outlook isn’t rosy at the moment. But while there may be
fewer job openings than we’d like, there sure is a lot of work to be done.
It is an honour to stand before you, and I want to thank each and every one of you
for joining us for convocation.