CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

As we celebrate this special season, it is my pleasure to bring you greetings on behalf of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada.

It is a privilege to serve as Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan. In my travels across the province, I not only get to experience the beauty of this land, I get to meet people of astonishing achievement and uncommon generosity.

In particular, I have been impressed by the youth of Saskatchewan. Every community in our province is home to young people who are volunteering, working hard at school, contributing at home, and providing leadership.

When I was growing up in Saltcoats, I was fortunate to be involved in the Air Cadet program. Decades later, it has been gratifying to participate in Cadet events. The program continues to give youth valuable life and work skills. The cadets I have met have demonstrated discipline and respect. They have risen to the challenges presented by the program, and have excelled in every field.

As a young person, I was also involved in Saskatchewan Youth Parliament. It is gratifying to see this historic organization continue to engage young people in governance. Fifteen to twenty-one year-olds take part in a model parliament, where they debate important issues in the Legislative Chamber. There is no better way to learn about how our government works. What is even more impressive is that this program is run by the participants themselves.

Each fall, I have the opportunity to visit northern communities to present awards to outstanding students. The awards program was established to encourage northern students to complete grade 12 and pursue further education. In many cases, these award-winning students face tremendous life challenges. Despite their circumstances, these promising young people have chosen to make school a priority, and have made enormous contributions to their families and their communities.

In Regina, there is a determined group of young people who call themselves the Dirty Dozen. With the support of the North Central Family Centre, these teenagers prove they have what it takes to run a marathon. These young people do not come from privileged backgrounds, but they find the discipline to train, and the courage to compete. They learn that if they can complete a marathon, there is no obstacle they cannot overcome.

In Saskatoon, an organization called EGADZ is also driven by young leaders. I was honoured to take part in the EGADZ day of mourning this year. This meaningful event was organized by youth who have been impacted by life on the streets. The young people created this annual event to support families who have lost loved ones to prostitution and addictions. Their aim is to educate the public about the problem. These young organizers are deeply inspiring individuals who have taken action to help others and to make our world better.

Four years ago, we established a program called the Lieutenant Governor's Leadership Forum. The goal of the Forum is to expose high school students to the vast educational and career opportunities in the province. Participants also explore leadership concepts and hear from provincial leaders. We accept the students based on an application process, and we have been excited by the calibre of the applicants. They have not only excelled academically, they have filled responsible leadership roles in their schools and communities. Each year, the Forum students have been willing to try new things and have been open to new ideas. They have warmly accepted their peers from differing ethnic and religious backgrounds. They have taught us as much as we have taught them.

The young people of our province are the key to our future, and we are fortunate that so many of them have chosen to lead already. This special season is a time of thanksgiving. I am grateful for the young citizens of Saskatchewan, whose determination, enthusiasm, and good ideas should give us all hope.

I invite you to join Naomi and me at Government House in Regina for the New Year's Day Levee. Please accept my very best wishes for a joyous holiday season, filled with peace and love.

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For more information, contact:

Office of the Lieutenant Governor
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4070