Installation of Michaëlle Jean as Chancellor of St. Paul’s University College–University of Waterloo

Dear friends, 

Chers amis, 

Je vous salue avec une immense joie et je vous remercie, consciente du grand privilège que vous m’accordez. 

I want to thank all of you  welcoming me today within the great family of St. Paul’s University College–University of Waterloo,

I must first tell you how honoured I feel to be joining you, and to be making this commitment to work by your side. 

I am also deeply moved because nothing feels more rewarding to me than to serve the greatest cause of all, that of education. 

As I say this, I remember my grandmother who raised five children on her own. 

She earned little, barely making it above the poverty line. 

But she was so proud of her independence.  Bent over her sewing machine, day and night, making clothes to sell at the market. 

Her efforts were focused on one thing: to provide the essentials to her children, which to her meant giving an education to her girls as well as to her boys. 

She kept repeating to them, and later to us, her grandchildren: “Do your homework and sing your joy and gratitude on the way to school, because education is : the greatest of accomplishments. Education is : not hard labour. It is : the best way to assert yourself and to prevail over adversity, to push back the limits, to overcome the impossible. Education is : the key to freedom, the freedom to choose, the freedom to go to the end of yourself, to reach the full extent of your passion, your aspiration. Education is the key to your and our emancipation, individual and collective…”

This was her mantra. 

Her whole body would straighten up as she spoke of the importance of education. 

Our eyes wide open, we would listen, but some of the meaning escaped us. 

In the course of our lives, however, her words came back to us. 

That is why I pay homage to her, every time I am, in turn, called to serve the cause of education. 

She did pass on the burning desire to learn. 

I hear myself repeat the same words to my daughter, and to you now!

I want you to know, Dr Myers, that the reason I accepted without hesitation your invitation to join the wonderful institution that is St. Paul University College is precisely because of the values of inclusion that define your programs. 

I did speak with my predecessor, Jean-Paul Gladu, who was able to institute with conviction the new program on Indigenous entrepreneurship. 

And I applaud the creation and the work of the Waterloo Indigenous Student Centre

I am also deeply  touched by the program dedicated to refugee students. 

Gloire m’a parlé de ce qu’il a su tirer de ce programme pour se reconstruire, reprendre confiance, après l’expérience éprouvante de la terreur et de l’exode. J’en sais moi aussi quelque chose.

Your commitment to support young people from our country’s disadvantaged communities and those affected by systemic racial discrimination is infinitely commendable, and highly exemplary. 

I subscribe entirely to your dedication to stand by them in all justice and fairness. 

For the marginalization of young people because of their origins or the colour of their skin is, not only—dare I say—a crime, an injustice, it also creates a massive deficit for society as a whole: a deficit of participation, democracy, and perspectives; a deficit of energy, possibilities and innovation. 

Ultimately, it creates a deficit in sustainable human, economic development, with long-term implications.

I like the fact that a university seeks to develop such exemplary curricula on a human scale. 

I like the emphasis on responsible and equitable development. 

I like the focus on imagination, diversity and ideas that shake up the conventional.

I like the exploration of innovative practices and the investment in social entrepreneurship and solidarity. 

A few days ago, I was able to talk with students involved in the GreenHouse social incubator project, along with graduates who became entrepreneurs. 

I was struck by the quality of the projects they created, all designed to serve the common good in a variety of fields, with solutions to problems and social issues found within the community, in specific industries, organizations and even abroad. 

I found their passion contagious, their achievements remarkable, their impact impressive. I saw how happy they are and the sense of purpose, the meaning they found while becoming change makers, builders and leaders. 

I have one goal: to lend my support, my experience, to share in this journey.

I was fortunate enough to travel the world. I know how far we have yet to go until we realize that we, peoples of all horizons, are all of the same humanity : our destinies tied together, in one urgent requirement, to cooperate for peace, stability, security, and the improvement of living conditions for all on this planet, in the spirit of a global community. 

Because an injury to one is an injury to all, the widening gaps always end up putting all of us at risk. 

Indifference, selfishness, the extremes, the excesses, the abuse and delusions, ours and those of others, here and elsewhere, have devastating effects and put us all in danger. 

I would like to see our corporate leaders:  join and help train new generations, invest in human capital, especially as these uncertain times call on us to muster all available energies, all creative spirits : to extricate ourselves from the effects of the pandemic, the human suffering and economic damage it causes. 

In conclusion, I would like to recognize the appointment of Dr. Vivek Goel, who succeeds Feridun Hamdullahpur, as President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Waterloo. 

Mr. Hamdullahpur gave the institution a new impetus through the integration of entrepreneurial and community initiatives as a means of devising public policies attuned to current challenges. 

Vivek Goel, in turn, wants to ensure that the University of Waterloo, including St. Paul’s, contribute, as he said, to drawing up lines of purpose, ideas, and action that respond to the issues of our time such as health, systemic racism, climate change and economic recovery. 

I also want to thank Dominic Barton, Chancellor of the University of Waterloo for his good words of encouragement. 

I am eager to meet all of you :  who make this campus what it is—deans,  professors,  researchers, trainers, all the staff—and the students of course, know that I can't wait to assist you all, in the pursuit of your dreams. 

Thank you for including me... 

Merci de faire appel à moi et de m’inclure. 

Miinguish