Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards NAC Show

June 14, 2025

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I am delighted to be here with all of you, gathered on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation, to celebrate our performing arts.

What an evening we've had so far. We have witnessed some truly spectacular performances, and I look forward to seeing what's next!

Last night, I had the great privilege of having the laureates at Rideau Hall. I was honored to hear their amazing stories and the achievements and struggles they have gone through in their lives.

Listening to them, I was brought to tears a couple of times. What an honour it was to host them last night!

From the stages of our largest cities to the community halls of our smallest towns, artists and performers inspire, challenge and unite us.

Laureates, though your backgrounds may differ, you are connected by shared excellence and the power to inspire us through your unique voices and stories.

Thank you for stirring our minds and our hearts.

Whether it is through the masterful weaving of classical music with the traditional sounds of Indigenous culture, or boundary-breaking innovations in the world of dance, you have uplifted and amplified voices long unheard. You are reshaping the world of performing arts.

Tonight, we honour our laureates' remarkable contributions and the bold spirit they bring to the stage.

All of you possess a brilliance that lights up our world and breathes new life into our cultural landscape.

Your names belong among those that have forever changed Canadian arts for the better.

Congratulations to each of you. May your stories and your art continue to resonate across Canada and beyond, inspiring generations to come.

I wish you all a truly wonderful evening.