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Canada Day Celebrations on Parliament Hill

OTTAWA, Ontario
July 1, 2010

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Your Majesty,
Your Royal Highness, 
Prime Minister and Mrs. Harper,
Distinguished Guests,
Proud Canadians,

Bonne fete Canada, Happy Birthday Canada! 

Today, Canadians right across our magnificent country are joining together with friends and family to celebrate Canada Day,

This is a very special day indeed, as we are honoured by the presence of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, and his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh.

And, if I may say, your strong attachment to Canada is a great source of pride and inspiration for all Canadians. 

Ladies and gentlemen, today, July 1, 2010, marks the 143 anniversary of Canada. 

And what a year 2010 has thus far been for Canada! 

It started with hosting the 2010 Olympic & Paralympic Games in British Columbia - where not only did Canada host perhaps the most successful Games in Olympic history - we were also introduced to a new generation of Canadian sports heroes. 

We will forever remember the magic Alexandre Bilodeau, the bravery & determination of Joannie Rochette, and that gold medal goal of Sidney Crosby. 

And just as we are energized by these great new moments of Canadian achievement, we will also pause in 2010 to mark a number of significant milestones for Canada - including the Royal Canadian Navy's Centennial Year, and the 65th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands.

These are reminders, both, of our country's proud history of military service in the past - and also of our responsibility to honour and cherish those brave men and women who serve us in the Canadian Forces today.

Dear fellow citizens, each day and in 1001 ways, you contribute, all together, to the well deserved greatness of our country. This is why, on the occasion of Canada Day that we are prouder than ever to call ourselves Canadian. 

Ladies and gentlemen, we have every reason imaginable to proudly call ourselves Canadian, and with that in mind, I wish you all, a very happy Canada Day!