Speeches
The launch of the 2009 Canada Day Poster Challenge
Burnaby, British Columbia
January 13, 2009

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Good afternoon everyone.

It is a pleasure for me to be here today to launch the 2009 Canada Day Poster Challenge.

I would like to thank Principal Claudio Bortolussi for welcoming me to Aubrey Elementary School.

We have with us today a number of young people with plenty of talent to spare and who may feel like sharing with us what Canada means to them. And this is a good thing, because this year’s Poster Challenge will be more exciting than ever.

The theme of the Challenge, “With Glowing Hearts!”, really gets us into the spirit for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

I grew up here, in the Vancouver area, and let me tell you, I felt a great deal of pride when I heard the announcement that we had won the bid to host the 2010 Winter Games.

But, these Games belong to all Canadians. In a little over a year, we will all be watching our athletes, “with glowing hearts,” as they achieve great things.
By inviting Canada’s young people ― like all of you ― to illustrate this special moment in our history, we are giving them the chance to take part, in a way, in the 2010 Winter Games. We are allowing them to demonstrate their creativity and pay tribute to our history, our symbols, and our accomplishments.

Each year, several prizes and awards are presented to the national winner of the Poster Challenge, as well as to the finalists from each province and territory. The winner sees his or her design used as the official Canada Day Poster, and together with the finalists, is invited to participate in the Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill.

And I’m pleased to announce this year’s Poster Challenge grand prize — an all inclusive trip to Vancouver, including airfare and accommodations, for the national winner and his or her family.  Plus passes to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games opening ceremonies and several sport events.

Now, I realize that if any of you win, you won’t need to go very far.  But it would still be great for all of you to show Canadians what Aubrey Elementary School has got ― and even greater to see one of you at the Opening Ceremonies!

This grand prize is very special, much like the 2010 Games will be special. We want all of you and your friends and family to get into the Olympic spirit.
In closing, I would like to congratulate the parents, the teachers, and the members of our communities who encourage our young people to take part in the Poster Challenge.

You are enabling our young people to become the builders of the Canada of tomorrow, and maybe even to become the Olympians of tomorrow!
Thank you, and good luck to all the participants.

Good luck to everyone.

Thank you.
© 2009 James Moore - All rights reserved
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