Governor General to Host Youth Dialogue
Launching International Year of Youth
OTTAWA—As part of her “Can We Talk” series, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, will launch at Rideau Hall the United Nations International Year of Youth: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding with a Youth Dialogue on Tuesday, August 10, 2010, at 5 p.m.
Over 130 enthusiastic youth leaders, as well as local public officials and business leaders will join Her Excellency to discuss the importance of empowering youth. The aim is to encourage youth to contribute to a more inspiring, youth-friendly and inclusive National Capital Region. This event will set the stage for five additional Governor General’s Youth Dialogues to be held across the country in August and September. This dialogue is presented in collaboration with the National Capital Commission (NCC) and the United Nations Association in Canada (UNA-Canada).
In the evening, at 9:00 p.m., the Governor General and Youth Dialogue participants will gather on Parliament Hill. Prior to the projection of the National Capital Commission’s (NCC)Mosaika: Canada through the eyes of its people Sound and Light Show, Her Excellency will deliver brief remarks on the importance of the International Year of Youth.
About the Governor General’s Youth Dialogues
This summer, Her Excellency will pursue her “Can We Talk” Governor General’s Youth Dialogues series in the following Canadian provinces:
– August 18: St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
– August: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (date to be confirmed)
– August 25: Winnipeg, Manitoba
– August: Montréal, Quebec (date to be confirmed)
– September: Toronto, Ontario (date to be confirmed)
Building on the Governor General’s last five years of engagement with youth across Canada and overseas, the Governor General’s Youth Dialogues “Can We Talk” series focuses on galvanizing young Canadians in every part of the country to become catalysts of hope, creativity and social transformation. Her Excellency shares the ideas and perspectives presented during the dialogues with decision-makers. To date, 24 Youth Dialogues have been hosted in Canada and abroad. This year, the series will place special attention on celebrating the International Year of Youth. For more information, please visit www.youth.gg.ca.
About the United Nations Association in Canada (UNA-Canada) and the International Year of Youth
UNA-Canada is a registered charity, founded in 1946, with a mandate to educate and engage Canadians in support for, and understanding of the United Nations and its issues which have a global impact. A Canadian NGO, UNA-Canada has a wide variety of programmes and activities through which to build Canadian capacity to identify and address emerging international issues on a national basis and to provide a foresight and policy research capacity underpinning this innovative programming. UNA-Canada provides a place for Canadians to offer their made-in-Canada solutions to challenges confronting the global commons and to develop skills in living together in peace and prosperity. Key programmes target Canadian youth as primary participants and focus on human rights, sustainable development, environment, peacebuilding and corporate social responsibility. For more information, please visit their Website at www.unac.org.
On December 18, 2009, a United Nations General Assembly resolution proclaimed the International Year of Youth: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding, to commence on August 12, 2010. The International Year is about advancing the full and effective participation of youth in all aspects of society—to better understand the needs and concerns of youth and to recognize the contributions that they can make to society. For more information, please visit http://social.un.org/youthyear/.
About the NCC and Mosaika: Canada through the Eyes of its People
The NCC is a federal Crown corporation whose mandate is to create pride and unity through Canada’s Capital Region by making the Capital a meeting place that communicates Canada to Canadians. Towards this goal, the NCC organizes large-scale events such as Winterlude and Canada Day celebrations. It also takes great pride in developing and planning a capital for all Canadians.
Mosaika: Canada through the eyes of its people is a new 30-minute experience which uses spectacular lighting effects, stunning image projections and a rich tapestry of words, music and sounds to tell the story of Canada with a powerful narrative set against the spectacular backdrop of the Peace Tower and the Centre Block on Parliament Hill.
It is presented free of charge evenings until September 12, 2010, and for the next four summers.
For more information, please visit their Website at www.mosaika-sl.ca.
