Edmonton
Chinese School Society
26th
Anniversary Celebration
Speaking
Notes prepared for the Hon.
David Kilgour,
Member
of Parliament for Edmonton
Southeast and
Secretary
of State (Asia-Pacific)
May
25, 2002
Edmonton
Good
evening,
Allow
me to thank the members of
the Chinese community and
the Chinese School Society
for inviting me to join you
on this 26th year
anniversary celebration.
Our
work to build a strong relationship
with the Pacific Rim is just
as valuable now than it has
been in the past.
The Canadian – Chinese
relationship is continually
deepening in language, heritage,
and lifestyles.
Chinese traditions
are becoming ever more popular
that one cannot celebrate
Canada without including the
Chinese culture.
Culture plays a major
role in developing the ties
that bind us. As our Prime Minister has said, “Canadians
are able to talk to the world
because we have the world
within our borders.”
It
was 26 years ago, strengthened
by faith and bound by a common
desire for diversity, we had
a small group of individuals
who sought out a place in
this growing community where
they could teach and tutor
according to their own education
and experiences.
And to have this incredible
group of professionals within
the Edmonton Chinese School
Society promoting the Chinese
culture offers us a great
opportunity to discover centuries
of what China and the Chinese
people have established and
accomplished.
From
students to parents to volunteers,
to the numerous projects,
conferences and workshops,
we have learned much, and
have yet to learn so much
more.
The education and the
commitment the Edmonton Chinese
School Society have provided
us are one of the best investments
we make.
Nobody will be able
to take it away from us.
They can take away
your house. They can take
away your car, but education
will always be inside of you.
Knowledge is there for you
to keep.
Words
such as this are powerful
and revolutionary. They can
exact change more profoundly
than all the guns and tanks
and rockets in the world.
In a country such as ours,
we will continue to rise to
every age, against every challenge,
of people of great works and
greater possibilities who
have always, always found
the wisdom and strength to
come together as one nation;
to widen the circle of opportunity,
to deepen the meaning of our
diversity, to form a more
perfect country. And thanks
to organizations such as the
Edmonton Chinese School Society,
our best days lie ahead. God
bless and congratulations
on your 26th Anniversary.
Thank
you.
