University
of Manitoba Alumni Dinner
Remarks by the Hon. David Kilgour,
Member of
Parliament for Edmonton Southeast and
Secretary Of State (Asia-Pacific)
Hong Kong, November
9, 2002
President
Szathmary (Sat-mar-ee), Ms. Mui, honoured
guests.
I am delighted
to be here today. As Secretary of State
for Asia-Pacific, my job is to represent
Canadian interests in the region, which
is what has brought me to Hong Kong this
week. One of my priorities as Secretary
of State is to promote Canadian education
in Asia-Pacific. Canada, as all of you know,
is home to some of the best colleges and
universities in the world, which makes my
job easier. We have a great product to sell.
The University
of Manitoba, however, holds a special place
in my heart - it is where I entered University
too many years ago at the ripe old age of
16 and graduated with a BA. There were plenty
of good professors who really cared about
both the students and the subjects they
taught. One, the late Professor Scabie,
discovering that I couldn’t write a
proper essay allowed me to write a one page
piece before every one of her classes. We
students were real human beings to lecturers
like her and I’m sure that this tradition
continues.
I can’t
think of a more fitting way to celebrate
the 125th anniversary of my own alma mater
than to be here in Hong Kong with all of
you, in the city that boasts the most U
of M grads in the world - outside Canada,
of course.
I have a
great love for Hong Kong and its people.
This is a vibrant city with a great future
built on its traditions as an open international
centre, a window on China for the rest of
the world and a window on the world for
China.. Your city prides itself on its commitment
to the Rule of Law and to the freedoms which
its people enjoy. These are precious assets
to be nurtured. The Rule of Law ultimately
derives from acceptance of the authority
of the lawmaking system: for it to prosper
in the long term, the legal system needs
to be secured by continued progress in the
development of democratic institutions.
I have been
visiting Hong Kong primarily to support
a trade mission of 40 companies organised
by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office
in Canada, but I have also taken the opportunity
to meet a wide spectrum of opinion makers
and to discuss this with them.
As a student
at U of M, one of the things I learned is
the importance of having people to look
up to - role models, if you will. As I look
around this room, I see that there is no
shortage of role models here, for your colleagues,
your children or other grads from U of M.
The successes aren’t limited to the
people in this room. The Hon. Albert Chan
(BA/78, BSW/80) is a member of the Legislative
Council representing New Territories West.
At the federal level, My colleague, Dr.
Rey Pagtakan (MSc/69), is now Canada’s
Minister of Veteran’s Affairs and Secretary
of State for Science, Research, and Development.
Many of you may know Jim Feir (BcomHons/75),
who was senior trade commissioner at our
Consulate in Hong Kong; Jim is now Consul
General in Guangzhou. Dr. John Wiebe (BSc/66),
is President and CEO of the Asia-Pacific
Foundation of Canada. I could go on, but
I don’t think I have to. So many of
you have taken fascinating routes, that
I couldn’t possibly do justice to the
accomplishments you’ve enjoyed over
the years.
But allow
me to say this. Each time a fellow alumni
succeeds, the University of Manitoba reaps
the rewards, as do U of M grads. In fact,
every time someone scans your C.V. - every
time someone reads your bio on your corporate
website - your education at U of M is leaving
its mark. It is the boost that gives you
the edge we all need to succeed.
The University
of Manitoba recognizes that the value of
your degree is tied to the accomplishments
of its graduates, but it continually strives
for more. U of M understands that your marketability
in your careers is also linked to its institutional
reputation. To that end, the university
is constantly exploring new ideas; and is
quickly becoming known as an innovator in
education. Many of your children, for example,
may have participated in U of M’s mini-universities
and children’s camps. These programs
are so successful that they are now being
copied by other institutions around the
globe. The bottom line for you - and we’re
all interested in bottom lines - is that
these initiatives help to improve your return
on your investment. As graduates from a
university that is a leader in its field,
your opportunities are limitless. The world
is yours for the taking!
Your marketability,
however, is not just tied to U of M. You
have a Canadian education, and that stands
for something too. Canada has some of the
best post-secondary institutions in the
world. You recognized that when you decided
where to go to school. As prospective students,
you not only chose U of M. You also chose
Canada ... and we’re thrilled that
you did.
Innovation,
as you probably know, is no stranger to
Canada. U of M is an innovator in education,
but we have many innovators in health. Many
of our researchers are conducting breakthrough
diabetes research. Others are now developing
the longest fibre optic network in the world.
Many of you know this firsthand because
you’ve spent time with us there. Some
of you spent several years exploring what
our country has to offer. But not everyone
sees Canada for what it truly is. Many people
still see us as a country of Mounties and
snow. We have beautiful scenery. We’re
seen as a country of nice people. But there’s
so much more to Canada! This is where all
of you come in. As graduates of a Canadian
university, you are all Ambassadors of Canada.
You’re Canada’s face in the world.
We are all so incredibly proud of your successes.
We hope you’re just as proud of Canada’s
and that you can help spread the word.
The Government
of Canada is working itself to rebrand Canada,
particularly in Asia-Pacific. But our best
tool for marketing Canadian education, for
example, is not a booth at a trade show;
it is a successful experience shared. It
is a capable grad - in your case, an extraordinary
grad - ready to face the challenge of a
competitive borderless world. When you succeed,
you benefit, the U of M benefits, Canadian
education benefits ... and so does Canada.
On a personal
note, I’m enormously proud to see the
strength of your network here in Hong Kong.
It’s no surprise that tonight’s
dinner is one of only two events commemorating
this special anniversary for U of M. I hope
that you’ll continue to work together
colleagues and friends, and that you continue
to be as proud of Canada as we are of you.
Best wishes to each of you in whatever endeavours
lie ahead ... Thank you, good night.
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