Good evening and welcome to Government House. I welcome this opportunity to speak with all of you on a topic of most importance to me: I am very concerned about the youth in British Columbia.

In my former life as a provincial court judge, I saw firsthand what can happen when youth who have little or no direction end up in the justice system doing life on the instalment plan. Usually they come from broken homes, or they live in foster care, and they have a lifestyle with no structure and/or routine. These children will seek out some kind of structure, some kind of order, even if it means joining a gang that commits crime. Gangs, as you know, are highly structured with their own rules and enforcement practices. The shelf life of a member, however, is short and brutal.

I have seen the benefit of taking some of these young people and putting them into a structured environment where they are learning from strong role models, where they get to see good examples of people who serve their community and country. These same youths will change. I am very interested in promoting the use of a military-type education in cadet programs for our youth around BC. This year the Government House Foundation has made a contribution towards another cadet tattoo. I think by giving them more opportunities to showcase their marching and their uniforms, the more other young people will seek to join this most important training.

This year I have also accepted an honorary position as captain in the Navy. I hope doing so will send a positive message to our Aboriginal youth that a career in the military is something to consider. I would like to thank the Navy and the RCMP for their continued support of my literacy program that has seen me visit several communities both on the coast and on the mainland of BC. My hope is to visit as many communities as possible to raise awareness about the importance of reading and writing. By delivering books out to isolated communities I hope that parents will see the value of reading to their children prior to sending them to the public school system.

Finally, I want to continue to support our Canadian soldiers who are carrying out their assigned duties in other countries, particularly Afghanistan. Our continued military presence abroad is a necessary contribution to the UN agenda on world peace and global crime reduction.

This evening is one that brings us together, to share conversation, to share a meal, and to enjoy Government House. I trust you will enjoy your visit. Thank you all for coming.

LOCATION:1401 Rockland Avenue
Victoria, British Columbia
Canada V8S 1V9

PHONE:(250) 387-2080

FAX:(250) 387-2078

EMAIL:ghinfo@gov.bc.ca

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