Veterans, members of our Canadian Forces, special guests, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon.

It is an honour for me to be here in Spencerville today on behalf of the Honourable Greg Thompson, Minister of Veterans Affairs.

This annual event, now in its fifth year, is quite significant as the Veterans Memorial Highland Games have a special way of promoting awareness, appreciation and enjoyment of Scottish culture and its military heritage.

Like you, our Government is committed to remembering and honouring the great sacrifices and achievements of all the brave Canadians who have served and continue to serve our nation.

The greatest gift we can give them is the gift of remembrance.

Without exception, events like this remind me of how fortunate and blessed I am to have the opportunity to serve as a federal politician. I can serve in public office because our men and women in uniform served our country—with great courage and at great personal cost.


As I stand before you, I am reminded of an old Scottish battle tradition of the Farquharson clan. In preparation for battle, clan members would gather at the banks of a river that ran through their land. There, each man would choose a round river stone and would place it at the nearby cairn.

After battle, each returning hero would pick up a stone and throw it back into the river. The remaining stones on the ground represented clan members lost in battle, and were added to the Cairn of Remembrance—a memorial to the lives lost.

And as with the Cairn of Remembrance, this community has come together to create the Veterans Memorial Highland Games, a wonderful memorial event that allows us to both celebrate and remember.

These Highland Games are part of the tradition of remembrance in Canada. And they will help to ensure that our Veterans’ stories are told.

Today we must also remember that Canadians are still serving around the world, in such troubled places as Afghanistan.

They, as with those who came before them, know that the threats we face today are real. Their missions are not easy, and the men and women serving deserve and need our support.

One way we show that support is through events just like this, which allow us to remember and reflect on their dedication and sacrifice.
In fact, there are other major events in our military history that are being commemorated this year. Just a few weeks ago, we marked the 65th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic.

In July, we will mark the 55th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice.

Then, beginning in August and continuing through to Veterans’ Week and Remembrance Day, we will commemorate the 90th anniversary of events leading up to the end of the First World War. This is a time that has come to be known as Canada’s last hundred days—the time when the Canadian Corps cemented its reputation as the best and toughest fighting force on the Western Front.

Today’s festivities provide an opportunity to enjoy Scottish culture and gain an appreciation for the uniqueness of the Highland Games. It is a truly exciting event that brings people of all ages and backgrounds together.

Thank you to all those who have made today’s event possible, and in particular, to the members of the Veterans Memorial Highland Games Committee for their continuous effort to ensure that the memory of our Veterans and service men and women is not forgotten.

Thank you.