Speeches – 2008

The Honourable Jason Kenney

Taoist Tai Chi Society of Canada Festival of Health and Longevity

Vancouver, British Columbia, April 12, 2008

CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

Let me begin by saying how pleased I am to join you for this Festival of Health and Longevity.

I am proud to live in a country that embraces many cultures.  Our Government considers Canada' s diversity to be one of our greatest assets, and we are committed to strengthening our pluralism and our national cohesion. 

Our core Canadian values are democracy, freedom, human rights and the rule of law.  The more than 200,000 people who come to Canada annually from every corner of the world embrace these values, adding an often indefinable element to our sense of who we are.  This festival is certainly an excellent example of this.

Cultural events like these are a wonderful opportunity to learn from each other, and at the same time, to celebrate our common Canadian identity.

That is what our Government means when it talks about pluralism.  It' s not only about respecting diversity.  It' s about actively participating and learning about each other and about how to work together to form a strong and cohesive Canada.

The Government of Canada takes great pride in the contributions that all of the various communities in Canada have made to the social, economic, and political fabric of this country. 

Our Government values your participation in Canadian society.

The Festival of Health and Longevity marks the first anniversary of the grand opening of the Taoist Tai Chi Society of Canada' s new building in Vancouver. 

This festival also celebrates and promotes the many benefits of Taoist Tai Chi for physical, mental and spiritual health and well-being.  The Society has taken its internal arts methods into hospitals, extended care centres, and nursing homes.  It has also offered beginner, continuing, seniors, and health recovery classes at its own centres.

The Taoist Tai Chi Society has grown to become an international organization.

As I look at the names of other countries that also promote a proactive approach to health care – places like Australia, Spain, Italy, Aruba, New Zealand, and so many others – two things come to mind.

First, I am struck by how we are all part of a global community, one where people of different cultures work, communicate, and live together in a world of cooperation and respect.

And second, these places are an illustration that over several generations, people of Chinese origin have made new lives for themselves in many different countries, and in doing so, have made tremendous contributions to those countries.

That is certainly true here in Canada.

Throughout our history, the hard work, entrepreneurship, and new ideas of people in the Chinese community have contributed significantly to this country' s diverse heritage.

The Chinese-Canadian community has been woven into the vibrant tapestry of this great country, and its members are among the leaders in every field in Canada, from politics to medicine, and from business to the arts.

I' d like to congratulate the Taoist Tai Chi Society of Canada for the celebration of its first anniversary in their new home in Vancouver. I wish you great success!