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PM announces winners of 2011 Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
3 August 2011
Hamilton, Ontario
Merci beaucoup. Thank you, Minister Gary Goodyear for your kind introduction, and also for your leadership on our government’s science, technology and research files. And a special thanks to McMaster University for hosting this event.
Dr. Patrick Deane, Dr. Chad Gaffield, Senator David Braley, MP David Sweet, MP Mike Wallace, scholarship recipients, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen;
It’s always good to be back in Hamilton and it is good to be on the campus of one of Canada’s truly great teaching and research universities. I should mention, Dr. Deane, as well, my brother Robert is an alumnus of this institution. It’s a pleasure most of all to have the opportunity to join with you in celebrating this important milestone.
As you know, our government established the Vanier scholarships in 2008. With this year’s cohort, the program is now at its full complement - 500 recipients - a very distinguished company of scholars drawn from across Canada and from around the world - emerging leaders in every field of study. For each of them, it is a fantastic opportunity to pursue advanced research at our outstanding Canadian universities.
It’s important to note that the value of the Vanier scholarships extends beyond the benefit to individual recipients. By attracting and retaining the world’s best doctoral students, we are building a culture of innovation and high achievement right here in Canada. This in turn will strengthen our economy and our society, creating jobs and prosperity across the country for years to come, and it will add momentum to our country’s increasing strength and ambition.
In recent years, Canada has found new confidence in itself and on the world stage. Our government has taken strong action to encourage this in every sphere, including research, development and higher education, crucial elements to our continued success.
We have provided substantial support for new and better university and college facilities. We have made major new investments in research and development, both academic and industrial. As Dr. Gaffield mentioned, in addition to the Vanier scholarships, we’ve established the Banting post-doctoral fellowships and the Canada Excellence Research Chairs. Because of these investments, our country is increasingly attracting top talent from around the world.
As noted earlier this year in the Chronicle of Higher Education, Canada has gone "from brain drain to brain gain". The importance of this cannot be overstated.
Research leads to discoveries in inventions. That leads to patents that build Canadian businesses and create Canadian jobs, and that makes for greater prosperity for Canadian families and workers. Not just for a stronger Canada, by the way, but ultimately a better world. By investing in Canadian scholarship at the highest level, together we can do things like improve the health of mothers and children, identify new ways to reduce crime, or learn more about the ecosystem of our Arctic. We could foster a deeper appreciation of our history or invent the next world-changing technology.
Ladies and gentlemen, the reason for such hope and ambition is right here in this room. To mention just a few examples, Carolina Alba, who some of us met this morning, came to Canada from Argentina, and is researching new prognostic markers and potential therapeutic options for patients with heart failure. Also studying here at McMaster, Jonathan Lai is seeking to understand a neurological basis of mental illness, and has shed light on complex disorders such as autism and fragile X syndrome.
Our government is proud to have established the Vanier Canada graduate scholarships. We are drawing the best minds from near and far in a community of dialogue, discovery and human development. We are building Canada’s stature as a global centre of excellence in research, innovation and higher education. And we are preparing to seize new opportunities by investing more in a more prosperous future.
Congratulations once again to this year’s new Vanier scholars. I wish you every success in your very important work, and I want to thank all of you for your kind attention.
Thank you.
