Ottawa –

His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, will be in Toronto on November 6, 2014.

The Governor General will begin his visit by delivering the closing keynote address at the Conference Board of Canada’s 2nd Skills and Post-Secondary Education Summit 2014: Developing the Skills and PSE Strategy for Canada.

Later in the afternoon, the Governor General will challenge Toronto commuters at Union Station to dare their friends and families to give or donate with them. As part of the newly launched Dare2Give challenge–the latest in the My Giving Moment campaign–dares will be issued at a large-scale installation called the Dare Wall.

That evening, His Excellency will deliver remarks at the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research’s (CIFAR) event Four Questions to Change the World, which will highlight global excellence in research.

Below is the Governor General’s detailed itinerary:

Thursday, November 6

3:15 p.m.
Address and Discussion at the 2nd Skills and Post-Secondary Education Summit 2014
As the closing keynote speaker, the Governor General will share his views on contexts, collaboration and the importance of aspiring to excellence in developing skills in post-secondary education. Following his remarks, delegates will have an opportunity to participate in a question-and-answer session with His Excellency. The discussion will be moderated by Dr. Michael Bloom, Vice-President, Industry and Business Strategy.

From November 5 to 6, the Conference Board of Canada’s Centre for Skills and Post-Secondary Education will host a major summit to explore the future of higher education–comprising colleges, universities, apprenticeship and trades training–and how we can work together to address the advanced skills, education and competitiveness challenges facing Canada today. For more information, visit www.conferenceboard.ca.
Room 718A, Metro Convention Centre, 2558 Front Street West
Open to media
Media contact: Yvonne Squires, Media Relations, 613-526-3090, ext. 221 or corpcomm@conferenceboard.ca

4:15 p.m.
Dare2Give Challenge Launch Event
As part of the newly launched Dare2Give challenge, the latest in the My Giving Moment campaign, a Dare Wall will come to life at Toronto’s Union Station, between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. As of 4:15 p.m., His Excellency will be onsite to engage with commuters and ask them to commit to a giving moment, and to dare their friends and families to give with them. The goal is to have as many people as possible accept the challenge and, in turn, encourage others to give.

Each time someone gives their time, talent or money, they make Canada a more caring nation. Dare2Give is an opportunity for Canadians to dare each other in person, online and across social media and, in doing so, have a chance to win a prize for the charity of their choice. Anyone who dares others can go towww.mygivingmoment.ca to share how many people they’ve dared to give with them, and enter the draw.
Great Hall, Union Station, 55 Front Street West
Open to media
Media contact: Shelley Thomas, Narrative PR, 416-357-7829 or shelley.thomas@narrative.ca

6 p.m.
Address at CIFAR’s event Four Questions to Change the World
As patron of CIFAR, the Governor General will deliver remarks on the importance of aiming high and collaborating internationally on research projects. During the evening, four of Canada’s foremost research leaders will share their visions for new CIFAR programs under development.

CIFAR brings together outstanding researchers to work in global networks that address some of the most important questions our world faces today. These networks help support the growth of research leaders and are catalysts for change in business, government and society. Established in 1982, CIFAR is a Canadian-based, global organization, comprised of nearly 350 fellows, scholars and advisors from more than 100 institutions in 16 countries. For more information, visit www.cifar.ca.
Sovereign Ballroom, The Omni King Edward Hotel, 37 King Street East

src:news.gc.ca