Governor General to deliver inaugural Sauvé lecture

By McGill Reporter Staff

Governor General Michaëlle Jean will visit McGill Feb. 18 to deliver the  Jeanne Sauvé Inaugural Address, “Youth engagement in the 21st Century: inspiring change in an era of globalization.”

Every year since 2003, the Sauvé Scholars Program, established by the Jeanne Sauvé Foundation named in honour of Canada’s first female governor general, has brought up to 14 promising youth from around the world to McGill. These remarkable young leaders live together and enjoy unlimited access to McGill University’s academic programs and other resources, while benefiting from multi-faceted exchanges with their fellow scholars.

Over the years, the program has welcomed 87 scholars from 44 different countries, selected based on criteria such as their motivation, vision, imagination and desire to effect change. The experience represents a period of personal and professional growth, characterized by an intense exchange of ideas, a focus on action accompanied by a clear commitment to community, and dialogue among different cultures and viewpoints. The Scholars work with academic mentors from McGill, and are expected to produce works resulting from their research, reflections and observations.

“The Sauvé Scholars Program is a source of great pride for us, as it brings extraordinary individuals from around the world to savour McGill and Montreal,” said Principal and Vice-Chancellor Heather Munroe-Blum. “These young leaders benefit from academic and social exchanges here, just as we benefit greatly from hosting them and learning from their unique experiences. We are delighted and honoured to welcome our current Governor General, a remarkable woman in her own right, to share her thoughts on how vital it is for young people to be engaged in a globalized world.”