In recognition of the occasion, today’s guest speaker blog comes from International Champion of Human Rights
& Award-Winning Author Lt. Gen Roméo Dallaire (Ret), This year Gen. Dallaire stepped away from his previous role in the Canadian Senate to better forcus on The Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative, an organization which partners with military, police and peacekeeping forces, equipping them with tools to prevent the recruitment of child soldiers.

It’s test time for Canada. On one hand, the country is poised to play a key role in the global economy over the next 10 years. Canada’s stable macroeconomic environment and sound monetary policy allowed it to emerge from the global financial crisis barely scathed. Its resource-rich environment has made it a leader in commodity exports, which have tripled in the last decade due their global demand.

National Speakers Bureau recognizes and honours some of our speakers who have served our nation and others around the world. General Rick Hillier (Ret), Lieutenant General Romeo Dallaire (Ret), Lieutenant Colonel Stephane Grenier (Ret), Master Corporal Jody Mitic, General Walter Natynczyk, and LCol (Ret) Chris Linford have all made remarkable contributions and sacrifices to which we are ever grateful.

Recently, the international media has focused its attention to the shocking abduction of 200 schoolgirls in Nigeria. Most recently a video was released reportedly showing some of the girls in a state of concern. The hashtag #BringBackOurGirls went viral last week as the social sphere demanded action. Many prominent international figures – including some of our speakers – used their voices to speak out and raise awareness around the Nigerian situation.

The first few days of Olympic competition saw Canada and several speakers from the NSB roster take their places on all three steps of the podium.

The big kickoff starts Friday morning with the Sochi 2014 opening ceremonies, where Canada will be led into the Fisht Olympic Stadium by NSB Speaker Hayley Wickenheiser.