Christmas Luncheon

Lt.-Gov. Lincoln M. Alexander:

What a magnificent opportunity has been given to me to serve Her Gracious Majesty. Yes, I do travel quite a bit. And the reception I receive no matter where I go is memorable, meaningful and lets me know how fortunate I am to hold the position I do and to live in this beautiful province of ours.

Look at TV every evening, and listen to the radio, read the local newspapers, then you'll find out how fortunate we are. You'll find out that really, we have so much to be thankful for and so little to complain about.

You'll find out that we have brought forth a nation that is the envy of all developing nations and indeed some of the developed nations. And, the hub of it all is this beautiful province of ours, the province of Ontario.

So we are here, the festive season is about us. l am delighted to see the Christ Church Deer Park Choir here. l hear you have voices of beauty, and that you're excellent. I know you'll be up to the challenge and I'm so pleased David Smith, the director, was able to bring the choir here so that we can enjoy their wonderful voices.

The festive season, ladies and gentlemen, brings with it time honoured thoughts about family, friends and traditions. These joyous times also signal an annual reunion, an opportunity for family and friends to come together to observe traditions, share memories and enjoy friendships. The season also brings with it a time for prayers.

We have to be concerned about our family, friends, and we pray for them, prayers that they will have a safe and joyous festive season and a New Year of happiness, prosperity and good health. We who celebrate Christmas should remember that the festive season reminds us that it means love, forgiveness, tolerance, and charity. By and through all of these things, we celebrate the spirit of Christmas in a real way.

Celebrations come, my dear friends, in different ways - by way of culture and religion, but for many there may not be as much to celebrate. The homeless, the hungry, the lonely. They pray that the festive season will be meaningful for them as well as joyous.

So the true spirit of Christmas demands that we who are more fortunate join them in their prayers and, as well, calls on us to nurture the timeless characteristics of caring and sharing. You can make a difference. You think about it.

The homeless, the lonely, the hungry. We are here in this magnificent room, most of us able to make it one way or another. It's not too late for you to say I do care. And that some of those prayers of those we just mentioned will be answered. As we move forward to the New Year, a new beginning, may it bring peace for all nations, compassion and good will to all.

Mr. President, I am delighted to be here as Her Majesty's Representative once again to say Happy Festive Season, or, as the case may be, Merry Christmas to all. And last but not least

Best Wishes to each and everyone of you for the New Year.

The appreciation of the meeting was expressed by A. A. van Straubenzee, President of the Empire Club of Canada.