Today brought the installation of a new Governor General for Canada, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette. She is an accomplished business woman who speaks 7 languages, holds a graduate degree in engineering, was the second Canadian woman in space and the first Canadian on the ISS. Her love of music was reflected in the ceremony today. She plays piano and has sung with the Montreal symphony and chamber choirs.
The coat of arms prepared for her includes a couple of bars of music, an astronaut helmet, two Canadian lynx rampant, and the motto per aspera ad astra' -- through hardship to the stars. This motto has been used by astronauts, but it has much meaning beyond that. The network host noted that these words indicate that hope is found in all situations -- we only need to look for it. I found it inspiring -- as a motto should be <smile>. It reminded me of a line I'd heard in some show or other that noted if you were going through hell, keep going.
While grading at home today, I had the ceremony playing in the background. I looked up when I heard a familiar voice singing in the foyer as the GG left the chamber. I haven't found the exact song he was singing, but will choose one that he still sings -- first heard this from the first album 30 years ago. The singer, songwriter (and author) writes in Innu (and occasionally French), a First Nations language spoken by a very small group of people living in northern Quebec. The lyrics of the song shared here note the pride in one's heritage. Enjoy!
Nikanish -- Florent Vollant
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