News and Press Releases Address to the Rotary Club of St. John's 7 January 1999 My wife Mary and I continue to be surprised and even delighted at the wide range of events and activities that occupy our time and stimulate our interest as Vice-Regal Representatives in this Province.
Dull moments are few while opportunities for service are abundant.
In recent years, The Vice Regal Office has, appropriately, become a focal point for the recognition of organizations involved in community services, arts and letters, heritage, and culture, which taken together make our home Province the caring and vibrant place it is known to be. In this regard, we continued in 1998 to maintain strong links with some 50 organizations such as the Scouts, the Guides, the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, Health Support Groups etc. In addition to our Annual Garden Parties at St. John's, Corner Brook and Grand Falls, we held the first ever in Labrador, in the historic town of North West River, where we were warmly welcomed. This nostalgic reminder of the great days of sailing and the annual gathering of the White Fleet in St. John's did much to rekindle close ties between the people of our two countries. Perhaps of greatest significance was the opportunity provided through the Youth Exchange Programme for young Canadians, from this and other Provinces, to join their counterparts from Portugal to serve as crews on both Atlantic crossings.