Speeches - Leader of the Government in the Senate Apology for the Indian Residential Schools Tragedy

One of the most imporant speeches I ever drafted was the Leader of the Government in the Senate's official apology for the Indian Residential Schools tragedy in 2008. I had to work closely with both the Prime Minister's Office to ensure the speech matched the tone and major themes of the Prime Minister's apology speeech without any word-for-word copying, and of course Senator Marjory LeBreton, who had to be comfortable with the final version. Senator LeBreton's own experience as a woman, wife and mother provided additional gravitas, and greatly contributed to the success of the speech. 

In the end, Senator LeBreton received a great deal of praise for delivering a speech that was warm and compassionate, and that focused on they key themes of sincere atonement, meaningful reconciliation and our shared Canadian heritage.