Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of the entire Chain of Life team, it is a great privilege to be with you today. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the organizing committee, our partners, and all the volunteers who made these Games possible. Congratulations as well to all the athletes and their supporters who have travelled from across the country to be here.

In September 2006, nearly twenty years ago, we placed our faith in two extraordinary forces for change: education and youth.

We believed then, and we believe more than ever today, that educating young people about organ and tissue donation is one of the most powerful drivers of social change.

Since the official launch of our educational program in 2014, nearly 400 teachers have opened their classrooms to Chain of Life. Together, we have engaged more than 300,000 young people and their families across Quebec. Today, our educational approach has even inspired a pilot project in British Columbia.

To all the teachers, our volunteers, our partners, and everyone who brings Chain of Life to life every day, we extend our deepest gratitude.

A very special thank you goes to our remarkable young people, who are at the heart of our mission.

Because of them, informed conversations about organ and tissue donation have moved beyond the classroom and into homes across Quebec.

Because of them, we are also helping to build a healthier and more active society. Our students come to appreciate the value of life. As they come to understand the reality of organ donation and the scarcity of organs available for transplantation, they are inspired by the courage, generosity, and resilience demonstrated by donors, their families, transplant recipients, and everyone who supports them. They discover that honouring life is reflected in the choices we make every day, and the athletes gathered here today are an extraordinary source of inspiration.

At the heart of these Games is the celebration of life and the spirit of gratitude that we strive to share with our students. Today, we pay tribute to everyone involved in the journey of organ donation, transplantation, and recovery. Above all, we honour organ donors and their families.

Today, your gift stands before us. It is reflected in transplant recipients, and it continues to touch the lives of thousands of young people, teachers, and families we reach every year.

On behalf of Chain of Life, it will be our great honour to take part in the Donor Walk in tribute to you and your loved ones.

Thank you.