UPDATED - The vice-regal suspense was killing us - Liveblogging the Governor General designate in the Senate Foyer

Ahh, the sweet sound of official, if not yet on the record, confirmation: Governor General designate David Johnston will make a statement to reporters in the Senate Foyer at 11am today, with a news release announcing his appointment expected within the next hour or so. 

Bon matin.

Je suis très honoré d'avoir été nommé le prochain Gouverneur général du Canada par sa majesté la Reine, sur la recommandation du Premier ministre. Cette grande responsabilité est une marque de confiance qui me touche profondément.

My wife and I have always believed that service, whether it is to family, community, university or country, is the highest calling. And so we are proud to have this opportunity to serve Canada and our fellow citizens.

L'une des plus grands privilèges qui sont (inaudible) au Gouverneur général est de faire connaissance avec les Canadiens et Canadiennes d'un océan à l'autre.

During my time at Waterloo and McGill, I've had the good fortune to witness Canadians' creativity and ingenuity, our strong ties to our communities and to the world, as well as our diversity and our vitality. The opportunity to see these values at work across the country means a great deal to me.

La charge du Gouverneur général est une institution importante, et nous ferons tout en notre pouvoir pour combler les attentes des Canadiens et Canadiennes.

As the representative of the Queen of Canada, who is our country's head of state, I pledge to be a stalwart defender of our Canadian heritage, of Canadian institutions and of the Canadian people. In particular, I look forward to meeting with the brave men and women of the Canadian

Forces.

Dans son livre, Samuel de Champlain, intitulé « Champlain's Dream »,

David Fisher parle du premier Gouverneur du Canada dans les termes suivantes : « Si ce n'est que ça tout au long de sa vie, il a fait preuve d'une vigueur et d'une endurance dont peu peuvent se (inaudible).

Mais ça ne s'arrêtait pas là. Champlain était un rêveur, un visionnaire comme tant autres qui ont plein de rêves. De nombreux érudits ont traité le rêve qu'il avait d'un jour trouver la route vers l'Orient. D'autres ont discuté de son rêve en vu de coloniser la Nouvelle-France.

"But all these visions were part of a larger dream that has not been studied. This war-weary soldier had a dream of humanity in peace in a world of cruelty and violence. He envisioned a new world as a place where people of different cultures could live together in amity and concord. And this became his grand design. Son rêve for North America."

From Samuel de Champlain to Michaëlle Jean, all our predecessors have set a fine example for us to follow, and so I will be working hard over the next few months to prepare for my roles and responsibilities.

Merci.