It is with deep personal emotion that I return to Lakefield College School, to “The Grove”, four decades after graduating with the class of 85’. Lakefield is a small place in a beautiful and immense country, a great school full of history, tradition and a modern look at the world. It is also somewhat of a family… and it holds a great deal of experiences and memories to which I owe so much.
Time inevitably changes us, shaping us with endless layers. But there are moments and places (and people) that remain within us leaving a stronger imprint in who we are long after we have moved on. Lakefield is for me definitly one of those places. Here, I found not only academic knowledge, but also a way of understanding the world..., and living it ; with more harmony, respect for others and tolerance of our differences. Here, very far from home, I also grew and matured into the values of effort, friendship, and commitment. And here I trully began to understand that education is not simply a stage of life, but the ground on which a life takes shape.
Even after so long −or maybe because of that−, it is only natural to look back at our school days and remenisce about what we lived here, the ideas that first took root and to those who awakened in us a lasting curiosity and a sense of purpose.
I remember, among many experiences, −of course− a fire drill in the middle of a harsh Canadian winter, when we stood outside under the open sky, facing close to -20Cº. It was, perhaps, a simple moment, but it taught me something about resilience, and the quiet strength that comes from facing challenges together... also as a proud member of the Lakefield College School Firebrigade. That and some other episodes during canoe trips (bears, black flyes and all...), surely helped me prepare for the years I spent thereafter at the military academies back in Spain.
However, I probably remember above all the friendships forged here. Friendships that endure beyond time and distance, and that remind us that the most valuable part of any education is not only what we learn, but who we become alongside others.
Lakefield College School is a place devoted to education and, therefore, to the future. Education is one of the great pillars upon which our societies stand. It is inseparable from progress, and also essential to the vitality of our democracies —as the Canadian philosopher John Ralston Saul observed, “education is the only way to ensure the survival of democracy.” Education does not impose ideas; rather, it enables us to think, to question, and to understand. In doing so, we learn not only to know, but to discern; not only to speak, but also to listen; and not only to aspire for ourselves, but to contribute to others. Critical thinking and being concerned and moved by the common good makes us better citizens, more selfless, careing and understanding.
"...schools such as Lakefield —and later, universities— are spaces where individuals learn to exercise their rights and responsibilities with judgement and independence. They are, in this sense, indispensable to the strength of the rule of law and to the quality of our civic life..."
At the heart of this mission are teachers. Your work goes far beyond the transmission of knowledge. You guide, you challenge, you inspire. As Francisco Giner de los Ríos, one of the great reformers of modern education in Spain, believed, the true purpose of education is not merely to instruct, but to shape character. Through your dedication and example, you encourage young people to think independently, to remain curious, and to grow with confidence and humanity. Yours is a vocation of profound importance, because it sustains both the intellectual vitality of our societies and the values that shape our common future —and few responsibilities carry such weight.
Schools such as Lakefield —and later, universities— are spaces where individuals learn to exercise their rights and responsibilities with judgement and independence. They are, in this sense, indispensable to the strength of the rule of law and to the quality of our civic life.
Lakefield’s vision —to inspire leaders who care, connect, and contribute— speaks directly to the needs of our time. Leadership today requires more than competence. It calls for integrity, for sound judgement, and for the ability to engage with others in a spirit of respect and openness. Public leadership, in particular, is indispensable. Our democracies depend on individuals who are willing to serve, to uphold shared values, and to work for the common good, even when it is demanding. To lead is not to impose, but to guide; not to divide, but to bring together; not to seek recognition, but to serve others.
I have the honour of representing Spain around the world, and I can assure you that many of the values I learned at Lakefield have played an important role in preparing me for that task. Spain today is a country deeply committed to democracy, openness, and international cooperation, firmly rooted in the European Union. We share the Spanish language with more than 635 million people, and maintain deep ties with the Americas, and what we call «Ibero-America».
And we also share close and longstanding ties with Canada. Ours is a relationship built on trust, dialogue, and a shared outlook on the world. For me, Lakefield represents that connection in a very personal way. It is here that I came to know Canada. Not only through its people, but through its landscape. During my time here, experiences such as canoeing in Algonquin Park and the French River left a lasting impression on me, and helped shape a deep and enduring connection with the natural world. The lake, the forests, and the open landscape are not merely a setting, but an essential part of the learning that takes place here, one that also teaches respect for what we must preserve.
I would also like to express my heartfelt gratitude for the honour that Lakefield College School will bestow upon me by naming me its Honorary Patron. I accept this distinction with great pride and, above all, with a profound sense of gratitude, responsibility, and commitment. I look forward to remaining part of this remarkable institution for many years to come, as Lakefield College School has given me not only knowledge and unforgettable experiences, but also friendships that I will cherish for a lifetime.
I am proud to belong to the Class of 1985. It is indeed a long time since I left ¨The Grove¨, but it has never left me. For those of you who are students here today, you are part of a community that offers you a remarkable opportunity. Make the most of it. Learn from one another. And prepare yourselves; not only for success, but also for service. The future will ask much of you —perhaps sooner than you expect— but it will also depend on you. May you always strive to care, connect, and contribute, guided by the values that places like Lakefield seek to instill.
Thank you very much.