Speech delivered by Blair Hayden, Regional Director of The Resource Centre for Great-West Life in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island at Frye Festival

April 17, 2009 - Moncton

Thank you. It’s my pleasure to be here on behalf of Great-West Life and Freedom 55 Financial, the financial security planning division of London Life. Welcome to the official opening of the 2009 Frye Festival.

This year marks the 10^th anniversary of the Frye Festival. The Festival is more than simply an annual tradition for all of us who call Moncton and New Brunswick home. Canada’s only bilingual, international literary festival has for the past decade been a premier event for audiences of all ages to see and hear world renowned authors, and to be active participants in a celebration of words and imagination.

Northrop Frye said the fundamental job of the imagination is to produce a vision of the society we want to live in. The Frye Festival recognizes the power of imagination in shaping our communities and making them stronger. We share that vision, and it’s a major reason we are so pleased to support the Festival.

We are proud of our contributions in helping the Frye Festival expand two of its outreach programs: the Frye Festival Writing Contest for high school students, and the Frye on the Road program.

This year the Frye Festival Writing Contest has expanded to give students in all of the province’s school districts the opportunity to participate. The introduction of distinct categories for short stories and essay submissions opens up many possibilities for creative young minds.

Frye on the Road brings world-renowned authors to schools all over Western New Brunswick. The passion these authors have for the written word inspires the student participants.

Together, these programs set young imaginations in motion, fostering creativity and language skills, and helping youth recognize that reading, writing and performing are powerful agents for personal growth and community building.

Our sponsorship of the Frye Festival comes through The Key to Giving™ – the national corporate citizenship program of Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life. Through The Key to Giving, we contribute to non-profit, charitable and community organizations across the country to address health and wellness, education, social services, arts and culture and civic initiatives.

This is part of our overall approach to working with organizations that believe in building stronger communities together. That’s an approach we see put into action by everyone associated with the Frye Festival.

On behalf of Great-West Life and Freedom 55 Financial, enjoy this year’s festival.

Thank you.