Hon. Mary Coyle: Honourable senators, I rise today to join my voice to the chorus of voices singing the praises, sharing the joy and selfishly lamenting the retirement of our beloved colleague, and my good friend, the Honourable — and unstoppable — Senator Patricia Bovey.

The first art historian and museologist to be appointed to the Senate of Canada, it should be no surprise that Senator Bovey articulated her goal in joining this august chamber in 2016:

. . . to ensure the voice of arts and culture is heard, in the Senate as well as in every sector of society.

[Translation]

Senator Bovey, your mission has been accomplished both in French and in English.

[English]

The voices of arts and culture, as well as the recognition of their significance, their impact and their potential, have permeated everything you undertook and achieved here in your deep, diverse and beautiful senatorial œuvre.

From your leadership work on the Arctic, cultural diplomacy, autonomous vehicles, Indigenous art, the parliamentary visual artist laureate, climate and our Senate collection and exhibits, you have opened us up to exactly what you said in your first speech delivered on December 6, 2016, in this chamber:

Artists from all cultures and from all over the world have given us an understanding of our past and our present through the three international languages of dance, music, and the visual arts. The visual arts are transformational and help us understand our local, regional and national communities. . . . they serve as bridges in our society.

You continued:

The arts are letting the world know who Canadians are, where we are and what we value . . . .

In your speech, you concluded:

The arts are not frills; they are the essence of who we are. We ignore their expressions at our peril.

Well, Senator Bovey, no matter where you were situated — whether it was with us in the Independent Senators Group, over in the Progressive Senate Group, sitting in the Speaker’s chair, around the committee table, travelling with the Arctic Committee, representing Canada abroad, attending COP 27 in Egypt with Senator Galvez and me, or back home in Manitoba — you always helped us appreciate the multi-faceted importance of the arts.

Senator Bovey — Patricia, Pat — as you leave us to pursue your next exciting chapter, and to enjoy time with your lovely daughters, your dear grandchildren, your brothers and your friends, I hope you know how much you are admired for all of your hard work — and how beloved you are as our dear friend and colleague.

Pat, just as art does, you have touched our hearts, our minds and our spirits. Go well, my friend. You will be sorely missed.