Speech at Opening Ceremony of the Leo Lee Arts Centre, Canadian International School

29 May 2008 (Thursday)

Opening Ceremony of the Leo Lee Arts Centre of

Canadian International School

Speech by Mr. Michael M Y Suen, GBS, JP

Secretary for Education

Mr Vincent Lee (Board Chairman), Mr McMaster (Head of School), Mr Leo Lee (Sponsor of the new Arts Ccentre), Distinguished Guests, Parents, Teachers and Students,

I am delighted to join you this afternoon to celebrate the opening of the Leo Lee Arts Centre, a world-class Arts Complex for arts performance and cultural activities.

The Canadian International School began its operation in Hong Kong in 1991.  Its mission is to develop students to become responsible global citizens and leaders through academic excellence.  All along, Canadian International School offers a balanced school curriculum to provide an all-round education for its students.  Apart from boosting the language proficiency of students in both English and Putonghua, and integrating information technology into the curriculum, Canadian International School spares no efforts in encouraging students to participate in a wide range of extra-curricular activities, particularly in the area of arts education. 

Arts education nurtures students with the virtues of creativity, openness, flexibility and aesthetic sensitivity for life-long learning.  It also provides students with life-wide learning experiences in the arts outside the classroom.  Many research findings show that arts education brings great benefit to children.  It enhances children’s self-esteem, allows for expression and creativity, and provides fulfillment through productivity.

Today we see the grand opening of a state-of-art centre providing a 600-seat auditorium and five levels of new teaching classrooms for visual and performing arts. The facility will definitely allow further enrichment of the present curriculum to provide students with an inviting learning environment that is conducive to an all-round development.  I am also pleased to know that the arts centre will be open to other educational groups and charitable organizations.  I look forward to its full utilization, thus helping to enhance the development of the arts in the territory.

On this memorable occasion, I would like to extend my sincere congratulations again on the opening of the Leo Lee Arts Centre.  May I wish you all good health and every success in future endeavours.  Thank you.