OTTAWA -- Gov. Gen. David Johnston urged Canadians to be inspired by the work of troops in Afghanistan and to "not forget our neighbours in need" during a heartfelt new year's video message released Tuesday.

Sitting comfortably in a warmly lit room at Rideau Hall surrounded by red and white poinsettias and with a grand piano in the background, Johnston reflected on his first official overseas trip last month.

"I visited Afghanistan in the early days of my mandate. I saw a lot of despair, but I also saw a lot of Canadians helping and contributing their talents," he said.

"We should be inspired by the courage, determination and conviction of our men and women in the Canadian Forces.

"We think of them and the civilians working at their side to build a better society."

The longtime educator, who left his post as president of the University of Waterloo to take on the viceregal job in October, talked about Canada's "signature project" to rebuild 50 schools and to train teachers in Kandahar province.

He noted there were fewer than 700,000 Afghan children in school a decade ago and, today, there are more than six million, a third of them, girls.

"Rebuilding schools and ensuring the peace that will permit boys and girls to have an education are key to reconstructing family life in Afghanistan," he said.

Looking back at 2010, Johnston said Canada has much to be proud of, including the record 14 gold medals won at the Olympics last February in Vancouver.

He reiterated his commitment to building a "smart and caring nation" of "neighbours helping neighbours," where all citizens are encouraged to "develop their talents to their fullest potential" and urged Canadians to work with him toward those goals.

"My wife Sharon, my family and the Rideau Hall team join me in wishing you health, happiness and peace," he said, before the screen faded to an image of Johnston's personal coat of arms, which bears the words "contemplare meliora," Latin for "to envisage a better world."