Thursday, August 04, 2005

New Governor General to Succeed Adrienne Clarkson

"Michaëlle Jean, the Haitian-born television personality who appears on both CBC's English and French networks, will become the 27th governor general of Canada. Prime Minister Paul Martin announced this morning that the Queen has approved the appointment of Jean as her next representative in Canada."
-The Toronto Star

"I know that I will put all my convictions and my strength toward defending people who need to be defended in terms of the dignity of women, dignity for freedoms, and dignity for the disadvantaged," Ms. Jean said.

"The most important value, in my eyes, is respect. The Canada I love is the one that defines itself through its respect for others, and through its recognition of each person's integrity and dignity."
-The Globe and Mail

The 48-year-old television journalist, who immigrated to Canada from Port-au-Prince in 1968 and grew up in Quebec, will assume her position as the country's representative to the Queen when Adrienne Clarkson steps down in September.

Ms. Jean's family fled the regime of dictator François (Papa Doc) Duvalier when she was 11 years old.

"Born in Haiti, she has known what it is to come to a new country with little more than hope, hope and a belief that with hard work a new country can bring new opportunity," Prime Minister Paul Martin said at a press conference.

"Hers is a story that reminds us what it is best about ourselves and what's best about Canada, a nation of equality of opportunity is our most defining characteristic, giving testament to our longest held values."
-The Globe and Mail

1 comment:

miss.chip said...

Just saying HI!!!