Menu
Login
Nickname

Password

Don't have an account yet? You can create one. As a registered user you have some advantages like theme manager, comments configuration and post comments with your name.
Advertising


Classified Ads
No Ads submitted yet
National News: Jean becomes Canada's 27th Governor General Black Habits Articles Michaƫlle Jean, a Haitian-born Montrealer and television journalist, is Canada's 27th Governor General. Jean was sworn in during a colourful ceremony in the Senate chamber the morning of Tuesday September 27. It included musical performances by artists from across the country.

Jean replaced Adrienne Clarkson who ended her six-year term Monday amid artistic and cultural celebrations and expressions of gratitude from the Prime Minister and many other Canadians.

Among the many dignitaries at Jean's investiture was Clarkson. It was the first time in over a century that an outgoing governor general has attended the swearing in ceremony.

On Tuesday, Jean made public her coat of arms. It depicts two mermaids or "Simbis, water spirits from Haitian culture who comfort souls, purify troubled waters and intervene with wisdom and foresight." The mermaids are said to symbolize the vital role played by women in advancing social justice. Under them is Jean's motto "Briser les solitudes" - breaking down solitudes.

Jean's appointment as Governor General was controversial, with accusations that both she and her husband, filmmaker Jean-Daniel Lafond, had associated with and sympathized with Quebec separatists.

She also was criticized for holding French citizenship. Jean became a French citizen when she married Lafond. Lafond holds both Canadian and French passports. She formally renounced her French citizenship this week.

Jean is Canada's 27th Governor General. Both she and Clarkson were broadcast journalists at the CBC before taking office.


FACTS:
Age: 48
Birthplace: Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Left as a child with her parents in 1968.
Education: University of Montreal, Florence, Milan, & Pergua Italy.
Languages: French, English, Spanish, Italian, & Haitian Creole.
Career: Television host, do*****entary film producer. Hosted CBC Newsworld's The Passionate Eye and Rough Cuts, along with RDI's French language do*****entary series Grands Reportages. She joined Radio Canada in 1988, working as a reporter before hosting several shows.
Awards: Amnesty International Journalism Award in 1995, Anik Prize for information reporting in 1994, Galaxi Award for best information program host in 2000.
Governer General duties: Becomes the 27th representative of the monarch since confederation. Promotes Canadian sovereignty, celebrates excellence and encourages national identity, unity and moral leadership. Commander in Chief of the Canadian Forces.
Salary: $110,126 + use of Rideau Hall in Ottawa and La Cidadelle in Quebec City.
Term: No official limit, but usually 5 years.

Note: Last Updated Tue, 27 Sep 2005 12:14:27 EDT CBC News
Posted on Tuesday, September 27 @ 20:11:30 UTC by bspringer



"Jean becomes Canada's 27th Governor General" | Login/Create an Account | 0 comments
The comments are owned by the poster. We aren't responsible for their content.

No Comments Allowed for Anonymous, please register
Copyright ® 2005 Black Habits