 |
Mary Simon30th Governor General of Canada since July 26, 2021
Date of Birth: 21.08.1947
Country:  Canada |
Content:
- Mary Simon: Canada's Trailblazing Governor-General
- Career in the Inuit Movement
- Diplomatic and Government Roles
- Presidency of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
- Personal Life
- Legacy
Mary Simon: Canada's Trailblazing Governor-General
Early Life and EducationMary Simon, who became Canada's 30th Governor-General on July 26, 2021, was born on August 21, 1947, in Kangirksualujjuaq, Northern Quebec. Her father, Bob May, was a manager for the Hudson's Bay Company, while her mother, Nancy, was an Inuit. Simon is of both English and Inuit descent, with eight siblings. She attended six grades of federal school and grew up in a traditional Inuit lifestyle, which included fishing, hunting, and subsistence living.
Career in the Inuit Movement
In the 1970s, Simon worked for CBC North, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's service in Northern Canada. In the late 1970s, she joined the Northern Quebec Inuit Association (Makivik Corporation), a non-profit organization advocating for Inuit rights. She served as the organization's vice-president from 1978 to 1982 and president until 1985.
From 1980 to 1983, Simon was on the executive of the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC), and from 1986 to 1992, she was its president. In 1986, she led a delegation of American, Canadian, and Greenlandic Inuit to Moscow. Simon also participated in negotiations for the Charlottetown Accord and served on the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples in 1993.
Diplomatic and Government Roles
From 1994 to 2004, Simon served as Canada's Special Representative for Circumpolar Affairs. She played a key role in establishing the Arctic Council (1996), leading Canada's delegations to its meetings. She was also responsible for Arctic issues and enhancing relationships among nations in the region for the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs.
From 1999 to 2002, Simon was Canada's ambassador to Denmark. She served on the public council of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) from 1997 to 2002. Simon was also the chancellor of Trent University from 1995 to 1999 and 2002 to 2003.
Presidency of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
From 2006 to 2012, Simon was the president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, a non-profit organization representing Inuit in Canada. On July 6, 2021, she was appointed Governor-General of Canada, taking office on July 26.
Personal Life
Mary Simon has been married three times. Her first marriage was to Robert Otis in 1967. She then married George Simon. Since 1994, she has been married to journalist Whit Fraser, with whom she has two sons and a daughter.
Legacy
Mary Simon's appointment as Governor-General marks a historic moment for Canada, as she is the first Indigenous woman to hold the position. Her long and distinguished career in the Inuit movement, diplomacy, and government service has made her a respected and influential figure both nationally and internationally.
