On August 4, 2005, The Prime Minister of Canada, Paul Martin announced that Michaëlle Jean will be the twenty-seventh Governor General of Canada. The third woman (after Jeanne Sauvé and Adrienne Clarkson) to hold this position and the first black person in this role. Ms. Jean [who then led a successful career as a journalist and presenter with Radio-Canada and CBC] became the 27th Governor-General 27 September 2005, succeeding Adrienne Clarkson.

Michaëlle Jean began his last week as Governor General of Canada [its mandate finished yesterday September 27th, 2010] and next Thursday, she will become the UN special envoy to Haiti. On his appointment, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said on June 22 last "as a special envoy of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Haiti Michaelle Jean will draw on its experience and its dedication to Haiti, and its involvement in educational and cultural initiatives", said the Prime Minister. She will be able to support the international community's response to the urgent needs of Haiti, who is recovering from the devastating earthquake of January. His appointment also reflects the leadership role Canada plays in the reconstruction of Haiti."

Learn more about Michaelle Jean:

Born September 6, 1957, Jacmel (Haiti), Michaelle Jean (the niece of renowned poet Rene Depestre) and his family fled the Duvalier dictatorship in 1968. Then aged 11, she began her new life in Thetford Mines, Quebec (Canada). She speaks five languages, French, English, Spanish, Italian and Creole. She is married to filmmaker Jean-Daniel Lafond. The couple has an adopted daughter, Marie-Eden, born in Haiti.

S/ HaitiLibre