Governor General Website

Previously published in Examiner

Michaelle Jean is the third and last female governor general of Canada who just ended her term in October 2010. She is a journalist and stateswoman and former refugee from Haiti.

Michaelle and the women in her family suffered abuse at the hands of her father. Michaelle Jean had conducted a study on spousal abuse while she was still in university. She also worked in a women's shelter after she finished her studies.

The appointment as Governor General of Canada

Michaelle Jean made the statement that she was interested in working with all Canadians especially the youth of the country and the disadvantaged, hoping to dispel that she had only Quebec at heart.

Question of Supporting the Quebec sovereignty

Michaëlle Jean overcame the accusations that she and her husband are sovereigntists. She went on to deliver a beautiful investiture speech that was found to be that,

"the pomp and circumstance of Canada's most significant state function were blended with humour, passion and even tears."

She talked about putting an end to the two solitudes, and bringing all Canadians together, she talked about protecting the environment, protecting our Youth, her life in Haiti, and the sweet taste of freedom. Meanwhile her six-year-old daughter look on to be her inspiration and support.

The coat of arms created for her as governor general reads BRISER LES SOLITUDES (Breaking the solitudes).

Governor General website

Michaelle Jean created the governor general website to be able to converse with all Canadians. This website has been dubbed "Citizen Voices: Breaking Down Solitudes." Here, Canadians could engage in forum discussions and prominent personages could create blog style articles. The website was designed to go beyond the English and French solitudes in Canada to include racial, cultural, sub cultures, linguistic and gender groups, and discussing important issues of the day.

Canadian tours and discussions in Canada

Michaelle Jean did the traditional Canadian tours of the provinces and territories. Jean presented the "Grey Cupat the 93rd Canadian Football League championship gamein Iqaluit, Nunavut. She opened the Toonik Tyme Festival, where she donated eighty books in Inuktitut, French, and English to the Centennial Library in commemoration of Queen Elizabeth II's 80th birthday" She was also the first Governor General to address the Alberta legislature.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micha%C3%ABlle_Jean

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2010/09/29/f-michaelle-jean-bio.html

http://www.conservative.ca/EN/news_releases/statement_from_stephen_harper_on_the_appointment_of_new_governor_general/

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Canada/20050811/gg_sovereignty_050811/

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2005/08/12/jean-sovereignty050812.html

http://www.canada.com/national/features/governor_general/story.html?id=78549c49-781f-43c0-908d-20f24db2ca5a

http://archive.gg.ca/media/doc.asp?lang=e&DocID=4728

http://archive.gg.ca/media/doc.asp?lang=e&DocID=4994

Criticism of Michaëlle Jean's performance as Governor General