Michaelle Jean's Early Life
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.
Early years
Michaelle Jean was born in 1957 and came to Canada as a refugee in 1968 when she was eleven years old. She was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and spent summers with her mother and grandmother in Jacmel; both of these cities were badly damaged by the terrible earthquake which ravished Haiti in 2009. Michaelle revisited Jacmel in her capacity as governor general after the disaster had struck.
Michaelle Jean's father was a principal of a prestigious Protestant School in Port-au-Prince. The family was Episcopalian (in Canada this church is called the Anglican Church). Michaelle's father made the decision to home-school her because he did not want her to have to swear allegiance to the infamous François Duvalier.The swearing of allegiance to the president was mandatory for all school children at the time.
Michaelle's father was arrested and tortured under the Duvalier regime in 1965. He fled to Canada in 1967. His family which consisted of Michaelle, her mother, and sister joined him in 1968.
Emigration to Canada
The family settled in Thetford Mines, Quebec. However, Jean's father became increasing violent and the parents ended up divorcing. Michaelle moved with her mother and sister to a small basement apartment in Montreal.
Education
Like her predecessor, the Right Honorable Adrienne Clarkson, Michaelle Jean was well educated.
From the University of Montrealshe received her Bachelor of Arts in Italian, literature, and Hispanic languages. She taught Italian while completing her masters in comparative literature.
She then went on to further her language studies at the University of Florence, University of Perugia, and the Catholic University of the Sacred Heartin Milan, Italy. Michaelle Jean is fluent in Haitian Creole, English, French, Italian, Spanish and she can read Portuguese.
Study on spousal abuse
No doubt influenced by her abusive father when she Michaelle conducted a spousal abuse study from 1979 - 1987, while completing her university studies. She worked at a women's shelter and later established a network of shelters for women and children across Canada.
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
Published by Carol Roach
Carol Roach holds a masters in counselling psychology. She worked as a therapist at the Douglas Hospital in Montreal before becoming a professional writer.Carol is the author of the book Picking Up The Piece... View profile
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4 Comments
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well michel is french for michael here in quebec, michelle is the feminine version of michel, here in quebec,
I have the same trouble with my name, carol is english, so french people who just read my name think I am a man. In french Carole is for a girl.
Now michaelle is not michele a version no doubt
but it is pronounced, Mick ay elle
I'm looking at her name and I'm thinking "I had enough trouble because my mom & dad spelled Michele with one "l" LOL - I wonder how often her name was misspelled? cheers ;)
You have some great women up there...Thanks for the info.