Mary Simon

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This article is about the governor general of Canada. For the Scottish poet, see Mary Symon.

Her Excellency the Right Honourable

Mary Simon

CC CMM COM OQ CD
  • Ningiukudluk
Mary Simon GG Announcement 2.png
Simon in 2021
30th Governor General of Canada
Assumed office
July 26, 2021
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau
Preceded byJulie Payette
President of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
In office
2006–2012
Preceded byJose Kusugak
Succeeded by
Ambassador of Canada to Denmark
In office
1999–2001
Prime MinisterJean Chrétien
Preceded byBrian Baker
Succeeded byAlfonso Gagliano
Canadian Ambassador for Circumpolar Affairs
In office
October 31, 1994 – January 19, 2004
Prime MinisterJean Chrétien
Preceded byPosition created
Succeeded byJack Anawak
Chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference
In office
1986–1992
Personal details
Born
Mary Jeannie May

(1947-08-21) August 21, 1947 (age 74)
Kangiqsualujjuaq, Quebec, Canada
Spouse(s)
Robert Otis
​
(m. 1967)​

George Simon
​
(m. 1994)​
Children3
RelativesJohnny May (brother)
EducationKuujjuaq Federal Day School
Fort Carson High School
Occupation
  • Broadcaster
  • public servant
  • diplomat

Mary Jeannie May Simon CC CMM COM OQ CD (Inuktitut: Ningiukudluk;[a] born August 21, 1947) is a Canadian former broadcaster, civil servant and diplomat who has served as the 30th governor general of Canada since 2021.

Simon was born in Kangiqsualujjuaq, Nunavik, Quebec. She briefly worked as a producer and announcer for the CBC Northern Service in the 1970s before subsequently entering public service, serving on the board of the Northern Quebec Inuit Association and playing a key role in the Charlottetown Accord negotiations. Simon was Canada's first ambassador for circumpolar affairs from 1994 to 2004, as well as a lead negotiator for the creation of the Arctic Council.[2] She also served as the Canadian ambassador to Denmark from 1999 to 2002. On July 6, 2021, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Queen Elizabeth II approved the appointment of Simon as the next governor general of Canada.[3]

Early life and education[]

She was born Mary Jeannie May[4] on August 21, 1947,[5] in Kangiqsualujjuaq, Quebec,[6] to Bob May, who was from Manitoba and of English descent,[7] and his wife Nancy, an Inuk.[8][9] Her father had relocated to the north in his youth[10] and became manager of the local Hudson's Bay Company store during the early 1950s.[9][11] He says he was the first white employee to marry an Inuk, which was banned at the time.[12]

Simon was raised in a traditional Inuit lifestyle, including hunting, fishing, sewing Inuit clothing, and travelling by dog sled.[4][13] She credits her mother and maternal grandmother Jeannie Angnatuk for passing on Inuit oral history to her.[4][8]

Simon attended Kuujjuaq Federal Day School in Kuujjuaq (formerly Fort Chimo),[14] then Fort Carson High School in Colorado, and completed her high school via correspondence in Kuujjuaq.[citation needed]

Career[]

Early career[]

Simon taught Inuktitut at McGill University.[15] From 1969 to 1973, she worked as a producer and announcer for the CBC Northern Service.[16]

Simon began her career as a public servant by being elected secretary of the board of directors of the Northern Quebec Inuit Association. In 1978, she was elected as vice-president, and later president, of the Makivik Corporation. She held the position until 1985.

During this period she also became involved with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Canada's national Inuit organization.[17] Simon was one of the senior Inuit negotiators during the repatriation of the Canadian Constitution, the First Ministers' conferences that took place from 1982 to 1992, as well as the 1992 Charlottetown Accord discussions.

She served as a member of the Nunavut Implementation Commission and as Co-Director (Policy) and Secretary to the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples.[17]

Diplomatic career[]

She took on a variety of roles for the Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC). First as an Executive Council member from 1980 to 1983, as president from 1986 to 1992, and then as Special Envoy from 1992 to 1994.[17] During this period she assisted in obtaining approval from the Russian government to allow the Inuit of the Chukotka Peninsula to participate in ICC. In 1986, as president of the ICC, Simon led a delegation of Canadian, Alaskan, and Greenland Inuit to Moscow and then to Chukotka to meet with Russian officials as well as the Inuit of the far east of Russia. In 1987 the ICC was successful in efforts that resulted in the Russian government allowing Russian Inuit to attend the 1989 ICC General Assembly held in Alaska.

Ambassadorship[]

In 1994, Simon was appointed by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien to be Canadian Ambassador for Circumpolar Affairs,[18] a newly-created position she held until early 2004.[19] Acting on instructions from the Government of Canada she took the lead role in negotiating the creation of an eight-country council known today as the Arctic Council. The 1996 Ottawa Declaration formally established the Arctic Council which includes the active participation of the indigenous peoples of the circumpolar world. During her chairmanship of the Arctic Council, and later as Canada's Senior Arctic Official, she worked closely with the Indigenous Permanent Participants of the Arctic Council, and the seven other Arctic Countries it comprises.

During this time period, she also held the position of Canadian Ambassador to Denmark[20] (1999–2002),[21] was a member of the Joint Public Advisory Committee of the Commission on Environmental Cooperation (1997–2000) and held the chairperson position for the commission from 1997 to 1998, and was appointed Councillor for the International Council for Conflict Resolution with the Carter Center in 2001.

Post-diplomatic work[]

From November 2004 to February 2005, she assisted with the facilitation and write-up of reports on the "Sectoral Follow-up Sessions" announced by Prime Minister Paul Martin following the April 19, 2004 Canada-Aboriginal Peoples Roundtable on Strengthening the Relationship on Health, Life Long learning, Housing, Economic Opportunities, Negotiations, and Accountability for Results.[citation needed] From June 2004 to June 2007, Simon was a board member at the International Institute for Sustainable Development.[22][23]

From 2004 to 2005, Simon was special advisor to the Labrador Inuit Association on the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement, and she was elected president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami on July 7, 2006.[24]

Governor General of Canada[]

Nomination[]

In 2010, Simon was on the shortlist for Governor General of Canada. David Johnston was ultimately appointed.[25]

The federal government began a search for a permanent replacement for Governor General Julie Payette following her resignation in early 2021. Simon was reported as a leading contender for the post early on, given her Indigenous heritage and then-political consciousness on Indigenous reconciliation. On July 6, 2021 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Queen Elizabeth II had approved Simon's appointment as the 30th Governor General of Canada.[26] She received a customary audience with the Queen on July 22, though held virtually (instead of in-person) due to the coronavirus pandemic, where she was vested with special appointments as Chancellor of the Order of Canada, the Order of Military Merit, the Order of Merit of the Police Forces and the Order of St. John (within Canada). She also received the Canadian Forces' Decoration. She was formally installed at the Senate of Canada Building on July 26.[27]

Simon's appointment was somewhat unusual in that, while bilingual, she speaks English and Inuktitut, but is not particularly proficient in French. This raised some complaints from francophones in Canada.[28][29]

In office[]

On August 15, 2021, Simon approved the request of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to dissolve Parliament and signed a writ of election for September 20.[30]

Personal life[]

Simon is the second-oldest of eight children.[9] Her brother, Johnny May, is a locally renowned bush pilot.[14] In her youth, Simon attended an Anglican church with her family.[10] At age 40, she developed depression and burnout due to a mental illness, but gradually overcame them.[12]

Simon married her first husband, Robert Otis, on March 27, 1967, in Kuujjuaq.[31] She later married George Simon,[10] and in 1994 she married her current husband, journalist and author Whit Fraser, a former head of the Canadian Polar Commission.[32][33] She has two sons and one daughter.[10] Simon speaks English and Inuktitut, and she has committed to learning French during her tenure as governor general.[34]

Honours[]

Simon's personal awards and decorations include:


Barrette Ordre national du Québec - Officier.svgCanada125 ribbon.png
Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal ribbon.pngQEII Diamond Jubilee Medal ribbon.pngGroenlands Fortjenstmedalje Ribbon.png


Simon has received the following honours and recognition:

Honour Date Citation
Extraordinary Companion of the Order of Canada July 22, 2021
Extraordinary Companion of the Order of Military Merit July 22, 2021
Companion of the Order of Police Merit July 22, 2021
Dame of Justice of The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem (Prior of the Order in Canada) July 22, 2021 [35]
Officer of the Order of Canada November 17, 2005 [36]
Officer of the National Order of Quebec January 21, 1992 [37]
Member of the Order of Canada April 29, 1992 [38]
Greenland Medal for Meritorious Service (Gold) July 24, 1992 [39]
National Aboriginal Achievement Award 1996 [40]
Gold Medal of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society 1998 [41]
125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal 1992 [35]
Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (Canadian Version) February 6, 2002 [42]
Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (Canadian Version) February 6, 2012 [43]
Symons Medal of the Confederation Centre of the Arts November 3, 2009 [44]

Honorary degrees[]

University Degree Date Ref.
McGill University Doctor of Laws June 5, 1992 [41][45]
Queen's University Doctor of Laws October 28, 1994 [46][47]
Trent University Doctor of Laws June 2, 2005 [48][49][50]
Memorial University Doctor of Laws May 2008 [51][52]
University of Guelph Doctor of Laws February 2009 [53][54]
Carleton University Doctor of Laws June 7, 2011 [55][56]
University of Alberta Doctor of Laws June 12, 2012 [57][58]
Mount Saint Vincent University Doctor of Humane Letters 2013 [59][60]
University of British Columbia Doctor of Laws May 26, 2016 [61][62]
University of Victoria Doctor of Laws June 2016 [63][64]
University of Calgary Doctor of Laws June 7, 2017 [65][66]
University of Western Ontario Doctor of Laws June 19, 2017 [67][68]

Honorary academic positions[]

Current positions and memberships[]

Simon is a fellow of the Arctic Institute of North America and of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society.[70]

Other positions currently held by her include:

  • Advisor to the European Space Agency (Arctic Monitoring Program)
  • Chairperson, Arctic Children and Youth Foundation
  • Board Member, Indspire
  • Member of the Board of Governors, University of the Arctic
  • Council Member, Crossing Boundaries National Council
  • Member of Advisory Circle, Walter and Duncan Gordon Charitable Foundation[71]
  • Council Member, The National Police Services Advisory Council

Published works[]

Simon is the author of many works regarding the environment, education, language, and Inuit culture:[72]

Books

  • Simon, Mary May (1996). Inuit: One Future – One Arctic. Peterborough, Ontario: Cider Press. ISBN 1-896851-12-6.

Book contributions

  • Simon, Mary (1989). "Security, Peace and the Native Peoples of the Arctic". The Arctic: Choices for Peace and Security. West Vancouver, British Columbia: Gordon Soules Book Publishers. pp. 31–36. ISBN 0-919574-82-3.
  • Simon, Mary (1992). "Militarization and the Aboriginal Peoples". In Griffiths, Franklyn (ed.). Arctic Alternatives: Civility or Militarism in the Circumpolar North. Toronto, Ontario: Science for Peace. pp. 55–67. ISBN 0-88866-951-8.
  • Simon, Mary May (1999). "The Arctic and the Antarctic: Heritage of Humanity". In Lewkowicz, Antoni G. (ed.). Poles Apart: A Study in Contrasts. Ottawa, Ontario: University of Ottawa Press. pp. 3–8. ISBN 0-7766-0497-X.
  • Simon, Mary (2009). "Climate Change, Sovereignty and Partnership with the Inuit". In Abele, Frances; Courchene, Thomas J.; Seidle, F. Leslie; St-Hilaire, France (eds.). Northern Exposure: Peoples, Powers and Prospects in Canada's North. Montreal, Quebec: Institute for Research on Public Policy. pp. 523–528. ISBN 978-0-88645-205-6.

Reports

Articles

Notes[]

  1. ^ In her first speech as Governor General, Simon said that her Inuktitut name "Ningiukudluk" means "bossy little old lady".[1]

References[]

  1. ^ "Mary Simon officially becomes Canada's first Inuk Governor General". CBC News. July 26, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  2. ^ "Biography – Mary J. Simon". Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. July 21, 2016. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  3. ^ "Prime Minister announces The Queen's approval of Canada's next Governor General". Prime Minister of Canada's website. July 5, 2021. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c "'Honoured, humbled and ready': Mary Simon's first speech as incoming Governor General". CTV News. July 6, 2021.
  5. ^ "Mary Simon – Ordre national du Québec" (in French). Government of Quebec. 2019. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  6. ^ "Biography". Governor General of Canada. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021.
  7. ^ Galloway, Gloria (May 1, 2012). "After four decades leading the Inuit people, Mary Simon steps down". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b Curry, Bill; Raman-Wilms, Menaka (July 6, 2021). "Governor-General Mary Simon dedicated her career to reshaping Indigenous policy in Canada". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on July 12, 2021.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b c Fennell, Tom (February 6, 1995). "The Arctic advocate". Maclean's. Archived from the original on July 25, 2021.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Diebel, Linda (November 24, 1984). "Mary Simon's Come a Long Way from Kangiqsualujjuaq". The Gazette. p. B4. ProQuest 2199943598.
  11. ^ Hay, John (May 12, 1989). "Her mission: protecting Arctic's original people". Ottawa Citizen. p. A9. ProQuest 2336756323.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b Curry, Bill (August 31, 2007). "Inuit leader tackles mental-health "crisis"". The Globe and Mail. Kuujjuaq, Quebec. Archived from the original on July 6, 2021.
  13. ^ Fisher, Matthew (August 9, 1986). "New leader of Inuit has paid her dues". The Globe and Mail. p. A8. ProQuest 1143927135.
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b Tranter, Emma; Reynolds, Chris (July 6, 2021). "'She knows where she comes from': Mary Simon seen as humble, professional leader". Kamloops This Week. The Canadian Press. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  15. ^ Farnsworth, Clyde H. (February 22, 1995). "Envoy Defends Eskimos' World (It's Her World)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 26, 2015.
  16. ^ "Mary May Simon" (PDF). Inuktituk. No. 84. May 1, 1999. pp. 22–23.
  17. ^ Jump up to: a b c Simon, Mary (1997). Inuit : one future--one Arctic. Peterborough, Ont.: Cider Press. ISBN 189685110X.
  18. ^ "Mary Simon is appointed Canada's first Ambassador for Circumpolar Affairs". Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. Archived from the original on May 16, 2013. Retrieved July 21, 2009.
  19. ^ "Simon, Mary May: Posts". Global Affairs Canada. June 5, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  20. ^ Mary Simon becomes Ambassador to the Kingdom of Denmark Archived March 28, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  21. ^ "Heads of Post List: DENMARK". Global Affairs Canada. June 5, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  22. ^ "IISD Announces Seven New Appointees to its Board of Directors" (Press release). Winnipeg, Manitoba: International Institute for Sustainable Development. June 9, 2004. Archived from the original on March 16, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  23. ^ "2007–2008 Annual Report" (PDF). International Institute for Sustainable Development. July 10, 2008. p. 4. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 17, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  24. ^ Simon, Mary (July 28, 2006). "Mary Simon responds to Jim Prentice". Nunatsiaq News. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  25. ^ Windeyer, Chris (February 21, 2010). "Sources tout Mary Simon as next Governor General". Nunatsiaq News. Iqaluit NV: Nortext Publishing Corporation (Iqaluit). Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  26. ^ Aiello, Rachel (July 6, 2021). "Mary Simon named as Canada's first Indigenous Governor General". CTVNews. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  27. ^ "Canada's next governor general Mary Simon to be officially installed July 26". CTVNews. July 13, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  28. ^ Rosen, Nicole. "Should bilingualism change in Canada? The debate over Gov. Gen. Mary Simon". The Conversation. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  29. ^ Nancy Wood (July 14, 2021). "Next governor general's inability to speak French leaves francophone communities conflicted". CBC News. Archived from the original on August 2, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  30. ^ Catharine Tunney; Christian Paas-Lang (August 15, 2021). "Canada is headed for a federal election on Sept. 20". CBC News. Archived from the original on August 17, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  31. ^ "Bulletin statistique de mariage" [Marriage Statistics Report] (in French). Ministry of Health and Social Services. Retrieved July 23, 2021 – via Généalogie Québec.
  32. ^ MacInnis, Adam (July 8, 2021). "How Pictou County's Whit Fraser Met and Married Governor General Designate Mary Simon". SaltWire Network. Archived from the original on July 13, 2021.
  33. ^ Fraser, Whit (July 6, 2021). "'My darling wife': Reflections on the life and work of Mary Simon, the next governor general, by her husband". thestar.com. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  34. ^ Tunney, Catharine; Tasker, John Paul (July 6, 2021). "Inuk leader Mary Simon named Canada's 1st Indigenous governor general". CBC News. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  35. ^ Jump up to: a b "Insignia worn by the Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada". Governor General of Canada. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  36. ^ Order of Canada citation
  37. ^ "National Order of Quebec". National Order of Quebec. September 27, 2011. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  38. ^ "Mary Simon's Order of Canada Citation's". Governor General of Canada. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  39. ^ "Nersornaat 1992" (PDF). Parliament of Greenland. July 6, 2021.
  40. ^ "Indspire Award 1996 (Environment)". Indspire. July 6, 2021.
  41. ^ Jump up to: a b Roy-Sole, Monique (September–October 1998). "Voice of the Arctic". Canadian Geographic. Vol. 118 no. 6. p. 92. Gale A21164634 ProQuest 216043846.
  42. ^ "Recipients of Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee Medal". Governor General of Canada. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  43. ^ "Recipients of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Medal". Governor General of Canada. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  44. ^ "Symons Medal Lecture 2009". Confederation Centre of the Arts.
  45. ^ "List of McGill Honorary Degree Recipients from 1935 to October 2019" (PDF). McGill University. p. 52. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  46. ^ Hogben, Murray (October 29, 1994). "Leggett Installed as Principal". The Kingston Whig-Standard. p. 13. ProQuest 353214048.
  47. ^ "Honorary Degrees" (PDF). Queen's University. p. 26. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  48. ^ Song, Vivian (March 10, 2005). "Honorary Degree for Cherney: General, Filmmaker, Former Chancellor also Getting Degrees". The Peterborough Examiner. p. B1. ProQuest 354743987.
  49. ^ "Now and Forever: Trent's Honourees Will Become Part of a Permanent Record". The Peterborough Examiner. March 12, 2005. p. A4. ProQuest 354793533.
  50. ^ "Trent University Honorary Graduates" (PDF). Trent University. p. 7. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  51. ^ Memorial University (July 20, 2021). ""Excellent and Transformative"". The Gazette. Archived from the original on July 20, 2021.
  52. ^ "Honorary Graduates of Memorial University of Newfoundland 1960–Present" (PDF). Memorial University. p. 21. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  53. ^ "U of G Honorary Degrees Announced". Guelph Mercury. January 31, 2009. p. A4. ProQuest 356195986.
  54. ^ "Honorary Degrees | Recipients" (PDF). University of Guelph. p. 4. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  55. ^ "ITK President Mary Simon Receives Honorary Law Degree from Carleton". Nunatsiaq News. June 8, 2011. Archived from the original on December 1, 2018.
  56. ^ "Honorary Degrees Awarded Since 1954". Carleton University. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  57. ^ "Mary Simon Shares Lessons on Leadership at University of Alberta Grad Ceremony". Nunatsiaq News. June 12, 2012. Archived from the original on December 1, 2018.
  58. ^ "Past Honorary Degree Recipients". University of Alberta. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  59. ^ "Canada's Next Governor General Mary Simon Received Honorary Degree from MSVU". Mount Saint Vincent University. July 8, 2021. Archived from the original on July 23, 2021.
  60. ^ "Honorary Degrees". Mount Saint Vincent University. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  61. ^ "2016 Honorary Degree Recipients". University of British Columbia. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021.
  62. ^ "The Title and Degree of Doctor of Laws, (honoris causa) Conferred at Congregation, May 26, 2016". University of British Columbia. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  63. ^ Bell, Jeff (June 12, 2016). "Leading Lights of First Nations to Receive Degrees". Times Colonist. Archived from the original on June 17, 2016.
  64. ^ "Honorary Degree Recipients". University of Victoria. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  65. ^ "Honorary Degree for Man Who Chaired Truth and Reconciliation Commission". CBC News. The Canadian Press. June 5, 2017. Archived from the original on August 5, 2018.
  66. ^ "Honorary Degree Recipients (November 2019)" (PDF). University of Calgary. p. 10. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  67. ^ "Simon: Your Strength, Courage and Instincts Will Prevail". Western News. University of Western Ontario. June 19, 2017. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  68. ^ "Honorary Degrees Awarded" (PDF). University of Western Ontario. p. 18. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  69. ^ "Mary May Simon: Seventh Chancellor (1995 to 1999, 2002)". Archived from the original on December 15, 2008. Retrieved July 21, 2009.
  70. ^ Jump up to: a b "Mary May Simon". Trent University. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  71. ^ Walter and Duncan Gordon Charitable Foundation Archived February 21, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  72. ^ "Simon, Mary". Inuit Literatures ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᓪᓚᒍᓯᖏᑦ Littératures inuites. Université du Québec à Montréal. Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2021.

External links[]

Academic offices
Preceded by
Kenneth Hare 		Chancellor of Trent University
1995–1999 		Succeeded by
Peter Gzowski
Preceded by
Peter Gzowski 		Chancellor of Trent University
Acting
2002–2003 		Succeeded by
Roberta Bondar
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
Brian Baker 		Canadian Ambassador to Denmark
1999–2002 		Succeeded by
Alfonso Gagliano
Government offices
Preceded by
Julie Payette 		Governor General of Canada
2021–present 		Incumbent
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