Michaëlle Jean - Former Governor General of Canada, Timeline and Childhood
Michaëlle Jean's Personal Details
Michaelle Jean is a Canadian stateswoman who served as the 27th governor general of Canada
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | September 6, 1957 |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Famous | Leaders, Journalists, TV Presenters, Former Governor General of Canada |
| Spouses | Jean-Daniel Lafond |
| Childrens | Marie-Éden Lafond |
| Universities |
|
| Birth Place | Port-au-Prince |
| Religion | Catholicism |
| Height | 157 |
| Gender | Female |
| Father | Roger |
| Mother | Luce |
| Sun Sign | Virgo |
| Born in | Port-au-Prince |
| Famous as | Former Governor General of Canada |
Michaëlle Jean's photo
Who is Michaëlle Jean?
Michaelle Jean is a Canadian stateswoman and journalist who served as the 27th governor general of Canada from 2005 to 2010. Currently she is the Secretary-General of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, the first woman to hold the position. She has worked as a journalist, presenter and news anchor for the Canadian public broadcasting corporation for years and is also actively involved in charity works. A highly ambitious and brilliant woman, she has reached the pinnacles of professional success rising from very humble and difficult beginnings. Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, she immigrated to Canada as one of the thousands of refugees fleeing the dictatorial regime in her own land. The initial years in Canada were very difficult for her though she bravely faced the challenges to eventually establish herself as a successful reporter and broadcaster. As the product of an abusive home, she felt deeply for the female and young victims of domestic violence and played an active role in the establishment of a network of emergency shelters throughout Quebec and elsewhere in Canada. Progressing in her career through the years, she was appointed Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada in 2005 and in this position too she proved to be a very capable leader. Married to the filmmaker Jean-Daniel Lafond, she has also appeared in some of his movies and documentaries.
// Famous Leaders
Edi Rama
Edi Rama is the current Prime Minister of Albania. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.
Tecumseh
Tecumseh was a Native American leader of the Shawnee clan. This biography profiles his childhood, life and timeline.
Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan is the current President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Check out this biography to know about his birthday, childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him.
Childhood & Early Life
She was born on 6 September 1957 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to Roger and Luce. Both her parents were teachers and her father worked as the principal for an elite Protestant private school in Port-au-Prince.
The political situation in Haiti was very tense at that time and thus Michaelle was educated at home instead of being sent to school.
Her father was abducted and brutally tortured by the henchmen of the President François Duvalier in 1965 and the family decided to leave the country for the sake of their safety.
Her father went to Canada in 1967 while the rest of the family joined him after some time. They eventually settled in Quebec but the family’s problems were far from over. Roger became increasingly abusive and her parents separated.
She attended the University of Montreal from where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Italian and Hispanic languages and literature. She completed her Master of Arts degree in comparative literature from the same university.
She continued her studies in language and literature at the University of Perugia and the Catholic University of Milan.
While still studying she became involved with a women’s shelter and coordinated a study on spousal abuse.
Career
She went to Haiti with a friend to conduct research on the island’s women. Her work caught the attention of a National Film Board producer who appointed her as a researcher and interviewer for a film on the 1987 Haitian elections, shown on ‘Le Point’, a news magazine program on Radio-Canada, the French language arm of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
She was eventually hired by Radio-Canada in 1988 as a reporter, filmmaker, and broadcaster, and worked on several of the network's programs, including ‘Actuel’, ‘Montréal ce soir’, and ‘Virages’.
In 1995, she started working for the Réseau de l'information (RDI), Radio-Canada's all-news channel and anchored a number of programs like ‘Le Monde ce soir’, ‘l'Édition québécoise’, ‘Horizons francophones’, ‘Les Grands reportages’, and ‘Le Journal RDI’.
She established herself as a very popular journalist over the next few years and was hosting her own show, ‘Michaëlle’ by 2004.
On 27 September 2005, she became the 27th Governor General of Canada, succeeding Adrienne Clarkson to became the first black person to serve as governor general.
Over the next couple of years she embarked on viceregal tours of Canada's provinces and territories. During these tours she met representatives of women's organizations and focused on the plight of battered women victims of domestic violence.
In February 2009 she welcomed U.S. President Barack Obama to Canada on the first foreign visit of his presidency. The same year she kindled controversy when she ate a piece of heart from a seal that had just been gutted during a traditional Inuit seal feast.
As the governor general she used her power to support human rights, promote Canada, and shed light on the country’s socio-economic problems. She stepped down from this post on 30 September 2010.
She was named chairperson of the board of directors for the Institut Québécois des hautes études internationales (Québec Institute for International Studies) at Université Laval in October 2010. She also became UNESCO's special envoy to Haiti in November 2010.
In November 2014 she was appointed secretary general of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (International Organisation of La Francophonie), becoming the first woman and the first Canadian to hold the position.
Major Works
During her term as Governor General of Canada, she focused strongly on the plight of female victims of violence.
Awards & Achievements
In 1995 she was presented with the Amnesty International Canada Journalism Award.
She won the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television Prix Gémeaux award in 2001 for Best Interview: All Categories.
In 2009 she was awarded the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) Canada Award for her outstanding contribution in advancing gender equality. The same year she also received the Board of Governors Recognition Achievement Award from the National Quality Institute for her contribution to the quality of life of Canadians, and humanity.
Personal Life & Legacy
She went to the Caribbean to work on a documentary about Martinique poet Aimé Césaire in 1991. There she fell in love with the film’s French-born Canadian director Jean-Daniel Lafond, and married him after some time. The couple has one adopted daughter, Marie-Eden.
In 2011 the Universities Fighting World Hunger international network launched the Michaelle Jean Award to recognize students who have made a major contribution to combating hunger in an emergency relief situation.
// Famous TV Presenters
Suze Orman
Suze Orman is an American television host, financial advisor, author and motivational speaker, famous for her ‘The Suze Orman Show’ on CNBC. This biography profiles her childhood, life, career, works, achievements and timeline.
Jimmy Savile
Sir James Wilson Vincent Savile, popularly known as Jimmy Savile, was an English DJ, radio and television personality. This biography profiles his childhood, family, personal life, sexual abuse scandal, etc.
Steve Irwin
Steve Irwin was a famous Australian naturalist best known for his wildlife show ‘The Crocodile Hunter’. To know more about his childhood, career, profile and timeline read on
Michaëlle Jean's awards
| Year | Name | Award |
|---|---|---|
Other | ||
| 0 | Amnesty International Canada Journalism Award (1995) | |
| 0 | United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) Canada Award (2009) | |
Michaëlle Jean biography timelines
- // 6th Sep 1957She was born on 6 September 1957 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to Roger and Luce. Both her parents were teachers and her father worked as the principal for an elite Protestant private school in Port-au-Prince.
- // 1967Her father went to Canada in 1967 while the rest of the family joined him after some time. They eventually settled in Quebec but the family’s problems were far from over. Roger became increasingly abusive and her parents separated.
- // 1987She went to Haiti with a friend to conduct research on the island’s women. Her work caught the attention of a National Film Board producer who appointed her as a researcher and interviewer for a film on the 1987 Haitian elections, shown on ‘Le Point’, a news magazine program on Radio-Canada, the French language arm of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
- // 1988She was eventually hired by Radio-Canada in 1988 as a reporter, filmmaker, and broadcaster, and worked on several of the network's programs, including ‘Actuel’, ‘Montréal ce soir’, and ‘Virages’.
- // 1991She went to the Caribbean to work on a documentary about Martinique poet Aimé Césaire in 1991. There she fell in love with the film’s French-born Canadian director Jean-Daniel Lafond, and married him after some time. The couple has one adopted daughter, Marie-Eden.
- // 1995In 1995, she started working for the Réseau de l'information (RDI), Radio-Canada's all-news channel and anchored a number of programs like ‘Le Monde ce soir’, ‘l'Édition québécoise’, ‘Horizons francophones’, ‘Les Grands reportages’, and ‘Le Journal RDI’.
- // 1995In 1995 she was presented with the Amnesty International Canada Journalism Award.
- // 2001She won the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television Prix Gémeaux award in 2001 for Best Interview: All Categories.
- // 2004She established herself as a very popular journalist over the next few years and was hosting her own show, ‘Michaëlle’ by 2004.
- // 27th Sep 2005On 27 September 2005, she became the 27th Governor General of Canada, succeeding Adrienne Clarkson to became the first black person to serve as governor general.
- // 2009In February 2009 she welcomed U.S. President Barack Obama to Canada on the first foreign visit of his presidency. The same year she kindled controversy when she ate a piece of heart from a seal that had just been gutted during a traditional Inuit seal feast.
- // 2009In 2009 she was awarded the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) Canada Award for her outstanding contribution in advancing gender equality. The same year she also received the Board of Governors Recognition Achievement Award from the National Quality Institute for her contribution to the quality of life of Canadians, and humanity.
- // 2010As the governor general she used her power to support human rights, promote Canada, and shed light on the country’s socio-economic problems. She stepped down from this post on 30 September 2010.
- // 2010She was named chairperson of the board of directors for the Institut Québécois des hautes études internationales (Québec Institute for International Studies) at Université Laval in October 2010. She also became UNESCO's special envoy to Haiti in November 2010.
- // 2014In November 2014 she was appointed secretary general of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (International Organisation of La Francophonie), becoming the first woman and the first Canadian to hold the position.
// Famous Journalists
Sunny Hostin
Sunny Hostin is an American lawyer, social commentator, columnist and journalist. Check out this biography to know about her childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about her.
Melinda Farrell
Melinda Farrell is an internationally renowned sports anchor and freelance sports reporter. This biography profiles her childhood, life, career, achievements, and some facts.
Pete Hegseth
Pete Hegseth is a FOX News Channel contributor from America. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him.
Shannon Bream
Shannon Bream is an American journalist and a Fox News veteran. Check out this biography to know about her childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about her.
Harris Faulkner
Harris Faulkner is a new anchor and television presenter for Fox News Channel. Check out this biography to know about her childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about her life.
Robert Benchley
Robert Benchley was a writer and actor famous for his humor which influenced generations of humorists to come. This biography provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.
Michaëlle Jean's FAQ
What is Michaëlle Jean birthday?
Michaëlle Jean was born at 1957-09-06
Where is Michaëlle Jean's birth place?
Michaëlle Jean was born in Port-au-Prince
What is Michaëlle Jean nationalities?
Michaëlle Jean's nationalities is Canadian
Who is Michaëlle Jean spouses?
Michaëlle Jean's spouses is Jean-Daniel Lafond
Who is Michaëlle Jean childrens?
Michaëlle Jean's childrens is Marie-Éden Lafond
What was Michaëlle Jean universities?
Michaëlle Jean studied at University of Florence, Université de Montréal, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, University of Perugia
What is Michaëlle Jean's religion?
Michaëlle Jean's religion is Catholicism
How tall is Michaëlle Jean?
Michaëlle Jean's height is 157
Who is Michaëlle Jean's father?
Michaëlle Jean's father is Roger
Who is Michaëlle Jean's mother?
Michaëlle Jean's mother is Luce
What is Michaëlle Jean's sun sign?
Michaëlle Jean is Virgo
How famous is Michaëlle Jean?
Michaëlle Jean is famouse as Former Governor General of Canada