Adrienne Clarkson

The Right Honourable Adrienne Louise Clarkson, PC, CC, CMM, COM, CD, LL.D (born February 10, 1939) was the Governor General of Canada from October 7, 1999 to September 27, 2005. She was the first Chinese Canadian and second woman to hold this position, the first being Jeanne Sauvé.

Early career

Clarkson studied at Ottawa public schools until 1956 (graduating from Lisgar Collegiate Institute) when she entered the University of Toronto's Trinity College. It is during this time that she won a Governor General's medal in English. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (and Master of Arts) in 1960, after which she travelled with her parents to East and Southeast Asia. Her post-graduate studies were undertaken at the Sorbonne.

Related Topics:
Ottawa - 1956 - Lisgar Collegiate Institute - University of Toronto - Trinity College - Bachelor of Arts - Master of Arts - 1960 - East - Southeast Asia - Sorbonne

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

She began working on her Master's degree in 1962, with a thesis on George Meredith's poems. The following year, she married Stephen Clarkson, a University of Toronto political science professor. They divorced in 1975. The couple had two children, daughters. Blaise Clarkson (born 1972) was a medical student at the University of Toronto). Kyra Clarkson (born 1969) was a Northern Secondary School grad and is currently an architect with the firm Tod Williams Billie Tsien in New York City. Kyra lives in Brooklyn Heights neighbourhood in New York. The Clarksons' had a son, who died shortly after his birth. After the divorce, the children became estranged from their mother and now rarely speak to her. Christina McCall, Stephen Clarkson second wife adopted the two daughters.

Related Topics:
1962 - George Meredith - Stephen Clarkson - Political science - Divorce - 1975 - Blaise Clarkson - 1972 - University of Toronto - Kyra Clarkson - 1969 - Northern Secondary School - New York City - Brooklyn Heights - New York - Christina McCall

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

She is well known from her work in broadcasting, having hosted and produced several shows for the CBC (1965-1982); these include Take 30, Adrienne at Large, The Fifth Estate, Adrienne Clarkson's Summer Festival, and Adrienne Clarkson Presents. She was the president and publisher of McClelland and Stewart from 1987 to 1988 and has written several books. As host and executive producer of Adrienne Clarkson Presents she received numerous Gemini Award nominations, winning in 1993 for Best Host in a Light Information, Variety or Performing Arts Program or Series. She was the 1995 recipient of the Donald Brittain Award, a special award given every year for the best social/political documentary program. In 1995 she also won a Gémeaux Award (the French-Language equivalent of a Gemini) for Adrienne Clarkson Presents.

Related Topics:
CBC - 1965 - 1982 - Take 30 - The Fifth Estate - McClelland and Stewart - 1987 - 1988 - Gemini Award - 1993 - Donald Brittain - Gémeaux Award

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Her precise diction and sometimes haughty demeanor has been the subject of satire, most famously in the CBC Radio series Double Exposure, where co-creator Linda Cullen mimicked Ms. Clarkson with the line, "I'm Adrienne Clarkson, and you're not" (derived from Chevy Chase's early Saturday Night Live refrain).

Related Topics:
Double Exposure - Linda Cullen - Chevy Chase - Saturday Night Live

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the early 1980s she served a term as the province of Ontario's representative in Paris. Clarkson was head of the Canadian Museum of Civilization (1998-1999) and former president of publisher McClelland and Stewart (1987-1988).

Related Topics:
1980s - Ontario - Paris - Canadian Museum of Civilization - 1998 - 1999 - McClelland and Stewart - 1987 - 1988

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1992 she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada and was promoted to Companion when she became Governor General in 1999.

Related Topics:
1992 - Order of Canada - 1999

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~