Michaëlle Jean

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, CC, CMM, COM, CD {{IPA|}} (born September 6, 1957 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti) is the current governor general of Canada. Jean was approved by Queen Elizabeth II, on the recommendation of Prime Minister Paul Martin, to succeed Adrienne Clarkson and become the 27th governor general of Canada.

Biography

Jean fled Haiti with her family from dictator François Duvalier's regime in 1968. Her father, with whom she has recently reconciled, was a philosopher who was tortured under Duvalier's regime and separated from the family for 30 years. The Jean family settled at Thetford Mines, Quebec.

Related Topics:
François Duvalier - 1968 - Thetford Mines, Quebec

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Besides French and English, Jean is fluent in Spanish, Italian and Haitian Creole and can read Portuguese.

Related Topics:
French - English - Spanish - Italian - Haitian Creole - Portuguese

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As a student at the University of Montreal, Jean received a Bachelor of Arts in Italian and Hispanic languages and literature and, from 1984 until 1986, taught Italian Studies while completing a Master of Arts in comparative literature. Jean attended the universities of Florence, Perugia and the Catholic University of Milan to continue her studies in language and literature.

Related Topics:
University of Montreal - Bachelor of Arts - Languages - Literature - 1984 - 1986 - Italian Studies - Master of Arts - Comparative literature - Florence - Perugia - Catholic University of Milan

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While attending university, Jean worked at a shelter for battered women from 1979 until 1987. She later helped establish a network of shelters for women and children across Quebec and Canada. Jean also worked in organizations that helped immigrants who came to Canada and then later worked for Employment and Immigration Canada and at the Conseil des Communautés culturelles du Québec. Jean began writing about the experiences of immigrant women. Jean held dual citizenship (Canadian and French) as a result of her marriage, but on September 23, 2005, announced her voluntary renunciation of her French citizenship in order to feel 'more comfortable' in her acceptance of her appointment as Governor General of Canada.

Related Topics:
Shelter for battered women - 1979 - 1987 - Quebec - Canada - Employment and Immigration Canada - Conseil des Communautés culturelles du Québec - French - September 23

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She has one daughter, Marie-Eden, adopted from Haiti.

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