Skip to Main content

9.99°^C Vancouver

News Entertainment Videos Shows Podcast Contact Us

Jul 26, 2021 4:36 PM -

Mary Simon installed as 30th Governor General, first Indigenous person to hold role

Share On

mary-simon-installed-as-30th-governor-general-first-indigenous

Mary Simon speaks during an announcement at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Que., on Tuesday, July 6, 2021. Simon, an Inuk leader and former Canadian diplomat, has been named as Canada's next governor general — the first Indigenous person to serve in the role. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Mary Simon has officially become Canada's 30th Governor General, and the first Indigenous person to hold the role.

As she took her seat at the head of the Senate chamber, her husband, Whit Fraser, turned to her, took a small bow and then sat down next to Simon.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau named Simon, an Inuk leader and former Canadian diplomat, as his choice to be the Queen's representative in Canada earlier this month, replacing Julie Payette who resigned in January.

Her choice came amid a national reckoning with the country's historical mistreatment of Indigenous Peoples, including horrific findings of unmarked graves at the sites of former residential schools.

In a statement, Trudeau says he expects Simon to help the country confront difficult truths about the past, and walk the shared path of reconciliation.

He also says Simon will use her unique experiences to represent Canadians in all their diversity, at home and abroad, and in both official languages.

Latest news

WorldNov 19, 2025

Russian strikes on western Ukraine kill 25 as Zelenskyy seeks support in Turkey

Ukrainian officials say at least 25 people have been killed, including three children, after a wave of Russian drone and missile strikes hit residential areas in the western city of Ternopil. Local authorities report that two apartment buildings were heavily damaged and more than 70 residents were injured during the overnight barrage. Ukraine’s military says air defence units intercepted most of the hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles launched across the country. The attack marked one of the largest overnight assaults in recent weeks and comes as communities with Ukrainian ties in Albe

charges-laid-after-alleged-metro-vancouver-casino-fraud-scheme-totals-45-000-dollars

Charges laid after alleged Metro Vancouver casino fraud scheme totals 45,000 dollars

Provincial anti-gang investigators say two Metro Vancouver residents are facing fraud charges following an alleged scheme that targeted multiple casinos across the Lower Mainland. British Columbia’s Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit says it launched an investigation in April after casino operators reported irregular transactions involving tens of thousands of dollars. According to police, the activity took place over roughly two weeks between mid-March and April, generating about 45,000 dollars in alleged illicit proceeds. Investigators have not released detailed information about how

AlbertaNov 19, 2025

Albertans choose Banff’s Moraine Lake for upcoming Strong and Free licence plate

Alberta’s next generation of licence plates will feature one of the province’s most recognizable mountain landscapes after residents selected Moraine Lake as the new image. The provincial government said more than 240,000 people participated in an online vote, making this the first major redesign of the plate in more than four decades. The change follows the government’s earlier decision to retire the long standing Wild Rose Country slogan and replace it with Strong and Free, a phrase drawn from Alberta’s official motto and referenced in Canada’s national anthem. Officials say the up

canadas-emergency-alert-system-to-run-nationwide-test-today

CanadaNov 19, 2025

Canada’s emergency alert system to run nationwide test today

Canada’s Alert Ready system will issue a routine public test today, with messages scheduled to appear on television, radio and compatible mobile devices from late morning through early afternoon. The test is being coordinated by federal, provincial and territorial emergency officials to confirm that the national alerting infrastructure remains reliable. Officials say the semi-annual tests, held each May and November, allow emergency management teams to practise issuing alerts for situations such as severe weather, wildfires and Amber Alerts. In Western Canada, where communities in British Co

canada-post-outlines-plan-to-reduce-workforce-through-attrition-as-financial-losses-deepen

CanadaNov 19, 2025

Canada Post outlines plan to reduce workforce through attrition as financial losses deepen

Canada Post says it expects as many as 30,000 employees to retire or leave voluntarily by 2035 as the corporation moves to reduce its workforce and modernize its operations. The projection was shared at the Crown corporation’s annual meeting, where leaders described a decade of significant restructuring driven by declining mail volumes and growing financial pressures. President and CEO Doug Ettinger told attendees that the postal service will rely on attrition to downsize from the roughly 62,000 employees on staff at the end of last year. He said the approach is intended to manage change gra

Related News

Canada’s emergency alert system to run nationwide test today

Canada’s emergency alert system to run nationwide test today

Canada’s Alert Ready system will issue a routine public test today, with messages scheduled to appear on television, radio and compatible mobile devices from late morning through early afternoon. The test is being coordinated by federal, provincial and territorial emergency officials to confirm that the national alerting infrastructure remains reliable. Officials say the semi-annual tests, held each May and November, allow emergency management teams to practise issuing alerts for situations such as severe weather, wildfires and Amber Alerts. In Western Canada, where communities in British Co

Canada Post outlines plan to reduce workforce through attrition as financial losses deepen

Canada Post outlines plan to reduce workforce through attrition as financial losses deepen

Canada Post says it expects as many as 30,000 employees to retire or leave voluntarily by 2035 as the corporation moves to reduce its workforce and modernize its operations. The projection was shared at the Crown corporation’s annual meeting, where leaders described a decade of significant restructuring driven by declining mail volumes and growing financial pressures. President and CEO Doug Ettinger told attendees that the postal service will rely on attrition to downsize from the roughly 62,000 employees on staff at the end of last year. He said the approach is intended to manage change gra

Joly argues Canada fell short on industrial gains from F-35 deal

Joly argues Canada fell short on industrial gains from F-35 deal

Industry Minister Mélanie Joly said on Parliament Hill that Canada has not secured adequate economic returns from its contract to purchase U.S.-made F-35 stealth fighter jets. According to her, the government needs “more jobs created out of the F-35 contract.” Her remarks came as Swedish defence company Saab weighs establishing production in Canada to build its Gripen fighter jets — a proposal that could generate up to 10,000 Canadian jobs, Joly said. She added that Ottawa will carefully examine the offer. Canada has committed to buying 16 F-35A aircraft from Lockheed Martin as part of

Legals

Journalism code of ethics

© 2021 AKASH Broadcasting Inc.

MANAGED BY STRATWIT

useful links

Accessibility Plan

BC Children's Hospital