Northern Ontario native selected as next Governor General of Canada
Pictured: David L. Johnston, Canada’s governor general designate, meets Her Majesty The Queen during a dinner held in Her Majesty’s honour in Toronto on July 5. Photo by Jason Ransom, official photographer for the Prime Minister.
Pictured: David L. Johnston, Canada’s governor general designate, meets Her Majesty The Queen during a dinner held in Her Majesty’s honour in Toronto on July 5. Photo by Jason Ransom, official photographer for the Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper News Release
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OTTAWA - Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced today that, on his recommendation, Her Majesty The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of David L. Johnston as the next Governor General of Canada.
Mr. Johnston will serve in succession to the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean.
The installation of Mr. Johnston will occur on October 1, 2010, in the Senate Chamber.
Backgrounder
David L. Johnston, C.C.
David Johnston began his professional career as an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Law at Queen’s University in 1966, moving to the Law Faculty at the University of Toronto in 1968. He became Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Western Ontario in 1974. In 1979 he was named Principal and Vice-Chancellor of McGill University; and in July 1994, he returned to the McGill Faculty of Law as a full-time professor. In June 1999, he became the fifth President of the University of Waterloo .
Professor Johnston has served on many provincial and federal task forces and committees, and on the board of a number of companies, including Arise, CGI, Fairfax , and Masco currently. He was President of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada and of the Conférence des recteurs et des principaux des universités du Québec. He was the founding chair of the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy, chaired the federal government’s Information Highway Advisory Council and served as the first non-American chair of the Board of Overseers at Harvard University . He is the author or co-author of two dozen books, holds honorary doctorates from over a dozen universities, and has been awarded the Order of Canada (Companion).
Mr. Johnston holds an LL.B. from Queen’s University , Canada (1966), an LL.B. from Cambridge , United Kingdom (1965), and an A.B. from Harvard (1963). While at Harvard he was twice elected to the All-American Hockey Team and is a member of Harvard’s Athletic Hall of Fame. His academic specializations include securities regulation, corporation and information technology and law.
Mr. Johnston was born in Sudbury, Ontario , and is married to Dr. Sharon Johnston. They have five daughters.
Dr. Sharon Johnston
Dr. Johnston began her career working at the Crippled Children’s Centre in Toronto after completing studies at the University of Toronto in 1966 in Physical and Occupational Therapy. Later, she completed a Bachelor of Science at the University of Western Ontario , a Master’s of Science at McGill University and obtained her PhD in 1996 in Rehabilitation Science at McGill University .
Dr. Johnston is an avid horse riding enthusiast and runs a horse training centre from their home, Chatterbox Farm, in Ontario . Dr. Johnston is currently enrolled in a creative writing program at Humber College and writing a historical fiction novel. She has previously published scientific articles on respiratory mechanics and has contributed an autobiographical essay to a collection on notable women in Montreal .
Dr. Johnston was born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
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Prime Minister Stephen Harper today welcomed the appointment of David Johnston as the governor general designate.
Mr. Johnston, a respected lawyer and academic, will assume his new duties as governor general on October 1.
“Mr. Johnston has a strong record of public service, a broad base of support and an impressive list of achievements,” said Prime Minister Harper. “He has extensive legal expertise, a comprehensive understanding of government and a deep appreciation of the duties and tasks now before him.”
Currently serving as president and vice-chancellor of the University of Waterloo, Mr. Johnston has also served as president and vice-chancellor of McGill University and has held teaching positions at several prominent Canadian universities, including the University of Toronto, Queen’s University and the University of Western Ontario.
He has published extensively and has served as chair, member or advisor to two dozen government agencies, boards and roundtables.
“David Johnston represents the best of Canada,” said the Prime Minister. “He represents hard work, dedication, public service and humility. I am confident he will continue to embody these traits in his new role as the Crown’s representative in Canada.”
The governor general designate was selected following extensive national consultations by an expert advisory committee.
His exemplary record of public service has earned him the respect, support and admiration of many prominent Canadians in politics, government, academia, parties of all stripes, and in every region of the country.
Mr. Johnston resides outside of Waterloo, Ontario.
