Mary Simon

For the Scottish poet, see Mary Symon.

Her Excellency the Right Honourable
Mary Simon
CC CMM COM OQ CD
ᒥᐊᓕ ᓴᐃᒪᓐ
Simon wearing a dark suit
Simon in 2022
30th Governor General of Canada
Incumbent
Assumed office
July 26, 2021
Monarchs
Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau
Preceded byJulie Payette
13th President of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
In office
2006–2012
Preceded byJose Kusugak
Succeeded byTerry Audla
Canadian Ambassador to Denmark
In office
August 11, 1999 – January 15, 2002[1]
Prime MinisterJean Chrétien
Preceded byBrian Baker
Succeeded byAlfonso Gagliano
Canadian Ambassador for Circumpolar Affairs
In office
October 31, 1994 – January 19, 2004
Prime MinisterJean Chrétien
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byJack Anawak
Chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference
In office
1986–1992
President
Preceded byHans-Pavia Rosing
Succeeded byCaleb Pungowiyi
Personal details
Born
Mary Jeannie May

(1947-08-21) August 21, 1947 (age 77)
Fort Severight, Quebec, Canada
Spouses
Robert Otis
​
​
(m. 1967, divorced)​
George Simon
​
(divorced)​
​
(m. 1994)​
Children3
RelativesJohnny May (brother)
ResidenceRideau Hall
Education
  • Kuujjuaq Federal Day School
  • Fort Carson High School
Occupation
  • Broadcaster
  • public servant
  • diplomat
Signature

Mary Jeannie May Simon CC CMM COM OQ CD (in Inuktitut syllabics: ᒥᐊᓕ ᓴᐃᒪᓐ;[2][3] Inuktitut: Ningiukudluk;[4] born August 21, 1947) is a Canadian civil servant, diplomat, and former broadcaster who has served as the 30th governor general of Canada since July 26, 2021. She is Inuk on her mother's side, making her the first indigenous person to hold the office.[a]

Simon was born in Fort Severight (now Kangiqsualujjuaq), Quebec. She briefly worked as a producer and announcer for the CBC Northern Service in the 1970s before entering public service, serving on the board of the Northern Quebec Inuit Association and playing a key role in the Charlottetown Accord negotiations.[citation needed] She was Canada's first ambassador for circumpolar affairs from 1994 to 2004, as well as a lead negotiator for the creation of the Arctic Council.[5] She also served as the Canadian ambassador to Denmark from 1999 to 2002.

On July 6, 2021, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Queen Elizabeth II had approved Simon's appointment as governor general.[6]

  1. ^ Canada, Global Affairs (June 5, 2014). "Gagliano, Alfonso : Post(s)". w05.international.gc.ca. Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  2. ^ "ᒥᐊᓕ ᓴᐃᒪᓐ, O.C., O.Q." [Mary Simon, O.C., O.Q.] (in Inuktitut). Prime Minister of Canada. July 6, 2021. Archived from the original on August 29, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  3. ^ "#GGSimon left a note on the wall of the Ukrainian pavilion at #Expo2020Dubai..." Instagram. Governor-General of Canada. March 18, 2022. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference GG Acceptance Speech was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Biography – Mary J. Simon". Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. July 21, 2016. Archived from the original on October 22, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  6. ^ "Prime Minister announces The Queen's approval of Canada's next Governor General". Prime Minister of Canada's website. July 5, 2021. Archived from the original on August 4, 2021. Retrieved July 8, 2021.


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