Michaelle Jean

Journalist, social activist, governor general of Canada

• Born: September 6, 1957
• Place of Birth: Port-au-Prince, Haiti

• Education: Université de Montréal; University of Perugia; University of Florence; Catholic University of Milan

• Significance: Michaëlle Jean worked as a journalist and news anchor in Canada; in 2005, she became the governor general and commander-in-chief of Canada. She and her husband established a foundation to reach at-risk youths in Canada, and she served as a United Nations special envoy.

Background

Michaëlle Jean was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in 1957. Her father, Roger, was a school principal and teacher, though Jean was educated at home because of the tense political climate. The country was under the control of Dictator François Duvalier, and Roger Jean was arrested and tortured in 1965. Two years later, he fled the country and moved to Canada. Jean, her sister, and their mother followed in 1968.

Jean and her parents settled in Quebec in a mining town, Thetford Mines. Her father became a college professor. Later, after her parents separated, she lived with her sister and mother in Montreal. Jean attended the Université de Montréal, where she earned a bachelor's degree in Italian and Spanish languages and modern literature. In addition to French and English, she attained fluency in Italian, Spanish, and Haitian Creole. She also completed a master's degree in comparative literature at the university and went on to teach Italian and literature. While still a student, she worked in shelters for domestic-violence victims and helped to set up emergency shelters elsewhere in Canada. Jean also studied in Italy on scholarships at the University of Perugia, University of Florence, and Catholic University of Milan.

As an advocate for women victimized by domestic violence, Jean and a friend traveled to Haiti in 1986 to interview women there. The article captured the attention of a producer for the National Film Board of Canada. At the producer's request, Jean served as an interviewer and researcher for a report on the 1987 Haiti elections. The report aired on a newsmagazine on Radio-Canada, which offered Jean a job.

Career

Jean, who was the first Black person to work in French television news in Canada, reported and hosted a number of programs. Several years later, she joined the Radio-Canada all-news network, RDI and hosted le Journal RDI and other programs. She was awarded a Gemini, among other accolades, for her work in broadcasting. She gained recognition among English Canada viewers when she became the host of the CBC News World documentaries "The Passionate Eye" and "Rough Cuts" in 1999. She and her husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, worked together on documentaries during the 1990s, including Haiti dans tous nos rêves and L'heure de Cuba. In 2004, she debuted her own current affairs show, Michaëlle, on RDI.

Canada experienced a contentious separatist movement that began gaining political power during the 1960s. The issue was over whether the Quebec province—where the majority speak French, and Catholicism is the dominant religion—should become a sovereign nation separate from Canada. Several referendums on Quebec sovereignty were rejected by voters late in the twentieth century. Some groups chose violent actions, however, and the issue remained volatile into the twenty-first century.

Later, Jean transitioned from her career in journalism into politics. Canada is a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy, with the British sovereign, Queen Elizabeth II, serving as head of state. The queen's representative in Canada is the governor general, who also represents the country on visits abroad. Prime Minister Paul Martin appointed Jean the governor general of Canada in August 2005. This announcement generated some controversy, however, when a publication claimed Jean had supported the separatist movement. Her dual Canadian-French citizenship also raised concerns in Canada. Eventually, Jean released a statement denying separatist support and gave up French citizenship. She was sworn in on September 27, 2005. She was the first Black person to serve in the position.

In her role as governor general, Jean championed freedom. She used her experiences to unite French and English Canadians. She also traveled to dozens of countries, including her homeland, Haiti, as representative of Canada. She was replaced as governor general on October 1, 2010.

Next, Jean served as special envoy to Haiti for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). She helped in the continued rebuilding effort in the wake of the 2010 earthquake that had killed three hundred thousand Haitians. Her term with UNESCO ended in 2014. She also served as chancellor of the University of Ottawa from 2012 to 2015.

In Dakar, Senegal, in November 2014, Jean was elected secretary general of the International Organization of La Francophonie at the international summit. This organization represents regions around the world where French is the primary language and cultural influence. Jean became the first Canadian and woman to serve as secretary general of the organization. She was the Grand Témoin de la Francophonie, representing the 271 million people of the French linguistic zone, at the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in London. She served in this capacity until 2018. Jean was named to a three-year term as chancellor of St. Paul's University in 2022, succeeding Jean Paul Gladu.

Jean continued to work to improve life for the people of Haiti. She was also asked to reorganize Haitian soccer from 2021 to 2022 after the president was involved in a sex scandal. Jean spoke at the Congress 2023 gathering at Canada's York University. Jean acknowledged that outside forces have contributed to Haiti's decline but explained that the country's leadership was also to blame. According to Jean, autocrats and criminals seek the power of leadership to abuse it without taking into consideration the interests of the country's people.

Impact

Jean created the Michaëlle Jean Foundation, a national charitable organization that works with at-risk young Canadians. The organization uses the arts and culture to reach young people. As part of this effort, the foundation outfitted a tractor trailer that traveled thousands of miles to communities across Canada annually. An estimated two hundred thousand people participated in youth community arts projects.

In recognition for her work, Jean received numerous accolades, including the titles Member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Companion of the Order of Canada, Commander of the Order of Military Merit, Commander of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces, and the Canadian Forces Decoration. France elevated her to the rank of the Grand Cross in 2011 for her work fighting for equality. She also was honored by the governments of several countries, including Benin and Mali. As an advocate of gender equality, she received the United Nations Development Fund for Women Canada Award in 2009.

Personal Life

Jean is married to Jean-Daniel Lafond, who is an essayist, a filmmaker, and a philosopher. They have a daughter, Marie-Éden, who was born in Haiti. Jean has worked with her husband on several of the documentaries he has produced.

Bibliography

"Michaëlle Jean." Canadian Encyclopedia, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/michaelle-jean/. Accessed 9 Oct. 2024.

"Michaëlle Jean." Official Site of the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, www.michaellejean.ca/welcome. Accessed 9 Oct. 2024. "Michaëlle Jean Tells Congress 2023 Delegates Haiti's Leadership Party Responsible for Country's Decline." Ron Fanfair, 10 Aug. 2023, www.ronfanfair.com/home/2023/8/10/t1r0j9hwa3k2pcunoz5p0zcv5an0pm. Accessed 9 Oct. 2024.

"Role and Responsibilities." The Governor General of Canada, 12 Nov. 2015, www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=3&lan=eng. Accessed 9 Oct. 2024.

"Welcome to the International Organisation of La Francophonie's Official Website." International Organisation of La Francophonie, www.francophonie.org/Welcome-to-the-International.html. Accessed 9 Oct. 2024.