CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html>    <html lang="en" dir="ltr" prefix="og: http://ogp.me/ns# article: http://ogp.me/ns/article# book: http://ogp.me/ns/book# profile: http://ogp.me/ns/profile# video: http://ogp.me/ns/video# product: http://ogp.me/ns/product# content: http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/ dc: http://purl.org/dc/terms/ foaf: http://xmlns.com/foaf/0.1/ rdfs: http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema# sioc: http://rdfs.org/sioc/ns# sioct: http://rdfs.org/sioc/types# skos: http://www.w3.org/2004/02/skos/core# xsd: http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#"> <head> <meta charset="utf-8" /> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="https://www.gg.ca/sites/all/themes/osgg_full_width/favicon.ico" type="image/vnd.microsoft.icon" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0, user-scalable=yes" /> <meta name="description" content="Mary Simon has attained national and international recognition for her work on Arctic and Indigenous issues and as an advocate for Inuit rights and culture." /> <meta name="MobileOptimized" content="width" /> <meta name="HandheldFriendly" content="1" /> <meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-capable" content="yes" /> <meta name="generator" content="Drupal 7 (http://drupal.org)" /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.gg.ca/en/governor-general/governor-general-mary-may-simon/biography" /> <link rel="shortlink" href="https://www.gg.ca/en/node/14390" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="The Governor General of Canada" /> <meta property="og:type" content="article" /> <meta property="og:title" content="Biography" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.gg.ca/en/governor-general/governor-general-mary-may-simon/biography" /> <meta property="og:description" content="Mary Simon has attained national and international recognition for her work on Arctic and Indigenous issues and as an advocate for Inuit rights and culture." /> <meta property="og:updated_time" content="2025-01-24T11:48:27-05:00" /> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary" /> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Biography" /> <meta name="twitter:url" content="https://www.gg.ca/en/governor-general/governor-general-mary-may-simon/biography" /> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Mary Simon has attained national and international recognition for her work on Arctic and Indigenous issues and as an advocate for Inuit rights and culture." /> <meta property="article:published_time" content="2021-07-06T15:40:04-04:00" /> <meta property="article:modified_time" content="2025-01-24T11:48:27-05:00" /> <meta name="dcterms.title" content="Biography" /> <meta name="dcterms.creator" content="Office of the Secretary to the Governor General" /> <meta name="dcterms.description" content="Mary Simon has attained national and international recognition for her work on Arctic and Indigenous issues and as an advocate for Inuit rights and culture." /> <meta name="dcterms.type" content="Text" /> <meta name="dcterms.format" content="text/html" /> <meta name="dcterms.identifier" content="https://www.gg.ca/en/governor-general/governor-general-mary-may-simon/biography" /> <meta name="dcterms.language" content="eng" /> <meta name="dcterms.created" content="2021-07-06T15:40-04:00" /> <meta name="dcterms.modified" content="2025-01-24T11:48-05:00" /> <meta name="dcterms.spatial" content="Canada" /> <title>Biography | The Governor General of Canada</title> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.gg.ca/sites/default/files/css/css_xE-rWrJf-fncB6ztZfd2huxqgxu4WO-qwma6Xer30m4.css" media="all" /> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.gg.ca/sites/default/files/css/css_DHcXHPYBSjIVaCQZEG4ZlpLkvslnFlBCnQUCzlbRBio.css" media="all" /> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.gg.ca/sites/default/files/css/css_BHJ3NNIx4HFdf3j21CaFrmkQBpgMyQLx2oVNMXFUe40.css" media="all" /> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.gg.ca/sites/default/files/css/css_j3yj1epq62xPBM8-TobN6iub7M2CSsCwy1g3T0MDDY8.css" media="all" /> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.gg.ca/sites/default/files/css/css_-iZ_CAzTJ6W7qeXKIF6iju6-bJgCvyKH-myB5ehPZNA.css" media="screen" /> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.gg.ca/sites/default/files/css/css_Z5-kuuxY1e3RYpeakE_hvT_jaS83pe-MMBJo3rMU254.css" media="print" /> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.gg.ca/sites/default/files/css/css_lQCoGlkVBGKmE0Tdn-E8WbW4BpHfrQVKPFBgqkW1WN8.css" media="only screen" />  <script type="text/javascript"> <![CDATA[//><!]]> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.gg.ca/sites/default/files/js/js_1llt-gMhEYyB1iUrUNNFv553qFTKGAbfxXIBx5feVMU.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.gg.ca/sites/default/files/js/js_NLzQXzDLciZVK-EBRJtCH_e4TYFrjPoFW0CspUeCr-g.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.gg.ca/sites/default/files/js/js_7Yu_czBUbHMknUgHKjDmWF1hUPQryqOxI05mRsV20Rs.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=UA-31729933-9"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> <![CDATA[//><!]]> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.gg.ca/sites/default/files/js/js_ihlAPUmFlfhmrXDxA28qneB-s3gnvUoF9w5py711jvE.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> <![CDATA[//><!]]> </script>  </head> <body class="html not-front not-logged-in no-sidebars page-node page-node- page-node-14390 node-type-story i18n-en atr-7.x-3.x"> <div id="skip-link" class="nocontent"> <a href="#main-content" class="element-invisible element-focusable">Skip to main content</a> </div> <div id="page-wrapper"> <div id="page" class=" page">  <header id="header" class="clearfix" role="banner"> <div id="header-inner-wrapper">  <div id="branding" class="branding-elements clearfix"> <div id="logo"> <a href="/en"><img class="site-logo" typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.gg.ca/sites/all/themes/osgg_full_width/images/viceregal-lion-01.png" alt="The Governor General of Canada" /></a> </div>  <div class="h-group" id="name-and-slogan"> <h1 id="site-name"><a href="/en" title="Home page">The Governor General of Canada</a></h1> <h2 id="site-slogan">Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon</h2> </div> </div>  <div class="region region-header"><div class="region-inner clearfix"><section id="block-locale-language" class="block block-locale odd first block-count-1 block-region-header block-language" role="complementary"><div class="block-inner clearfix"> <h2 class="block-title">Languages</h2> <div class="block-content content"><ul class="language-switcher-locale-url"><li class="en first active"><a href="/en/governor-general/governor-general-mary-may-simon/biography" class="language-link active" xml:lang="en">English</a></li><li class="fr last"><a href="/fr/gouverneur-general/gouverneure-generale-mary-may-simon/biographie" class="language-link" xml:lang="fr">Fran莽ais</a></li></ul></div> </div></section><div id="block-block-5" class="block block-block social-header no-title even last block-count-2 block-region-header block-5" ><div class="block-inner clearfix"> <div class="block-content content"><div><a class="social-link social-facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/GovernorGeneralCanada" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Facebook</a><a class="social-link social-twit" href="https://twitter.com/GGCanada" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Twitter</a><a class="social-link social-instagram" href="https://www.instagram.com/governorgeneralcanada/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Instagram</a><a class="social-link social-youtube" href="http://www.youtube.com/user/CanadaGG" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Youtube</a></div> </div> </div></div></div></div> </div> </header>  <div> <div id="menu-container"> <div id="menu-bar" class="nav clearfix"><nav id="block-nice-menus-2" class="block block-nice-menus osgg-top-menu-nice no-title menu-wrapper menu-bar-wrapper clearfix odd first block-count-3 block-region-menu-bar block-2" > <ul class="nice-menu nice-menu-down nice-menu-main-menu" id="nice-menu-2"><li class="menu-1569 menuparent menu-path-node-57 active-trail first odd menu-depth-1 menu-item-1569"><a href="/en/governor-general">Governor General</a><ul><li class="menu-3977 menuparent menu-path-node-14427 active-trail first odd menu-depth-2 menu-item-3977"><a href="/en/governor-general/governor-general-mary-may-simon">Governor General Mary Simon</a><ul><li class="menu-3935 menu-path-node-14390 active-trail first odd menu-depth-3 menu-item-3935"><a href="/en/governor-general/governor-general-mary-may-simon/biography" class="active">Biography</a></li><li class="menu-3979 menu-path-node-14417 even menu-depth-3 menu-item-3979"><a href="/en/governor-general/governor-general-mary-simon/official-photo">Official Photo</a></li><li class="menu-4057 menu-path-node-14980 odd menu-depth-3 menu-item-4057"><a href="/en/governor-general/governor-general-mary-simon/coat-arms">Coat of Arms</a></li><li class="menu-3978 menu-path-node-14426 even menu-depth-3 menu-item-3978"><a href="/en/governor-general/governor-general-mary-simon/insignia">Insignia</a></li><li class="menu-3982 menu-path-node-14469 odd last menu-depth-3 menu-item-3982"><a href="/en/governor-general/governor-general-mary-simon/his-excellency-whit-fraser">His Excellency Whit Fraser, C.C.</a></li></ul></li><li class="menu-2096 menuparent menu-path-node-73 even menu-depth-2 menu-item-2096"><a href="/en/governor-general/role-and-responsibilities">Role and Responsibilities</a><ul><li class="menu-2242 menu-path-node-82 first odd menu-depth-3 menu-item-2242"><a href="/en/governor-general/role-and-responsibilities/constitutional-duties">Constitutional Duties</a></li><li class="menu-2243 menu-path-node-83 even menu-depth-3 menu-item-2243"><a href="/en/governor-general/role-and-responsibilities/commander-chief">Commander-in-chief</a></li><li class="menu-2244 menu-path-node-84 odd menu-depth-3 menu-item-2244"><a href="/en/governor-general/role-and-responsibilities/represent-canada">Represent Canada</a></li><li class="menu-2245 menu-path-node-85 even menu-depth-3 menu-item-2245"><a href="/en/governor-general/role-and-responsibilities/encourage-excellence">Encourage excellence</a></li><li class="menu-2246 menu-path-node-86 odd last menu-depth-3 menu-item-2246"><a href="/en/governor-general/role-and-responsibilities/bring-canadians-together">Bring Canadians Together</a></li></ul></li><li class="menu-2091 menuparent menu-path-node-9147 odd menu-depth-2 menu-item-2091"><a href="/en/governor-general/priorities">Priorities</a><ul><li class="menu-4357 menu-path-node-15400 first odd menu-depth-3 menu-item-4357"><a href="/en/digital-respect">Building a Safe and Respectful Digital World</a></li><li class="menu-4356 menu-path-node-15604 even last menu-depth-3 menu-item-4356"><a href="/en/governor-general/priorities/digital-respect-report">Fostering Respect in a Digital World</a></li></ul></li><li class="menu-1938 menu-path-node-354 even last menu-depth-2 menu-item-1938"><a href="/en/governor-general/former-governors-general">Former Governors General</a></li></ul></li><li class="menu-1600 menuparent menu-path-node-92 even menu-depth-1 menu-item-1600"><a href="/en/crown">Crown</a><ul><li class="menu-3999 menu-path-node-14612 first odd menu-depth-2 menu-item-3999"><a href="/en/crown/sovereign-and-royal-family">Sovereign and Royal Family</a></li><li class="menu-4042 menu-path-node-14893 even menu-depth-2 menu-item-4042"><a href="/en/crown/tribute-her-majesty-queen">Tribute to Queen Elizabeth II</a></li><li class="menu-4189 menu-path-node-15163 odd menu-depth-2 menu-item-4189"><a href="/en/activities/2023/coronation-service-his-majesty-king-charles-iii">Coronation Service</a></li><li class="menu-1602 menu-path-node-94 even last menu-depth-2 menu-item-1602"><a href="/en/crown/viceregal-representatives">Viceregal Representatives</a></li></ul></li><li class="menu-1578 menu-path-node-74 odd menu-depth-1 menu-item-1578"><a href="/en/activities">Activities</a></li><li class="menu-1568 menuparent menu-path-node-60 even menu-depth-1 menu-item-1568"><a href="/en/honours">Honours</a><ul><li class="menu-1642 menuparent menu-path-node-109 first odd menu-depth-2 menu-item-1642"><a href="/en/honours/canadian-honours">Canadian Honours</a><ul><li class="menu-1881 menu-path-node-348 first odd menu-depth-3 menu-item-1881"><a href="/en/honours/canadian-honours/order-canada">Order of Canada</a></li><li class="menu-1884 menu-path-node-351 even menu-depth-3 menu-item-1884"><a href="/en/honours/canadian-honours/decorations-bravery">Decorations for Bravery</a></li><li class="menu-1883 menu-path-node-350 odd menu-depth-3 menu-item-1883"><a href="/en/honours/canadian-honours/meritorious-service-decorations-civil-division">Meritorious Service Decorations (Civil Division)</a></li><li class="menu-1885 menu-path-node-352 even menu-depth-3 menu-item-1885"><a href="/en/honours/canadian-honours/polar-medal">Polar medal</a></li><li class="menu-1882 menu-path-node-349 odd menu-depth-3 menu-item-1882"><a href="/en/honours/canadian-honours/sovereigns-medal-volunteers">Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers</a></li><li class="menu-1751 menu-path-node-327 even last menu-depth-3 menu-item-1751"><a href="/en/honours/canadian-honours/directory-honours">Directory of Honours</a></li></ul></li><li class="menu-1962 menuparent menu-path-node-383 even menu-depth-2 menu-item-1962"><a href="/en/honours/governor-generals-awards">Governor General's Awards</a><ul><li class="menu-2272 menu-path-node-9163 first odd menu-depth-3 menu-item-2272"><a href="/en/honours/governor-generals-awards/governor-generals-academic-medal">Academic Medal</a></li><li class="menu-2275 menu-path-node-9166 even menu-depth-3 menu-item-2275"><a href="/en/honours/governor-generals-awards/awards-arts">Awards in Arts</a></li><li class="menu-2276 menu-path-node-9161 odd last menu-depth-3 menu-item-2276"><a href="/en/honours/governor-generals-awards/awards-sciences-and-humanities">Awards in Sciences and Humanities</a></li></ul></li><li class="menu-1960 menu-path-node-321 odd menu-depth-2 menu-item-1960"><a href="/en/honours/nominate-someone">Nominate Someone</a></li><li class="menu-2837 menu-path-node-13017 even last menu-depth-2 menu-item-2837"><a href="/en/honours/recipients">Find a recipient</a></li></ul></li><li class="menu-3910 menuparent menu-path-node-14357 odd menu-depth-1 menu-item-3910"><a href="/en/heraldry">Heraldry</a><ul><li class="menu-3911 menuparent menu-path-node-14358 first odd menu-depth-2 menu-item-3911"><a href="/en/heraldry/grant-of-a-coat-arms-flag-badge">Grant of Arms, Flags and Badges</a><ul><li class="menu-3912 menu-path-node-14359 first odd menu-depth-3 menu-item-3912"><a href="/en/heraldry/grant-of-a-coat-arms-flag-badge/tell-your-story">Tell Your Story</a></li><li class="menu-3913 menu-path-node-14360 even menu-depth-3 menu-item-3913"><a href="/en/heraldry/grant-of-a-coat-arms-flag-badge/application-form-and-required-documents">Application Form and Required Documents</a></li><li class="menu-3914 menu-path-node-14361 odd menu-depth-3 menu-item-3914"><a href="/en/heraldry/grant-of-a-coat-arms-flag-badge/letters-patent-formats">Letters Patent Formats</a></li><li class="menu-3915 menu-path-node-14362 even menu-depth-3 menu-item-3915"><a href="/en/heraldry/grant-of-a-coat-arms-flag-badge/canadian-heraldic-authority-price-list">Price List</a></li><li class="menu-3916 menu-path-node-14363 odd last menu-depth-3 menu-item-3916"><a href="/en/heraldry/grant-of-a-coat-arms-flag-badge/protection-canadian-heraldry-under-trade-marks-act">Protection Under the Trademarks Act</a></li></ul></li><li class="menu-3937 menu-path-node-14392 even menu-depth-2 menu-item-3937"><a href="/en/heraldry/registration-of-existing-arms-flags-and-badges">Registration of Existing Arms, Flags or Badges</a></li><li class="menu-3917 menu-path-node-14364 odd menu-depth-2 menu-item-3917"><a href="/en/heraldry/canadian-heraldic-authority">Canadian Heraldic Authority</a></li><li class="menu-2886 menu-path-node-14211 even menu-depth-2 menu-item-2886"><a href="/en/heraldry/public-register">Public Register of Arms, Flags and Badges of Canada</a></li><li class="menu-3918 menuparent menu-path-node-14365 odd last menu-depth-2 menu-item-3918"><a href="/en/heraldry/royal-and-viceregal-emblems">Royal and viceregal Emblems</a><ul><li class="menu-3920 menu-path-node-14367 first odd menu-depth-3 menu-item-3920"><a href="/en/heraldry/royal-and-viceregal-emblems/royal-crown">Royal Crown</a></li><li class="menu-4088 menu-path-node-15180 even menu-depth-3 menu-item-4088"><a href="/en/heraldry/royal-and-viceregal-emblems/sovereigns-flag-canada">Sovereign鈥檚 Flag for Canada</a></li><li class="menu-3919 menu-path-node-14366 odd menu-depth-3 menu-item-3919"><a href="/en/heraldry/royal-and-viceregal-emblems/governor-generals-flag">Governor General's Flag</a></li><li class="menu-3921 menu-path-node-14368 even last menu-depth-3 menu-item-3921"><a href="/en/heraldry/royal-and-viceregal-emblems/viceregal-salute">Viceregal Salute</a></li></ul></li></ul></li><li class="menu-1571 menuparent menu-path-node-62 even menu-depth-1 menu-item-1571"><a href="/en/visit-us">Visit Us</a><ul><li class="menu-1608 menuparent menu-path-node-100 first odd menu-depth-2 menu-item-1608"><a href="/en/visit-us/rideau-hall">Rideau Hall</a><ul><li class="menu-1940 menu-path-node-363 first odd menu-depth-3 menu-item-1940"><a href="/en/visit-us/rideau-hall/what-see-and-do">What to See and Do</a></li><li class="menu-1941 menu-path-node-364 even menu-depth-3 menu-item-1941"><a href="/en/visit-us/rideau-hall/plan-your-visit">Plan Your Visit (Ottawa)</a></li><li class="menu-4050 menu-path-node-12820 odd menu-depth-3 menu-item-4050"><a href="/en/visit-us/rideau-hall/history-rideau-hall">History of Rideau Hall</a></li><li class="menu-1942 menu-path-node-365 even last menu-depth-3 menu-item-1942"><a href="/en/visit-us/rideau-hall/becoming-guide">Becoming a Guide</a></li></ul></li><li class="menu-1609 menuparent menu-path-node-101 even menu-depth-2 menu-item-1609"><a href="/en/visit-us/citadelle">Citadelle</a><ul><li class="menu-1952 menu-path-node-375 first odd menu-depth-3 menu-item-1952"><a href="/en/visit-us/citadelle/what-see-and-do">What to See and Do</a></li><li class="menu-2537 menu-path-node-379 even menu-depth-3 menu-item-2537"><a href="/en/visit-us/citadelle/plan-your-visit">Plan your visit (Qu茅bec)</a></li><li class="menu-4049 menu-path-node-12821 odd menu-depth-3 menu-item-4049"><a href="/en/visit-us/citadelle/history-citadelle">History of the Residence at the Citadelle</a></li><li class="menu-1957 menu-path-node-380 even last menu-depth-3 menu-item-1957"><a href="/en/visit-us/citadelle/becoming-guide">Becoming a Guide</a></li></ul></li><li class="menu-4039 menuparent menu-path-node-14878 odd last menu-depth-2 menu-item-4039"><a href="/en/visit-us/collections-exhibitions">Collections and Exhibitions</a><ul><li class="menu-4186 menu-path-node-15523 first odd menu-depth-3 menu-item-4186"><a href="/en/visit-us/collections-and-exhibitions/indigenous-art-rideau-hall">Indigenous Art at Rideau Hall</a></li><li class="menu-4058 menu-path-node-14983 even last menu-depth-3 menu-item-4058"><a href="/en/visit-us/collections-exhibitions/150-years-viceregal-presence-citadelle-quebec">150 Years of Viceregal Presence at the Citadelle of Qu茅bec</a></li></ul></li></ul></li><li class="menu-4008 menu-path-node-357 odd last menu-depth-1 menu-item-4008"><a href="/en/media">Media Centre</a></li></ul> </nav><section id="block-search-api-page-search" class="block block-search-api-page menu-wrapper menu-bar-wrapper clearfix even last block-count-4 block-region-menu-bar block-search" > <h2 class="element-invisible block-title">Search</h2> <form action="/en/governor-general/governor-general-mary-may-simon/biography" method="post" id="search-api-page-search-form-search" accept-charset="UTF-8"><div><div class="form-item form-type-textfield form-item-keys-2"> <label class="element-invisible" for="edit-keys-2">Enter your keywords </label> <input placeholder="Enter your keywords" type="text" id="edit-keys-2" name="keys_2" value="" size="15" maxlength="128" class="form-text" /> </div> <input type="hidden" name="id" value="2" /> <input type="submit" id="edit-submit-2" name="op" value="Search" class="form-submit" /><input type="hidden" name="form_build_id" value="form-osMID6uMjxqqsB-cR-sXBUmN7dowgw5Wu6pm0GLmnY4" /> <input type="hidden" name="form_id" value="search_api_page_search_form_search" /> </div></form> </section></div> </div> </div> <div class="main-body container-fluid"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12">  <div class="region region-breadcrumbs"><div class="region-inner clearfix"><div id="block-easy-breadcrumb-easy-breadcrumb" class="block block-easy-breadcrumb breadcrumbs no-title odd first last block-count-5 block-region-breadcrumbs block-easy-breadcrumb" ><div class="block-inner clearfix"> <div class="block-content content"> <div itemscope class="easy-breadcrumb" itemtype="http://data-vocabulary.org/Breadcrumb"> <span class='breadcrumbs-inner'> <span itemprop="title"><a href="/en" class="easy-breadcrumb_segment easy-breadcrumb_segment-front">Home</a></span> <span class="easy-breadcrumb_segment-separator">></span> <span itemprop="title"><a href="/en/governor-general" class="easy-breadcrumb_segment easy-breadcrumb_segment-1">Governor General</a></span> <span class="easy-breadcrumb_segment-separator">></span> <span itemprop="title"><a href="/en/governor-general/governor-general-mary-may-simon" class="easy-breadcrumb_segment easy-breadcrumb_segment-2">Governor General Mary Simon</a></span> <span class="easy-breadcrumb_segment-separator">></span> <span class="easy-breadcrumb_segment easy-breadcrumb_segment-title" itemprop="title">Biography</span> </div'> </div> </div> </div></div></div></div>   <div id="columns" class="columns clearfix"> <main id="content-column" class="content-column" role="main">  <header id="main-content-header" class="clearfix"> <h1 id="page-title"> Biography </h1> </header> <div class="content-inner">  <section id="main-content">  <div id="content" class="region"> <div id="block-system-main" class="block block-system no-title odd first block-count-6 block-region-content block-main" > <article id="node-14390" class="node node-story article odd node-lang-en node-full clearfix" about="/en/governor-general/governor-general-mary-may-simon/biography" typeof="sioc:Item foaf:Document" role="article"> <div class="node-content"> <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-full"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><figure class="pull-right" style="align: center;"><img alt="Official photo of Governor General Mary Simon. She is outdoors. The Rideau Hall gardens are visible in the background." src="/sites/default/files/media/Governors_General/mary_simon/mary-simon-official-photo-gg05-2021-0048-004_8x10.jpg" style="padding: 0px 0px 15px 15px; width: 350px;" /> <figcaption> <p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="line-height:8px">Her Excellency the Right Honourable<br /> Mary聽Simon, </span></span>C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., O.Q., C.D.,<br /> <span style="font-size:14px"><span style="line-height:8px">Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada</span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:11px"><span style="line-height:6px">Photo credit: Sgt Johanie Maheu, Rideau聽Hall 漏聽OSGG-BSGG, 2021</span></span></p> </figcaption> </figure> <p>Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon was sworn in on July 26, 2021, as Canada鈥檚 first Indigenous governor general. She is the 30<sup>th</sup> governor general since Confederation.</p> <p>Mary Simon was born on August 20, 1947, in Kangiqsualujjuaq, Nunavik (Quebec), to Nancy May (Angnatuk-Askew), her Inuk mother, and Bob Mardon May, her English father who worked for the Hudson鈥檚 Bay Company.</p> <p>Ms. Simon gained national and international recognition for her work on Arctic and Indigenous issues and for her efforts in advocating for Inuit rights, youth and culture.</p> <p>Ms. Simon began her career as a radio broadcaster with the CBC Northern Service (now CBC North) in the 1970s. Following this, she held a series of executive positions with the Northern Quebec Inuit Association (now Makivik Corporation) and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, centred on negotiating the first land claims agreement in Canada, the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement. As president of Makivik Corporation, she was directly involved with the implementation of the agreement, along with the protection and promotion of Inuit rights.</p> <p>Along with fellow Indigenous leaders, she was also actively involved in the negotiations leading to the 1982 patriation of the Canadian Constitution, which formally entrenched Aboriginal and treaty rights in the supreme law of Canada.</p> <p>She later joined the executive council of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference (now the Inuit Circumpolar Council), for which she served two terms as president. In addition, she was commissioner of the Nunavut Implementation Commission and policy co-director of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples.</p> <p>From 1994 to 2003, Ms. Simon served as ambassador for Circumpolar Affairs, becoming the first Inuk to hold an ambassadorial position. During this time, she negotiated the creation of the Arctic Council. Concurrently, she served as ambassador of Canada to Denmark from 1999 to 2001.</p> <p>Beginning in 2006, Ms. Simon served two terms as president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. In 2008, in the House of Commons, she delivered a response on behalf of Inuit to the formal apology on residential schools. She is the founder of the Arctic Children and Youth Foundation and, until 2014, she was the chairperson of the National Committee on Inuit Education.</p> <p>In 2017, as the Minister鈥檚 Special Representative, Ms. Simon delivered a report to the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs on A new Shared Arctic Leadership Model, setting the stage for important policy and program development in support of the Arctic and its residents.</p> <p>Among other distinctions, Ms. Simon is an Officer of the Ordre national du Qu茅bec. She is also a recipient of the Governor General鈥檚 Northern Medal, the Gold Order of Greenland, the National Aboriginal Achievement Award, the Gold Medal of the Canadian Geographical Society and the Symons Medal.聽</p> <p>Upon becoming governor general, Ms.聽Simon was promoted by Queen Elizabeth聽II to the level of Companion of the Order of Canada (C.C.), and invested as Commander of the Order of Military Merit (C.M.M.) and Commander of the Order of Merit for Police Forces (C.O.M.). Queen Elizabeth聽II was the Sovereign of these Orders at the time.聽</p> <p>Ms. Simon plays the accordion and loves berry picking and nature. She is anaana (mother) to a daughter and two sons, anaanatsiaq (grandmother) to 12 children and amauq (great-grandmother) to four children. She also has three stepchildren from her marriage in 1994 to Mr. Whit Fraser, former head of the Canadian Polar Commission, former executive director of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and a former long-time CBC journalist.</p> </div></div></div> </div> <span property="dc:title" content="Biography" class="rdf-meta element-hidden"></span><span property="sioc:num_replies" content="0" datatype="xsd:integer" class="rdf-meta element-hidden"></span></article> </div><div id="block-views-related-content-block" class="block block-views no-title even last block-count-7 block-region-content block-related-content-block" > <div class="view view-related-content view-id-related_content view-display-id-block field-name-field-related-content view-dom-id-4265416c30d632d9ec679423b21de661"> <div class="view-header"> <h2 class="related-content-title">Related Content</h2> </div> <div class="view-content"> <ul class="list-related-content"> <li> <a href="/en/activities/2021/installation-ceremony">Official Activity — Installation Ceremony</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div>  </section>  </div> </main>  </div> </div>  </div> </div>  <footer id="footer" class="clearfix" role="contentinfo"> <div class="region region-footer"><div class="region-inner clearfix"><div id="block-panels-mini-footer-full-width" class="block block-panels-mini no-title odd first last block-count-8 block-region-footer block-footer-full-width" > <div class="block-content content"><div class="panel-osgg-footer clearfix panel-display" id="mini-panel-footer_full_width"> <div class="osgg-footer-top panel-panel"> <div class="inside"><div class="panel-pane pane-custom pane-1 no-title block"> <div class="block-inner clearfix"> <div class="block-content"> <div class="nothing"><span class="cta-button-wrapper"><a class="cta-button go-to-top" dir="ltr" href="#main-content" role="button" title="Go to the top of the page." lang="en" xml:lang="en"><span class="cta-text">Top</span></a></span></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="panel-separator"></div><div class="panel-pane pane-block pane-osgg-social-osgg-social even pane-osgg-social no-title block"> <div class="block-inner clearfix"> <div class="block-content"> <div class="nothing"><span class="cta-button-wrapper"><a class="wb-lbx cta-button share-this-page" title="Share this page with your friends." role="button" href="#social-section"><span class="cta-text">Share</span></a></span></div><section id="social-section" class="mfp-hide modal-dialog modal-content overlay-def"><header class="modal-header"><h2 class="modal-title">Share this page with your friends.</h2></header><div class="modal-body"><div class="social-share-buttons" role="complementary"><span class="social-share-buttons-label" aria-hidden="TRUE">Share this on</span><a href="https://twitter.com/share?url=https%3A//www.gg.ca/en/governor-general/governor-general-mary-may-simon/biography&text=Biography" onclick="javascript:window.open(this.href, '', 'menubar=no,toolbar=no,resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes,height=600,width=600');return false;" class="share-button-twitter" title="Twitter">Share this page on Twitter</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A//www.gg.ca/en/governor-general/governor-general-mary-may-simon/biography" onclick="javascript:window.open(this.href, '', 'menubar=no,toolbar=no,resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes,height=600,width=600');return false;" class="share-button-facebook" title="Facebook">Share this page on Facebook</a><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?url=https%3A//www.gg.ca/en/governor-general/governor-general-mary-may-simon/biography&mini=true&title=Biography" onclick="javascript:window.open(this.href, '', 'menubar=no,toolbar=no,resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes,height=600,width=600');return false;" class="share-button-linkedin" title="Linkedin">Share this page on Linked in</a></div></div></section> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="osgg-footer-bottom"> <div class="osgg-footer-menu panel-panel"> <div class="inside"><section class="panel-pane pane-block pane-menu-menu-media-centre pane-menu block"> <div class="block-inner clearfix"> <h2 class="pane-title block-title">Media</h2> <div class="block-content"> <ul class="menu clearfix"><li class="first leaf menu-depth-1 menu-item-1542"><a href="/en/media/press-office">Press Office</a></li><li class="leaf menu-depth-1 menu-item-1540"><a href="/en/media/social-media">Social Media</a></li><li class="last leaf menu-depth-1 menu-item-2851"><a href="/en/media/subscribe">Subscribe</a></li></ul> </div> </div> </section> <div class="panel-separator"></div><section class="panel-pane pane-block pane-menu-menu-learning pane-menu block"> <div class="block-inner clearfix"> <h2 class="pane-title block-title">Resources</h2> <div class="block-content"> <ul class="menu clearfix"><li class="first leaf menu-depth-1 menu-item-2382"><a href="/en/resource-centre?qt-resource_centre_quicktabs_en=0#qt-resource_centre_quicktabs_en" class="quicktabs-tab-view-resource-centre-block-2">Honours</a></li><li class="leaf menu-depth-1 menu-item-2442"><a href="/en/resource-centre?qt-resource_centre_quicktabs_en=1#qt-resource_centre_quicktabs_en" id="quicktabs-tab-resource_centre_quicktabs_en-1" class="quicktabs-tab-view-resource-centre-block-5">Heraldry</a></li><li class="last leaf menu-depth-1 menu-item-2385"><a href="/en/resource-centre?qt-resource_centre_quicktabs_en=2#qt-resource_centre_quicktabs_en" class="quicktabs-tab-view-resource-centre-block-4">Educational Resources</a></li></ul> </div> </div> </section> <div class="panel-separator"></div><section class="panel-pane pane-block pane-menu-menu-the-office pane-menu block"> <div class="block-inner clearfix"> <h2 class="pane-title block-title">The Office</h2> <div class="block-content"> <ul class="menu clearfix"><li class="first leaf menu-depth-1 menu-item-1858"><a href="/en/the-office">About the Office</a></li><li class="collapsed menu-depth-1 menu-item-4006"><a href="/en/the-office/reports">Reports</a></li><li class="leaf menu-depth-1 menu-item-1958"><a href="/en/the-office/terms-and-conditions">Terms & Conditions</a></li><li class="last leaf menu-depth-1 menu-item-1959"><a href="/en/the-office/privacy">Privacy</a></li></ul> </div> </div> </section> <div class="panel-separator"></div><section class="panel-pane pane-block pane-menu-menu-contact-us pane-menu block"> <div class="block-inner clearfix"> <h2 class="pane-title block-title">Contact Us</h2> <div class="block-content"> <ul class="menu clearfix"><li class="first leaf menu-depth-1 menu-item-2259"><a href="/en/contact-us/questions-comments">General Inquiries</a></li><li class="leaf menu-depth-1 menu-item-2261"><a href="/en/contact-us/invite-governor-general">Invite the Governor General</a></li><li class="leaf menu-depth-1 menu-item-2262"><a href="/en/contact-us/viceregal-patronage">Request for Viceregal Patronage</a></li><li class="leaf menu-depth-1 menu-item-2263"><a href="/en/contact-us/birthday-anniversary-greetings">Request Birthday and Anniversary Greetings</a></li><li class="leaf menu-depth-1 menu-item-2281"><a href="/en/contact-us/special-occasions-messages">Request a Message</a></li><li class="last leaf menu-depth-1 menu-item-2269"><a href="/en/contact-us/contact-information">Contact Information</a></li></ul> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div></div></div> </footer> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.gg.ca/sites/all/themes/osgg_full_width/wet/js/wet-boew.js?srw1su"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.gg.ca/sites/default/files/js/js_5mTKxxYWtP9yXf5MaIgxM18ZpU8jKNuB5H_uOVrUyiA.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.gg.ca/sites/default/files/js/js_Tjt4O7cazQskY5jIPUuKXsW1JDSnhkssrwCbRPWqwmU.js"></script> </body> </html>