Mary Simon achieves historic milestone as first Indigenous Governor General of Canada

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OTTAWA – Mary Simon is the new Governor General of Canada, becoming the first Indigenous person to occupy the post as rumours of an upcoming election increasingly heat up.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the announcement Tuesday morning at the Canadian Museum of History.

“Ms. Simon’s career has always been one of breaking down barriers,” Trudeau said during a press conference, noting that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has approved the nomination.

“It is only by reaching out to those around us,

It is only by building bridges between people in the North and South, just like in the East and West, that we can truly move forward.”

Born in Nunavik, Que., Mary Simon is the first Inuk to hold a position of ambassador for Canada, first as ambassador of Circumpolar Affairs and then ambassador to Denmark.

“I can confidently say that my appointment is a history and inspirational moment for Canada and an important step forward on the long path towards reconciliation,” Simon said.

Simon’s nomination comes as Canada grapples with the discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves of Indigenous people near former residential schools across the country.

“During my time as Governor General, I will work every day towards promoting healing and wellness across Canadian society,” she said in both English and in Inuktitut.

“To me, that means stopping to fully recognize, memorialize and come to terms with the atrocities of our collective past that we are learning more about each day.”

Simon is replacing Julie Payette, who resigned from the post earlier this year after a report detailed how Rideau Hall became a toxic workplace rife with harassment under her purview.