Former Refugee Appointed Governor General

There is no doubt that Canada offers ambitious immigrants endless opportunities for success. This is clearly illustrated by the fact that Michaëlle Jean - who fled Haiti in 1968 with her family to land in Canada - has been appointed by the Prime Minister of Canada as Governor General (the Queen's representative and effectively the head of state).

There are few (if any) other countries in the world that can offer a refugee the chance to become head of state. I've included this great CBC article for more information.

Michaëlle Jean named Governor General
Last updated Aug 4 2005 08:13 AM EDT CBC News

Prime Minister Paul Martin officially named journalist Michaëlle Jean Canada's next governor general on Thursday.

Michaëlle Jean (CBC photo)Jean will be installed as Canada's 27th governor general Oct. 1.
INDEPTH: Governor General At just 48 years old, the award-winning journalist will become one of the youngest governors general ever, the third woman in the job and the first black person to call Rideau Hall home.

Jean's name surfaced after weeks of rumours about who would be replacing the current Gov. Gen. Adrienne Clarkson, who took up the post in 1999 and who is stepping down this fall.
A source close to the governor general selection process told CBC News "Canadians will fall in love with this woman. Her story, her nature and her character are nothing short of inspirational."

Jean is probably best known to English-Canadians as the host of The Passionate Eye and Rough Cuts on CBC Newsworld.

She was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. She left in 1968, her family fleeing the oppressive regime of François "Papa Doc" Duvalier, settling in Quebec with her family. She has a six-year-old daughter and is fluent in five languages: French, English, Spanish, Italian and Haitian Creole.
Her television career was launched in Quebec, where she has worked as a journalist, producer and host for the CBC's French language services, SRC and RDI, since 1988.

She has worked as a correspondent for Le Point, hosted Le Monde ce soir, L'Edition quebecoise, Horizons francophones, le Journal RDI and RDI à l'écoute. Currently she is host of the French-language documentary series Grands Reportages.

In an interview with CBC Radio in 2001, Jean spoke of how she sees her role in the public eye, especially as a role model for children.

"Being a black journalist on TV, for many black children and Asian children and, I say, even native children' it's a symbol because when they see me they say, 'OK, something is possible,'" she said.

Jean has received many awards for her own documentary work, including the Amnesty International Journalism Award, the Anik Prize and the Galaxi Award for best information program host.

"It's obviously a very exciting appointment. Here's someone who's quite young, very dynamic, has a rapport with a lot of younger audience," said Paul Benoit, of the Monarchist League of Canada.

Historian David Mitchell says Jean will play an important role, at a critical time in Canada's history.

"She will be a voice for Canada in Quebec and she will represent the new Quebec to the rest of Canada very effectively. She has that potential and that sense, this is an inspired choice."