Michaëlle Jean Biography

Michaelle Jean is a Canadian stateswoman and journalist who served as the 27th governor general of Canada from 2005 to 2010. Currently she is the Secretary-General of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, the first woman to hold the position. She has worked as a journalist, presenter and news anchor for the Canadian public broadcasting corporation for years and is also actively involved in charity works. A highly ambitious and brilliant woman, she has reached the pinnacles of professional success rising from very humble and difficult beginnings. Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, she immigrated to Canada as one of the thousands of refugees fleeing the dictatorial regime in her own land. The initial years in Canada were very difficult for her though she bravely faced the challenges to eventually establish herself as a successful reporter and broadcaster. As the product of an abusive home, she felt deeply for the female and young victims of domestic violence and played an active role in the establishment of a network of emergency shelters throughout Quebec and elsewhere in Canada. Progressing in her career through the years, she was appointed Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada in 2005 and in this position too she proved to be a very capable leader. Married to the filmmaker Jean-Daniel Lafond, she has also appeared in some of his movies and documentaries.