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Michaëlle Jean was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. She immigrated to Canada with her family in 1968, fleeing the dictatorial regime of the time.

Born in Hong Kong in 1939, Madame Clarkson came to Canada as a refugee with her family, during the war in 1942.

Mr. LeBlanc earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education at l'Université St-Joseph, Memramcook, and studied French civilization at l'Université de Paris. He also holds a number of honorary degrees.

Rideau Hall has always been one of Ottawa's most interesting landmarks. During the Right Honourable Ramon John Hnatyshyn's term of office, the official residence began to be known as a tourist destination, with many Canadians enjoying tours of the public rooms and grounds.

Throughout her distinguished career, the Right Honourable Jeanne Sauvé achieved a number of notable 'firsts'. In the House of Commons, she was the first female Cabinet member from Quebec, she was the first woman elected as Speaker of the House of Commons, she opened the first daycare on Parliament H...

One of Edward Schreyer's first encounters with Rideau Hall came in 1975 when he was awarded the 'Governor General Vanier Award as an Outstanding Young Canadian of the Year'. Three years later, Mr. Schreyer was appointed Governor General and he and his family moved from Manitoba into Rideau Hall.

Six months after being sworn in as Governor General, Jules Léger suffered a stroke while at the University of Sherbrooke, Quebec where he was to receive an honorary degree. As he recovered from his stroke, Madame Léger played an important role.

Roland Michener was appointed Governor General the same year that Canada celebrated 100 years of Confederation. Mr. and Mrs. Michener had barely started their term of office when the long procession of visiting dignitaries began.

As a young man, Georges Vanier was appointed an aide-de-camp to then-Governor General Lord Byng, in 1921. He and his wife had been married less than a year when they came to live in Rideau Cottage, on the grounds of Rideau Hall. Thirty-eight years after that first introduction, Georges and Pauline V...

With Vincent Massey's appointment as Governor General, a new tradition began – he was the first Canadian appointed to the post, and from that day the Governor General has always been a Canadian citizen.