Our Patron
The Canadian Network for International Surgery would like to recognize and thank our Patron, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada.
Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D., Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada represented by the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General (2006) Photo credit: Sgt. Éric Jolin (2006)
On May 4, 2006, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean was pleased to accept the invitation to become Patron of the Canadian Network for International Surgery. In a letter to CNIS, the Governor General lent her general support and wished for the continuing success of the CNIS. Michaëlle Jean was born on September 6, 1957 in Port au Prince, Haiti to a schoolteacher father and a nurse mother. Her father was jailed and tortured under Duvalier’s dictatorship and the family fled the country when Jean was 11. They came as refugees to Canada in 1968, settling in Thetford Mines, Quebec.
During her studies, Jean worked with Quebec shelters for battered women and contributed to the establishment of a network of emergency shelters throughout Quebec and elsewhere in Canada. After receiving a number of university degrees, Jean worked as a journalist and broadcaster for Radio-Canada and CBC. Fluent in five languages – French, English, Italian, Spanish and Haitian Creole – Michäelle Jean is the first black Governor General of Canada.
Queen Elizabeth the Second appointed Madame Jean as Canada’s 27th Governor General in August of 2005.
Past Patrons
© Office of the Secretary to the Governor General of Canada 2009
Photo credit: Sgt Serge Gouin, Rideau Hall Painting by Christan Nicholson
Reproduced with the permission of the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General
The Honourable
Roméo LeBlanc (1927-2009), Governor General from 1995-1999, was also patron of CNIS. He had a long and distinguished career in public service. LeBlanc is remembered for putting a compassionate face on the vice-regal position, opening the grounds of Rideau Hall to the public, creating an award for volunteerism and reaching out to the Francophone community. Dr. Ronald Lett, CNIS’ co-founder and international director, has fond memories of meeting the former Governor General, who let Dr. Lett’s daughter Robyn play on Glenn Gould’s grand piano at Rideau Hall during their meeting.
The Honourable Ramon John Hnatyshyn (1934 – 2002) was also patron of CNIS. He was a Canadian politician and states man who served as Governor General from 1989-1995, the 24th since Canada’s confederation. He is remembered for the openness he brought to the office, as well as for the support he gave to the arts in Canada. Hnatyshyn also established the Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for Law, recognizing outstanding contribution to the law or legal scholarship in Canada.
