Mary Jeannie May Simon (born August 21, 1947) is a Canadian civil servant, diplomat, and former broadcaster who has been serving as the 30th
governor general of Canada
The governor general of Canada () is the federal representative of the . The monarch of Canada is also sovereign and head of state of 14 other Commonwealth realms and resides in the United Kingdom. The monarch, on the Advice (constitutional la ...
since July 26, 2021. She is
Inuk
Inuit (singular: Inuk) are a group of culturally and historically similar Indigenous peoples of the Americas, Indigenous peoples traditionally inhabiting the Arctic and Subarctic regions of North America and Russia, including Greenland, Labr ...
on her mother's side, making her the first
Indigenous person to hold the office.
Simon was born in Fort Severight (now
Kangiqsualujjuaq
Kangiqsualujjuaq ( ; ; ) is an Inuit village located at the mouth of the George River on the east coast of Ungava Bay in Nunavik, Quebec, Canada. Its population was 956 as of the Canada 2021 Census, 2021 census.
The settlement's original na ...
), Quebec. She briefly worked as a producer and announcer for the
CBC Northern Service
CBC North (; ; ) is the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's radio and television service for the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon of Northern Canada as well as Eeyou Istchee and Nunavik in the Nord-du-Québec region of Quebec.
History ...
in the 1970s before entering public service, serving on the board of the
Northern Quebec Inuit Association
Makivvik (, ; ) (''formerly Makivik Corporation'') is the legal representative of Quebec's Inuit, established in 1978 under the terms of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, the agreement that established the institutions of Nunavik. As su ...
and playing a key role in the
Charlottetown Accord
The Charlottetown Accord () was a package of proposed amendments to the Constitution of Canada, proposed by the Canada, Canadian federal and provincial governments in 1992. It was submitted to a public referendums in Canada, referendum on October ...
negotiations. She was Canada's first ambassador for circumpolar affairs from 1994 to 2004, as well as a lead negotiator for the creation of the
Arctic Council
The Arctic Council is a high-level intergovernmental forum that addresses issues faced by the Arctic governments and the indigenous people of the Arctic region. At present, eight countries exercise sovereignty over the lands within the Arctic ...
.
She also served as the Canadian ambassador to
Denmark
Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...
from 1999 to 2002.
On July 6, 2021, Prime Minister
Justin Trudeau
Justin Pierre James Trudeau (born December 25, 1971) is a Canadian politician who served as the 23rd prime minister of Canada from 2015 to 2025. He led the Liberal Party from 2013 until his resignation in 2025 and was the member of Parliament ...
announced that
Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 19268 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. ...
had approved Simon's appointment as governor general.
Her appointment was criticized, as she does not speak French very fluently.
Early life and education
Simon was born Mary Jeannie May
on August 21, 1947,
in Fort Severight (now
Kangiqsualujjuaq
Kangiqsualujjuaq ( ; ; ) is an Inuit village located at the mouth of the George River on the east coast of Ungava Bay in Nunavik, Quebec, Canada. Its population was 956 as of the Canada 2021 Census, 2021 census.
The settlement's original na ...
), Quebec,
to Bob May, who was from
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada at the Centre of Canada, longitudinal centre of the country. It is Canada's Population of Canada by province and territory, fifth-most populous province, with a population ...
and of
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Culture, language and peoples
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
* ''English'', an Amish ter ...
descent, and to her mother, Nancy, an
Inuk
Inuit (singular: Inuk) are a group of culturally and historically similar Indigenous peoples of the Americas, Indigenous peoples traditionally inhabiting the Arctic and Subarctic regions of North America and Russia, including Greenland, Labr ...
.
Her father had relocated to the north in his youth
and became manager of the local
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC), originally the Governor and Company of Adventurers of England Trading Into Hudson’s Bay, is a Canadian holding company of department stores, and the oldest corporation in North America. It was the owner of the ...
(HBC) store during the early 1950s.
He said that he was the first white employee to marry an Inuk, which the HBC banned at the time.
Mary Simon's Inuk name is , which means "bossy little old lady".
Simon was raised in a traditional
Inuit lifestyle, including hunting, fishing, sewing
Inuit clothing
Traditional Inuit clothing is a complex system of Winter clothing, cold-weather garments historically made from animal hide and fur, worn by Inuit, a group of culturally related Indigenous peoples of the Americas, Indigenous peoples inhabitin ...
, and travelling by
dog sled
A dog sled or dog sleigh is a sled pulled by one or more sled dogs used to travel over ice and through snow, a practice known as mushing. Numerous types of sleds are used, depending on their function. They can be used for Sled dog racing, dog sl ...
.
She credits her mother and maternal grandmother Jeannie Angnatuk for passing on Inuit
oral history
Oral history is the collection and study of historical information from
people, families, important events, or everyday life using audiotapes, videotapes, or transcriptions of planned interviews. These interviews are conducted with people who pa ...
to her.
Simon attended federal day school in Fort Chimo (now
Kuujjuaq
Kuujjuaq (; or ), formerly known as (ᓲᐃᕙᐅᖃᔾ) and by #Names, other names, is a former Hudson's Bay Company outpost at the mouth of the Koksoak River on Ungava Bay that has become the largest northern village (Quebec), northern vil ...
),
then
Fort Carson High School in
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States. It is one of the Mountain states, sharing the Four Corners region with Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. It is also bordered by Wyoming to the north, Nebraska to the northeast, Kansas ...
, and completed her high school via correspondence in Fort Chimo.
Career
Early career
Simon taught
Inuktitut
Inuktitut ( ; , Inuktitut syllabics, syllabics ), also known as Eastern Canadian Inuktitut, is one of the principal Inuit languages of Canada. It is spoken in all areas north of the North American tree line, including parts of the provinces of ...
at
McGill University
McGill University (French: Université McGill) is an English-language public research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1821 by royal charter,Frost, Stanley Brice. ''McGill University, Vol. I. For the Advancement of Learning, ...
.
From 1969 to 1973, she worked as a producer and announcer for the
CBC Northern Service
CBC North (; ; ) is the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's radio and television service for the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon of Northern Canada as well as Eeyou Istchee and Nunavik in the Nord-du-Québec region of Quebec.
History ...
.
Simon began her career as a public servant by being elected secretary of the board of directors of the Northern Quebec Inuit Association. In 1978, she was elected as vice-president, and later president, of the
Makivik Corporation
Makivvik (, ; ) (''formerly Makivik Corporation'') is the legal representative of Quebec's Inuit, established in 1978 under the terms of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, the agreement that established the institutions of Nunavik. As s ...
. She held the position until 1985.
During this period she also became involved with
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (Inuktitut syllabics: , meaning "Inuit are united in Canada"), previously known as the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada (Eskimo Brotherhood of Canada), is a nonprofit organization in Canada that represents over 65,000 Inuit acro ...
, Canada's national
Inuit
Inuit (singular: Inuk) are a group of culturally and historically similar Indigenous peoples traditionally inhabiting the Arctic and Subarctic regions of North America and Russia, including Greenland, Labrador, Quebec, Nunavut, the Northwe ...
organization.
Simon was one of the senior Inuit negotiators during the patriation of the
Canadian Constitution
The Constitution of Canada () is the supreme law in Canada. It outlines Canada's system of government and the civil and human rights of those who are citizens of Canada and non-citizens in Canada. Its contents are an amalgamation of various ...
, the First Ministers' conferences that took place from 1982 to 1992, as well as the 1992
Charlottetown Accord
The Charlottetown Accord () was a package of proposed amendments to the Constitution of Canada, proposed by the Canada, Canadian federal and provincial governments in 1992. It was submitted to a public referendums in Canada, referendum on October ...
discussions.
She served as a member of the
Nunavut Implementation Commission and as co-director (policy) and secretary to the
Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples
The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP) was a Canadian royal commission established in 1991 with the aim of investigating the relationship between Indigenous peoples in Canada, the Government of Canada, and Canadian society as a whole. ...
.
Diplomatic career
She took on a variety of roles for the
Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC). First she served as an Executive Council member from 1980 to 1983, then as president from 1986 to 1992, and then as Special Envoy from 1992 to 1994.
In 1986, as president of the ICC, Simon led a delegation of Canadian,
Alaskan
Alaska ( ) is a non-contiguous U.S. state on the northwest extremity of North America. Part of the Western United States region, it is one of the two non-contiguous U.S. states, alongside Hawaii. Alaska is also considered to be the norther ...
, and
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous territory in the Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark. It is by far the largest geographically of three constituent parts of the kingdom; the other two are metropolitan Denmark and the Faroe Islands. Citizens of Greenlan ...
Inuit to
Moscow
Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva (river), Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents with ...
and then to Chukotka to meet with Russian officials as well as the Inuit of the
far east of Russia. In 1987 the ICC was successful in efforts that resulted in the Russian government allowing
Russian Inuit
Russian(s) may refer to:
*Russians (), an ethnic group of the East Slavic peoples, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries
*A citizen of Russia
*Russian language, the most widely spoken of the Slavic languages
*''The Russians'', a b ...
to attend the 1989 ICC General Assembly held in
Alaska
Alaska ( ) is a non-contiguous U.S. state on the northwest extremity of North America. Part of the Western United States region, it is one of the two non-contiguous U.S. states, alongside Hawaii. Alaska is also considered to be the north ...
.
Ambassadorship
In 1994, Simon was appointed by Prime Minister
Jean Chrétien
Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien (; born January 11, 1934) is a retired Canadian politician, statesman, and lawyer who served as the 20th prime minister of Canada from 1993 to 2003. He served as Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, leader of t ...
to be Canadian Ambassador for Circumpolar Affairs, a newly created position she held until early 2004.
Acting on instructions from the
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada (), formally His Majesty's Government (), is the body responsible for the federation, federal administration of Canada. The term ''Government of Canada'' refers specifically to the executive, which includes Minister of t ...
, she took the lead role in negotiating the creation of an eight-country council known today as the
Arctic Council
The Arctic Council is a high-level intergovernmental forum that addresses issues faced by the Arctic governments and the indigenous people of the Arctic region. At present, eight countries exercise sovereignty over the lands within the Arctic ...
. The 1996
Ottawa Declaration formally established it to include the active participation of indigenous peoples in the circumpolar world. Under her leadership, and later as Canada's Senior Arctic Official, she and its
indigenous permanent participants worked closely with those of its seven other states.
During this time, Simon was also the Canadian Ambassador to Denmark (1999–2002),
a member of the Joint Public Advisory Committee of the
Commission on Environmental Cooperation (1997–2000) and its chairwoman from 1997 to 1998.
Simon was appointed Councillor for the International Council for Conflict Resolution at the
Carter Center
The Carter Center is a nongovernmental, nonprofit organization founded in 1982 by former U.S. president Jimmy Carter. He and his wife Rosalynn Carter partnered with Emory University after his defeat in the 1980 United States presidential ele ...
in 2001.
Post-diplomatic work
From November 2004 to February 2005, she assisted with the facilitation and write-up of reports on the "Sectoral Follow-up Sessions" announced by Prime Minister Paul Martin following the April 19, 2004 ''Canada-Aboriginal Peoples Roundtable on Strengthening the Relationship on Health, Life Long learning, Housing, Economic Opportunities, Negotiations, and Accountability for Results''. From June 2004 to June 2007, Simon was a
board member
A board of directors is a governing body that supervises the activities of a business, a nonprofit organization, or a government agency.
The powers, duties, and responsibilities of a board of directors are determined by government regulations ...
at the
International Institute for Sustainable Development
The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) is an independent think tank founded in 1990 working to shape and inform international policy on sustainable development governance. The institute has three offices in Canada - Winni ...
.
From 2004 to 2005, Simon was special advisor to the
Labrador Inuit Association on the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement. She was elected president of
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (Inuktitut syllabics: , meaning "Inuit are united in Canada"), previously known as the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada (Eskimo Brotherhood of Canada), is a nonprofit organization in Canada that represents over 65,000 Inuit acro ...
on July 7, 2006.
In 2010, Simon was reported to be under consideration for Governor General of Canada.
David Johnston David Johnston or Dave Johnston may refer to:
Politics
*David Johnston (governor general)
David Lloyd Johnston (born June 28, 1941) is a Canadian academic, author, and statesman who served as the 28th governor general of Canada from 2010 to ...
was ultimately appointed.
Governor General of Canada
Nomination
The federal government began a search for a replacement for Governor General
Julie Payette
Julie Payette (; born October 20, 1963) is a Canadian engineer, scientist and former astronaut who served from 2017 to 2021 as Governor General of Canada, the List of governors general of Canada, 29th since Canadian Confederation.
Payette holds ...
following her resignation in early 2021. Simon was reported as a leading contender for the post early on, given her Indigenous heritage and then-political consciousness on Indigenous reconciliation. On July 6, 2021, Prime Minister
Justin Trudeau
Justin Pierre James Trudeau (born December 25, 1971) is a Canadian politician who served as the 23rd prime minister of Canada from 2015 to 2025. He led the Liberal Party from 2013 until his resignation in 2025 and was the member of Parliament ...
announced that Queen
Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 19268 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. ...
had approved Simon's appointment as the 30th Governor General of Canada. She received a customary audience with the Queen on July 22, though held virtually (instead of in-person) due to the
coronavirus pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
. She was vested with special appointments as Chancellor of the
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada () is a Canadian state order, national order and the second-highest Award, honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit.
To coincide with the Canadian Centennial, ce ...
, the
Order of Military Merit, the
Order of Merit of the Police Forces
The Order of Merit of the Police Forces () is an honour for merit that is, within the Canadian system of honours, the only such fellowship reserved for only members of Canada's various police forces. Created in 2000, the order is administered by ...
and the
Order of St. John
The Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem, commonly known as the Knights Hospitaller (), is a Catholic military order. It was founded in the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem in the 12th century and had headquarters there u ...
(within Canada). She also received the
Canadian Forces' Decoration
The Canadian Forces' Decoration (post-nominal letters "CD") is a Canadian award bestowed upon members of the Canadian Armed Forces who have completed twelve years of military service, with certain conditions. By convention, it is also given to t ...
. She was formally installed at the
Senate of Canada Building
The Senate of Canada Building () is a government building and former railway station that serves as the temporary seat of the Senate of Canada. Located at 2 Rideau Street in downtown Ottawa, it was known as Ottawa Union Station and served as th ...
on July 26.
Simon's appointment was somewhat unusual, in that although she speaks English and Inuktitut, she is not particularly proficient in French. This raised some complaints from
Francophone Canadians
Francophone Canadians or French-speaking Canadians are citizens of Canada who speak French, and sometimes refers only to those who speak it as their first language. In 2021, 10,669,575 people in Canada or 29.2% of the total population spoke Fren ...
for breaking the tradition of
French-English bilingualism.
Tenure

On August 15, 2021, Simon approved the request of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to dissolve Parliament and signed a writ of
election for September 20.
On January 6, 2025, she granted Trudeau's request to
prorogue
Prorogation in the Westminster system of government is the action of proroguing, or interrupting, a parliament, or the discontinuance of meetings for a given period of time, without a dissolution of parliament. The term is also used for the period ...
Parliament until March 24, prior to his announcement about his intention to
resign as party leader and prime minister as soon as his successor is chosen.
On March 14, Simon appointed
Mark Carney
Mark Joseph Carney (born March 16, 1965) is a Canadian politician and economist who has served as the 24th and current Prime Minister of Canada, prime minister of Canada since 2025. He has served as Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, lead ...
as the 24th prime minister of Canada, following his election as
leader of the Liberal Party. Days later, she approved Carney's request to dissolve Parliament and signed a writ of
election for April 28. She did not deliver the government's first
speech from the throne in May, as
King Charles III
Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948) is King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms.
Charles was born at Buckingham Palace during the reign of his maternal grandfather, King George VI, and ...
was invited to deliver the speech instead as part of
his royal tour of Canada.
Simon considers the concept of as an important theme for her mandate as governor general. is an Inuktitut word that does not have a one-word translation, as it encompasses many things: a vow or a promise to never give up, or a commitment to action no matter how daunting the cause may be. Simon said that the word was taught to her by her mother and grandmother, and is an important concept for Inuit. According to Simon, the spirit of drove her to get involved in movements to improve the lives of Inuit in Canada.
Germany visit
Simon made her first trip abroad as Governor General on October 17, 2021, when she and her husband arrived in
Berlin
Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...
, Germany on a
state visit
A state visit is a formal visit by the head of state, head of a sovereign state, sovereign country (or Governor-general, representative of the head of a sovereign country) to another sovereign country, at the invitation of the head of state (or ...
. The trip was Canada's first state visit to Germany in over 20 years. During her visit, Simon met with
President of Germany
The president of Germany, officially titled the Federal President of the Federal Republic of Germany (),The official title within Germany is ', with ' being added in international correspondence; the official English title is President of the F ...
Frank-Walter Steinmeier
Frank-Walter Steinmeier (; born 5 January 1956) is a German politician who has served as President of Germany since 2017. He was previously Minister for Foreign Affairs (Germany), federal minister for foreign affairs from 2005 to 2009 and again f ...
and
Chancellor of Germany
The chancellor of Germany, officially the federal chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, is the head of the federal Cabinet of Germany, government of Germany. The chancellor is the chief executive of the Federal Government of Germany, ...
Angela Merkel
Angela Dorothea Merkel (; ; born 17 July 1954) is a German retired politician who served as Chancellor of Germany from 2005 to 2021. She is the only woman to have held the office. She was Leader of the Opposition from 2002 to 2005 and Leade ...
.
In an interview with ''
The Globe and Mail
''The Globe and Mail'' is a Newspapers in Canada, Canadian newspaper printed in five cities in Western Canada, western and central Canada. With a weekly readership of more than 6 million in 2024, it is Canada's most widely read newspaper on week ...
'', Simon said she discussed with Steinmeier, how in fulfilling the role of head of state, to express and atone for the darkest moments of their countries' history—
the Holocaust
The Holocaust (), known in Hebrew language, Hebrew as the (), was the genocide of History of the Jews in Europe, European Jews during World War II. From 1941 to 1945, Nazi Germany and Collaboration with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy ...
and the
Residential School System
The Canadian Indian residential school system was a network of boarding schools for Indigenous peoples. The network was funded by the Canadian government's Department of Indian Affairs and administered by various Christian churches. The scho ...
. She also attended the
Frankfurt Book Fair
The Frankfurt Book Fair (German: , FBM) is the world's largest trade fair for books, based on the number of publishing companies represented. The five-day annual event in mid-October is held at the Frankfurt Trade Fair grounds in Frankfurt am ...
and a roundtable discussion on
Arctic exploration
Arctic exploration is the physical exploration of the Arctic region of the Earth. It refers to the historical period during which mankind has explored the region north of the Arctic Circle. Historical records suggest that humankind have explored ...
at the Frankfurt Archaeological Museum.
Queen's Platinum Jubilee
On
Accession Day
An accession day is usually the anniversary of the date on which a monarch or executive takes office. The earliest records of accession celebrations date from the reign of Emperor Kanmu of Japan (), and the custom is now observed in many nations ...
, February 6, 2022, Simon paid tribute to the Queen in a message to mark her Platinum Jubilee. She said:
Simon and her husband met the Queen for the first time on March 15, 2022, at
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a List of British royal residences, royal residence at Windsor, Berkshire, Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, about west of central London. It is strongly associated with the Kingdom of England, English and succee ...
. The Queen hosted afternoon tea for the couple. It was the first time that the Canadian monarch met the first indigenous governor general in Canadian history. Simon later said in an interview that she and the Queen discussed various issues like the
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
On 24 February 2022, , starting the largest and deadliest war in Europe since World War II, in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, conflict between the two countries which began in 2014. The fighting has caused hundreds of thou ...
,
Canada convoy protests, and how they both recovered from
COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic.
The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...
. Simon said she told the Queen that Canada's history books should be rewritten to reflect the facts about the relationship between
the Canadian Crown and Indigenous peoples of Canada
The association between the monarchy of Canada and Indigenous peoples in Canada stretches back to the first interactions between North American Indigenous peoples and European colonialists and, over centuries of interface, treaties were estab ...
.
In May, Simon hosted
Charles, Prince of Wales
Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948) is King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms.
Charles was born at Buckingham Palace during the reign of his maternal grandfather, King George VI, a ...
and
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall
Camilla (born Camilla Rosemary Shand, later Parker Bowles, 17 July 1947) is Queen of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms as the wife of King Charles III.
Camilla was raised in East Sussex and South Kensington i ...
on their Platinum Jubilee tour of Canada. During the tour, Simon invested Charles as an Extraordinary Commander of the Order of Military Merit at Rideau Hall.

Simon and her husband travelled to London from June 2 to 6, 2022, to take part in
the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in the United Kingdom. They attended the
Service of Thanksgiving at
St. Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Church of St Paul the Apostle, is an Anglican cathedral in London, England, the seat of the Bishop of London. The cathedral serves as the mother church of the Diocese of London in the Church of Engl ...
, the
Platinum Party at the Palace
The Platinum Party at the Palace was a British music concert, held outside Buckingham Palace on The Mall in London on 4 June 2022, in celebration of the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. The concert began at 20:00 ( BST). Comedian Lee M ...
, and the
Platinum Jubilee Pageant
The Platinum Jubilee Pageant was held on Sunday, 5 June 2022 near Buckingham Palace, as part of Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Conceived and directed by David Zolkwer with Pageant Master, Adrian Evans, it featured over 10,0 ...
, which included military personnel from the
Canadian Armed Forces
The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF; , FAC) are the unified Military, military forces of Canada, including sea, land, and air commands referred to as the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force. Under the ''National Defenc ...
.
Simon urged all Canadians to work together, to "truly honour the life, legacy and reign of Her Majesty The Queen", and said that, to her, that is worth celebrating.
Papal visit
On April 1, 2022, Simon released a statement following
Pope Francis
Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio; 17 December 1936 – 21 April 2025) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 13 March 2013 until Death and funeral of Pope Francis, his death in 2025. He was the fi ...
' apology to Indigenous delegation at the
Vatican
Vatican may refer to:
Geography
* Vatican City, an independent city-state surrounded by Rome, Italy
* Vatican Hill, in Rome, namesake of Vatican City
* Ager Vaticanus, an alluvial plain in Rome
* Vatican, an unincorporated community in the ...
. Simon said she was grateful to the Pope for his words, and hailed it a "historic and emotional day for Indigenous peoples across Canada". She said that the apology is "one step on the road to reconciliation", and the Pope has "committed to visiting Canada to continue the reconciliation journey with Indigenous peoples on their own lands".
Pope Francis visited Canada from July 24 to 29, 2022, with Simon taking part in several events and activities during the papal visit. Following the papal apology in
Maskwacis
Maskwacis (; , ), renamed in 2014 from Hobbema (), is an unincorporated community in central Alberta, Canada at intersection of Highway 2A and Highway 611, approximately south of the City of Edmonton. The community consists of two Cree First ...
on July 25, Simon said, "Today was a day that moved us forward, giving Survivors words that may help them heal. Yet it is also a day that can raise complex emotions, especially as the Papal visit continues".
Transition of the Crown
With Queen Elizabeth II's death on September 8, 2022, Simon became the first governor general to serve under two monarchs since
Lord Tweedsmuir
John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir (; 26 August 1875 – 11 February 1940) was a Scottish novelist, historian, British Army officer, and Unionist Party (Scotland), Unionist politician who served as Governor General of Canada, the List of governo ...
in 1936. Simon said, "Her Majesty's warm welcome when we spent time with her earlier this year was a profound moment in our lives and a memory we will cherish forever". In a live statement to Canadians, Simon said, "Her Majesty cared about people, about our well-being. This was clear every time we spoke. She cared about Canada, and all the unique stories that make up our beautiful country".
On September 10, Simon signed the proclamation of the accession of King Charles III at Rideau Hall following a formal meeting of the
King's Privy Council for Canada
The King's Privy Council for Canada (), sometimes called His Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council (PC), is the full group of personal advisors to the monarch of Canada on State (polity), state and constitutional affair ...
. In a statement, Simon said, "the Crown endures and thrives as a symbol of service, tradition and commitment. His Majesty The King ascends at an important time in history for Canada and the Commonwealth".
Simon and her husband were part of the Canadian delegation to the Queen's state funeral in London on September 19. On the occasion of the Queen's funeral, Simon said, "We were fortunate to have The Queen with us for so long. On behalf of all Canadians, I would like to thank our Queen, our monarch, one last time, for her love and her commitment to our country and our people".
In May 2023, just days before the
coronation of King Charles III
The Coronation of the British monarch, coronation of Charles III and his wife, Queen Camilla, Camilla, as Monarchy of the United Kingdom, king and List of British royal consorts, queen of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth re ...
, Simon organised an audience at Buckingham Palace between the King and three Indigenous leaders: Assembly of First Nations National Chief
RoseAnne Archibald
RoseAnne Archibald is a Canadian First Nations advocate and politician who served as the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) from July 2021 to June 2023. She made history as the first female National Chief of the Assembly of Firs ...
, President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
Natan Obed, and President of the Métis National Council
Cassidy Caron. Simon said that the King "understands the importance of walking the path of reconciliation with Canada and Indigenous peoples".
Simon and her husband attended a reception hosted by the King on 5 May, and the Coronation Service at
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is an Anglican church in the City of Westminster, London, England. Since 1066, it has been the location of the coronations of 40 English and British m ...
on 6 May. For the coronation, Simon wore a Canadian creation by a Nunavik born artist. In a statement, Simon said:
On May 7, 2023, Simon attended the
Coronation Concert at
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a List of British royal residences, royal residence at Windsor, Berkshire, Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, about west of central London. It is strongly associated with the Kingdom of England, English and succee ...
.
Expenses criticism
In June 2022, Simon came under fire after a ''
National Post
The ''National Post'' is a Canadian English-language broadsheet newspaper and the flagship publication of the American-owned Postmedia Network. It is published Mondays through Saturdays, with Monday released as a digital e-edition only. '' story was published regarding exorbitant in-flight catering costs of over $93,000 for her eight-day trip to the Middle East. She called the criticism "unfair" as she had no part in the logistics of her trips to discuss world peace but her office would try to "minimize the cost of future voyages". Due to a growing number of abusive comments, in February 2023 the office of the Governor General closed commenting on social media posts.
Personal life
Simon is the second-oldest of eight children.
Her brother,
Johnny May, is a locally renowned
bush pilot
Bush flying refers to aircraft operations carried out in the bush. Bush flying involves operations in rough terrain where there are often no prepared landing strips or runways, frequently necessitating that bush planes be equipped with abnormal ...
.
In her youth, Simon attended an
Anglican
Anglicanism, also known as Episcopalianism in some countries, is a Western Christianity, Western Christian tradition which developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the ...
church with her family.
At age 40, she developed
depression and
burnout
Burnout or burn-out may refer to:
Entertainment
* ''Burnout'' (film), a 2017 Moroccan film
* ''Burn Out'' (film), a 2017 French film
* Burnout (ride), a Funfields amusement ride in Australia
* ''Burnout'' (series), a racing game series created by ...
, but gradually overcame them.
Simon married her first husband, Robert Otis, on March 27, 1967, in Kuujjuaq. She later married George Simon,
and in 1994 she married her current husband, journalist and author
Whit Fraser
Whit Grant Fraser (born November 26, 1942) is a Canadian journalist, broadcaster, and author who has served as the 56th viceregal consort of Canada since 2021, as the husband of Governor General Mary Simon.
Biography
Born in Merigomish, Nov ...
, a former head of the
Canadian Polar Commission
Polar Knowledge Canada is a departmental corporation of the Government of Canada under the Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) portfolio.
It is responsible for monitoring, promoting, and disseminating knowledge of th ...
. She has two sons and one daughter.
Simon speaks English and Inuktitut, and she has committed to learn French during her tenure as governor general.
Honours
Honorary degrees
Honorary academic positions
* Mary May Simon was the
Chancellor
Chancellor () is a title of various official positions in the governments of many countries. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the (lattice work screens) of a basilica (court hall), which separa ...
of
Trent University
Trent University is a public liberal arts university in Peterborough, Ontario, with a satellite campus in Oshawa, which serves the Regional Municipality of Durham. Founded in 1964, the university is known for its Oxbridge college system, sma ...
(1995–1999, 2002).
Honorary military appointments
Current positions and memberships
Simon is a fellow of the
Arctic Institute of North America
The Arctic Institute of North America is a multi-disciplinary research institute and educational organization located in the University of Calgary. It is mandated to study the North American and circumpolar Arctic in the areas of natural science ...
and of the
Royal Canadian Geographical Society
The Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS; French: ''Société géographique royale du Canada'') is a Canadian nonprofit educational organization. It has dedicated itself to spreading a broader knowledge and deeper appreciation of Canada, i ...
.
She holds other positions, including the following:
* Advisor to the
European Space Agency
The European Space Agency (ESA) is a 23-member International organization, international organization devoted to space exploration. With its headquarters in Paris and a staff of around 2,547 people globally as of 2023, ESA was founded in 1975 ...
(Arctic Monitoring Program)
* Chairperson, Arctic Children and Youth Foundation
* Board Member,
Indspire
Indspire, formerly known as the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation (NAAF), is a national Indigenous registered charity that invests in the education of Indigenous people for the long-term benefit of these individuals, their families and c ...
* Member of the Board of Governors,
University of the Arctic
The University of the Arctic (UArctic) is an international cooperative network based in the Circumpolar Arctic region, consisting of universities, colleges, and other organizations with an interest in promoting education and research in the Arcti ...
* Council Member, Crossing Boundaries National Council
* Member of Advisory Circle, Walter and Duncan Gordon Charitable Foundation
* Council Member, The National Police Services Advisory Council
Arms
Published works
Simon is the author of many works regarding the environment, education, language, and Inuit culture:
Books
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Book contributions
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Reports
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Articles
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Notes
References
External links
Governor General of Canada – official website
, -
, -
{{DEFAULTSORT:Simon, Mary
1947 births
Living people
20th-century Inuit people
20th-century Inuit women
21st-century Inuit people
21st-century Inuit women
People from Nunavik
Ambassadors of Canada to Denmark
Canadian women ambassadors
Academic staff of McGill University
Chancellors of Trent University
Fellows of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society
Companions of the Order of Canada
Commanders of the Order of Military Merit (Canada)
Commanders of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces
Dames of Justice of the Order of St John
Officers of the National Order of Quebec
Recipients of Nersornaat
Indspire Awards
Canadian Inuit women
Inuit from Quebec
CBC Radio hosts
Indigenous Canadian women academics
Canadian women viceroys
Governors general of Canada
Anglophone Quebec people
Canadian people of English descent
Female governors-general