Adrienne Clarkson

In 1999, Adrienne Clarkson became the first visible minority to be appointed Governor General of Canada and the first to hold the position without a military or political background. Born in Hong Kong, Clarkson and her parents came to Canada as refugees in 1942, settling in Ottawa. Clarkson spent many years at the CBC as a TV host-interviewer, writer and producer. She is a respected journalist, author and Companion of the Order of Canada. As Governor General, Clarkson travelled more widely than any of her predecessors and visited some of Canada's most remote communities. She is known for helping to forge stronger ties with northern Indigenous peoples and for establishing the Governor General's Northern Medal.

“Each of us is carving a stone, erecting a column, or cutting a piece of stained glass in the construction of something much bigger than ourselves.”