This week in Ottawa, Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomed Her Excellency the Right Honourable Louise Arbour as she formally assumed the role of Canada’s 31st Governor General.
As Governor General, Louise Arbour will serve as the representative of His Majesty The King in Canada. She is the 31st Governor General since Confederation and the first to be appointed by His Majesty King Charles III.
A world-renowned legal scholar, judge, and champion of human rights, Louise Arbour brings more than five decades of distinguished public service to the role. Throughout her remarkable career, she has held nearly every office a Canadian jurist can attain, as well as several positions no Canadian had held before. Throughout her remarkable career, she has served at the highest levels of Canada’s judiciary, including the Supreme Court of Ontario, the Court of Appeal for Ontario, and the Supreme Court of Canada.
As Companion of the Order of Canada, the country’s highest civilian honour, and a Grande officière de l’Ordre national du Québec, she has received nearly 100 honours and awards, including 42 honorary doctorates from universities around the world.
Her legacy extends far beyond Canada’s borders. As Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, she helped establish the principle that no individual, regardless of rank or position, is above the law. Later, as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, she became a leading global voice for justice, dignity, and equality.
The Governor General plays a vital role in Canadian democracy, serving as a symbol of unity and helping uphold the institutions and values that define our country. These responsibilities require integrity and an unwavering commitment to the rule of law—qualities that have defined Louise Arbour’s extraordinary career.
As Canada’s 31st Governor General, Her Excellency Louise Arbour will continue a lifetime of service, representing the very best of Canada at home and abroad.