About
Adrienne Clarkson, born in Hong Kong in 1939, arrived in Canada as a refugee in 1942. A graduate of the University of Toronto and the Sorbonne, she was a pioneering CBC television journalist, becoming the first racialized person to host a national network program. She later served as Ontario's Agent-General in Paris, president of McClelland & Stewart, and producer-host. In 1999, she became the 26th Governor General of Canada, the first of Asian descent and the second woman to hold the office. Author of several books, she co-founded the Institute for Canadian Citizenship.
* 1939-02-10
Major works
- A Lover More Condoling (1968)novel
- Hunger Trace (1971)novel
- Heart Matters (2006)memoir
- Norman Bethune (2009)biography
- Belonging: The Paradox of Citizenship (2014)essay
Key milestones
- 1942Arrives in Canada as a refugee with her family.
- 1999Becomes the 26th Governor General of Canada, the first of Asian descent.
- 2005Completes her term as Governor General.
Themes
citizenshipbelongingdiversitymediapublic service
Sources: gg.ca · britannica.com · thecanadianencyclopedia.ca