Louise Arbour, a graduate of the Faculty of Law at Université de Montréal, has been named the next Governor General of Canada.
As the federal representative of Canada's monarch, currently King Charles III, Arbour will be the 31st person to hold the position, a fixture of Canadian democracy.
Originally from Montreal, Arbour has had a distinguished career both in Canada and abroad. She notably served on the Supreme Court of Canada after having been a judge on the Ontario Court of Appeal.
On the international stage, she was in the public eye as chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, and later as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Announced today by Canadian prime minister Mark Carney, Arbour's appointment comes as outgoing governor general Mary Simon gets set to conclude her mandated five years in office.
For Arbour, the appointment crowns a career devoted to justice, the rule of law and the defence of fundamental rights—commitments that have marked every stage of her professional path.
Over the years, she has always found time to stay close to her alma mater, most recently serving on the honorary committee of the university's L’heure est brave fundraising campaign.
In a recent conversation with UdeM rector Daniel Jutras at her home in the Lauentians, Arbour reflected on her roots, her commitment to justice and the important role her legal education made in her life.
At UdeM, she learned the value of intellectual rigour and independence of thought. Now, as governor general, she aims to buttress respect for Canada's parliamentary institutions and ensure the country stays true to its constitution.
