Louise Arbour has been sworn in as Canada’s 31st governor general during a ceremony in Ottawa.
She replaces Mary Simon, who was the first Indigenous person to hold the role.
The ceremony was held at the Senate building and was attended by Mark Carney, Chief Justice Richard Wagner, House of Commons Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia, and Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, along with former prime ministers Jean Chrétien and Joe Clark.
In his remarks, Carney praised Arbour’s long career in law and human rights, saying she has consistently defended justice, dignity, and equality.
Before the ceremony, a qulliq, a traditional Inuit oil lamp, was lit by an Inuk elder. Musical performances were also part of the event, including songs by Sara Dufour and Tyler Shaw. Parliament’s poet laureate Chimwemwe Undi also read a poem written for the occasion.
Arbour, a former Supreme Court justice and UN human rights commissioner, is known for her work prosecuting war crimes in international tribunals. She will serve as the King’s representative in Canada and carry out duties such as swearing in ministers and giving Royal Assent to laws, following approval by King Charles III.