Mary Simon

Mary Simon is a Canadian civil servant, diplomat, broadcaster, and public advocate who served as the 30th governor general of Canada from 2021 to 2026.

Mary Simon is a Canadian civil servant, diplomat, broadcaster, and public advocate who served as the 30th governor general of Canada from 2021 to 2026. She is Inuk on her mother’s side and was the first Indigenous person to hold the office. Her career has included leadership roles in Inuit organizations and diplomatic posts.

Early life and background

Mary Simon was born in Kangiqsualujjuaq, Nunavik, Quebec, in 1947. Sources describe her as having an Inuit mother and a father from outside the Arctic, and note that she grew up as an Inuk woman in northern Canada.

Career

Before becoming governor general, Simon held senior roles in Inuit advocacy, Arctic diplomacy, and broadcasting. These included leadership in Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Makivik Corporation, and the Inuit Circumpolar Council, as well as service as ambassador for circumpolar affairs and ambassador to Denmark.

Governor general of Canada

Simon was sworn in as Canada’s 30th governor general on July 26, 2021. Her appointment was historically significant because she became the first Indigenous person to serve in the role.

Public legacy

Simon is widely associated with Inuit rights, Arctic cooperation, and reconciliation. Sources highlight her work on education, youth, culture, and Indigenous representation in Canadian public life.