In a ceremony steeped in tradition, celebrated jurist and human rights defender Louise Arbour was installed on Monday as Canada’s 31st Governor General.
After the King agreed to be represented by Arbour at a meeting in London last week, she was officially named the representative of Canada’s head of state and commander-in-chief of the Canadian Armed Forces during a relatively subdued but at times moving ceremony in the Senate chamber.
Arbour’s role is largely ceremonial and symbolic, although it includes some highly significant legal functions that could be deployed during a political crisis.

Arbour will serve as a non-partisan, national unifier and guardian of the constitutional order. Like past governors general, she will also use her tenure to highlight some issues that matter most to her.
Her predecessor, Mary Simon, the first Indigenous person to serve in the vice-regal role, made reconciliation a priority during her five years in office. Former governor general David Johnston pushed Canada to be “a more caring nation” through his emphasis on learning, philanthropy and volunteerism.
Arbour’s speech before the assembled dignitaries — a crowd that included Prime Minister Mark Carney and his wife, Diana, NDP Leader Avi Lewis, past heads of state and prime ministers Joe Clark and Jean Chrétien, current and former cabinet ministers, Indigenous leaders and parliamentarians — revealed what’s top of mind for her as she assumes these new duties.
Arbour spoke of the potential risks and rewards of technological change as artificial intelligence becomes more ingrained in daily life.
With youth unemployment at its highest levels in decades, Arbour spoke about creating more opportunities for young people to thrive.
She also spoke about bolstering national pride and helping Canada live up to its potential in an era when protectionism and isolationism are in vogue.
As the past author of a scathing report on harassment in the Armed Forces she now leads, Arbour commended recent efforts to reform the military and bolster diversity in its ranks.
She vowed to help guard against “extreme polarization” but also “extreme consensus,” fostering a marketplace of ideas in our free society.