One of Canada’s greatest modern-era Governors General was officially installed as the Queen’s representative to Canada on this date in 1959. Her Majesty appointed Georges P. Vanier as GG on the advice of Prime Minister John Diefenbaker.
Governor General Vanier, only the second Canadian to hold the Vice-Regal post -- and, notably, the first Quebecer -- served at Rideau Hall until his death, while still in office, in 1967.
Before his service to Canada as Governor General, Vanier was a veteran (who lost a leg in battle) of the First World War. He later became one of our nation’s greatest diplomats, representing Canada in London, Paris and at the United Nations.
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Georges Vanier and Queen Elizabeth/caption
Arthur Milnes is an accomplished public historian and award-winning journalist. He was research assistant on The Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney’s best-selling Memoirs and also served as a speechwriter to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and as a Fellow of the Queen’s Centre for the Study of Democracy under the leadership of Tom Axworthy. A resident of Kingston, Ontario, Milnes serves as the in-house historian at the 175 year-old Frontenac Club Hotel.
Georges Vanier and Queen Elizabeth/caption
Arthur Milnes is an accomplished public historian and award-winning journalist. He was research assistant on The Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney’s best-selling Memoirs and also served as a speechwriter to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and as a Fellow of the Queen’s Centre for the Study of Democracy under the leadership of Tom Axworthy. A resident of Kingston, Ontario, Milnes serves as the in-house historian at the 175 year-old Frontenac Club Hotel.Arthur Milnes is an accomplished public historian and award-winning journalist. He was research assistant on The Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney’s best-selling Memoirs and also served as a speechwriter to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and as a Fellow of the Queen’s Centre for the Study of Democracy under the leadership of Tom Axworthy. A resident of Kingston, Ontario, Milnes serves as the in-house historian at the 175 year-old Frontenac Club Hotel.