Spounce of the governor general of Canada
The Countess of Bessborough (right), viceregal consort of Canada, with her husband, the9th Earl of Bessborough , in their official photograph as governor general and viceregal consort of Canada, 1933Theviceregal consort of Canada is the spouse of the servinggovernor general of Canada , assisting theviceroy with ceremonial and charitable work, accompanying him or her to official state occasions, and occasionally undertaking philanthropic work of their own. As the host/hostess of the royal and viceroyal residence inOttawa , the consort, if female, is also known as thechatelaine ofRideau Hall Canadian order of precedence , after theCanadian monarch and the governor general, is addressed asHis orHer Excellency ex officio an Extraordinary Companion (French :Compagnon Extraordinaire ) of theOrder of Canada and a Knight or Dame of Justice of theMost Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem .[ 1]
The present viceregal consort isWhit Fraser , the husband of Governor GeneralMary Simon , who took office on July 26, 2021.
Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone , c. 1942The position of the viceregal consort carries no official duties and receives no salary. However, consorts have held and do hold a prominent and visible position in the Canadian affairs of state, taking part in official occasions, such as thespeech from the throne andOrder of Canada investitures, and national celebrations, such asCanada Day events onParliament Hill , as well as both welcoming foreign dignitaries to Canada and accompanying the governor general onstate visits abroad. These practices evolved from the original role as the hostess of the royal and viceroyal residences inOttawa (Rideau Hall ) andQuebec City (La Citadelle ), a tradition maintained only by female viceregal consorts, who oversee the planning of ceremonies and functions of state that take place at either of the official residences.[citation needed
Over the course of the 20th century, it became increasingly common for viceregal consorts to select and pursue on their own initiative various charitable projects.[ 1] Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone , whose husband served as governor general during theSecond World War , volunteered her time to the war effort in Canada, especially women's organisations such as theRoyal Canadian Air Force Women's Division . The activities chosen are typically apolitical and non-divisive. However, some consorts have stirred controversy through their work;Jean-Daniel Lafond , who promoted Canadian art—film in particular—and involved himself in theFrancophone community, madea documentary while viceregal consort that attracted criticism from theNational Post anti-Americanism and had been sympathetic to an admitted assassin.[ 2] [ 3] [ 4]
Only once has the title of Chatelaine of Rideau Hall been held by someone who was not the spouse of the governor general—asVincent Massey was awidower , his daughter-in-law,Lilias Massey , held the title and performed the official duties of the chatelaine. Unlike a viceregal consort, however, Lilias Massey was not addressed asHer Excellency .[citation needed
List of viceregal consorts [ edit ] [ edit ] [ edit ] [ edit ] Canadian institutions established by viceregal consorts [ edit ] ^ Lauson's wife,Mariede Lauson (née Gaudar), died in France prior to the former's appointment as governor.[ 7] ^a b The couple was separated during the governor's tenure. ^a b c d e f g h i The governor's wife did not accompany him. ^ Massey's wife,Alice Massey (née Parkin), died prior to the former's appointment as governor general; his daughter-in-law, Lilias Massey, acted as Chatelaine of Rideau Hall. ^ Payette was divorced and had not remarried. ^a b Office of the Governor General of Canada ."Role and Responsibilities > The Governor General and her spouse > Jean-Daniel Lafond > Role" . Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved10 January 2010 .^ "Fugitive:The Truth About Hassan" . InformAction. Archived fromthe original on 8 December 2008. Retrieved2 October 2008 .^ "Lafond's new film hits hot buttons" . CBC. 26 April 2006. Retrieved2 October 2008 .^ Burrows, Michael (2 May 2006),"Airbrushing a killer" ,National Post , archived fromthe original on 10 December 2009, retrieved10 January 2010 ^ Chabot, O.S.U., Marie-Emmanuel (1979) [1966]."Boullé, Hélène" . In Brown, George Williams (ed.).Dictionary of Canadian Biography University of Toronto Press . ^ Daveluy, Marie-Claire (1979) [1966]."Ailleboust de Coulogne et d'Argentenay, Louis d' . In Brown, George Williams (ed.).Dictionary of Canadian Biography University of Toronto Press .^ Monet, J. (1979) [1966]."Lauson, Jean de, (d. 1666)" . In Brown, George Williams (ed.).Dictionary of Canadian Biography University of Toronto Press . ^ Eccles, W.J. (1979) [1966]."Baude de Frontenac et de Palluau, Louis de" . In Brown, George Williams (ed.).Dictionary of Canadian Biography University of Toronto Press . ^ La Roque de Roquebrune, R. (1979) [1966]."Le Febvre de la Barre, Joseph-Antoine" . In Brown, George Williams (ed.).Dictionary of Canadian Biography University of Toronto Press . ^ Eccles, W.J. (1979) [1969]."Brisay de Denonville, Jacques-René de, Marquis de Denonville" . In Hayne, David (ed.).Dictionary of Canadian Biography University of Toronto Press . ^ Zoltvany, Yves F. (1979) [1969]."Rigaud de Vaudreuil, Philippe de, Marquis de Vaudreuil" . In Hayne, David (ed.).Dictionary of Canadian Biography University of Toronto Press . ^ Standen, S. Dale (1974)."Beauharnois de la Boische, Charles de, Marquis de Beauharnois" . In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.).Dictionary of Canadian Biography University of Toronto Press . ^ Taillemite, Étienne (1974)."Barrin de La Galissonnière, Roland-Michel, Marquis de La Galissonnière" . In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.).Dictionary of Canadian Biography University of Toronto Press . ^ Taillemite, Étienne (1974)."Taffanel de ls Jonquière, Jacqhes-Pierre de, Marquis de la Jonquière" . In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.).Dictionary of Canadian Biography University of Toronto Press . ^ Stacey, C.P. (1979)."Amherst, Jeffert, 1st Baron Amherst" . In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.).Dictionary of Canadian Biography University of Toronto Press . ^ Browne, G.P. (1979)."Murray, James" . In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.).Dictionary of Canadian Biography University of Toronto Press . ^ Browne, G.P. (1983)."Carleton, Guy, 1st Baron Dorchester" . In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.).Dictionary of Canadian Biography University of Toronto Press . ^ Wallot, Jean-Pierre (1988)."Milnes, Sir Robert Shore" . In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.).Dictionary of Canadian Biography University of Toronto Press . ^ Tousignant, Pierre; Wallot, Jean-Pierre (1983)."Dunn, Thomas" . In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.).Dictionary of Canadian Biography University of Toronto Press . ^ Burroughs, Peter (1983)."Prevost, Sir George" . In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.).Dictionary of Canadian Biography University of Toronto Press . ^ Stickney, Kenneth (1985)."Drummond, Sir Gordon" . In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.).Dictionary of Canadian Biography University of Toronto Press . ^ Burroughs, Peter (1987)."Sherbrooke, Sir John Coape" . In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.).Dictionary of Canadian Biography University of Toronto Press . ^ Stanley, George F.G. (1983)."Lennox, Charles, 4th Duke of Richmond and Lennox" . In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.).Dictionary of Canadian Biography University of Toronto Press . ^ Burroughs, Peter (1988)."Ramsay, George, 9th Earl of Dalhousie" . In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.).Dictionary of Canadian Biography University of Toronto Press . ^ Buckner, Phillip (1988)."Whitworth-Aylmer, Matthew, 5th Baron Aylmer" . In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.).Dictionary of Canadian Biography University of Toronto Press . ^ Buckner, Phillip (1988)."Acheson, Archibald, 2nd Earl of Gosford" . In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.).Dictionary of Canadian Biography University of Toronto Press . ^ Bélanger, Claude."Sir John Colborne" . Marianapolis College. Retrieved11 September 2010 . ^ Ouellet, Fernand (1988)."Lambton, John George, 1st Earl of Durham" . In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.).Dictionary of Canadian Biography University of Toronto Press . ^ Monet, Jacques (1988)."Bagot, Sir Charles" . In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.).Dictionary of Canadian Biography University of Toronto Press . ^ Cooke, O.A.; Hillmer, Norman (1985)."Cathcart, Charles Murray, 2nd Earl Cathcart" . In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.).Dictionary of Canadian Biography University of Toronto Press . ^ Morton, W.L. (1976)."Bruce, James, 8th Earl of Elgin and 12th Earl of Kincardine" . In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.).Dictionary of Canadian Biography University of Toronto Press . ^ Gibson, James A. (1976)."Head, Sir Edmund Walker" . In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.).Dictionary of Canadian Biography University of Toronto Press . ^ Monet, Jacques (1990)."Monck, Charles Stanley, 4th Viscount Monck" . In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.).Dictionary of Canadian Biography University of Toronto Press . ^ Ward, C.P. (2000),"Young, Sir John [Baron Lisgar] (1807–1876)" , in Australian National University (ed.),Australian Dictionary of Biography , retrieved12 September 2010 ^ Waite, P.B. (1994)."Stanley, Frederick Arthur, 1st Baron Stanley and 16th Earl of Derby" . In Cook, Ramsay; Hamelin, Jean (eds.).Dictionary of Canadian Biography University of Toronto Press . ^ Miller, Carman (1998)."Elliot, Gilbert John Murray-Kynynmound, Viscount Melgund and 4th Earl of Minto" . In Cook, Ramsay; Hamelin, Jean (eds.).Dictionary of Canadian Biography University of Toronto Press . ^ Miller, Carman (1998)."Grey, Albert Henry George, 4th Earl Grey" . In Cook, Ramsay; Hamelin, Jean (eds.).Dictionary of Canadian Biography University of Toronto Press . ^ Unless noted otherwise, source for information in this section is found in: Hubbard, R.H.;Rideau Hall ; McGill-Queen’s University Press; Montreal and London; 1977
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