Part of history
Linda Lewis How did you enjoy the photo shoot?
Governor General You are such a nice magazine. I [felt] confident. I wanted to bring you into the intimacy of this office because every time I come in here, I realize I’m in history. The first governor general to work in this office [did so] in 1867.
LL And now the name is inscribed here.
GG It is inscribed here, and I remember when I entered the room and I read all the names: Massey was the first Canadian; Vanier, the first French Canadian; Michener, Monsieur Léger, Governor General Schreyer and then Madame Sauvé, the first woman; Hnatyshyn, the first governor general of immigrant origin (He was born in Saskatoon); Mr. LeBlanc was an Acadian; Madame Clarkson….
LL Whom I sat behind on Sunday at a lecture at the University of Toronto. It was incredible; I thought, How strange, I’m meeting with you the next day! Two New Yorker writers who are Canadian, Adam Gopnik and Malcolm Gladwell, were discussing Canada: Nation or Notion?...and the whole nature of Canada. And obviously that’s something you’ve put a lot of thought into. You’re such a role model for so many different Canadians, and particularly for my readership because we are women of the same generation. What is that like, being a role model for your peers, for women your own age?
GG I think most women who come to me and express exactly that are young women who want to achieve, who want to accomplish something. And when they see me, they see an inspiration, I think, especially because they’re standing in front of someone who is herself. I think this is very, very important — when some young women get that notion of just being yourself, finding the essence of who you are, following your values, your convictions, your ideas.
LL You are officially starting a mentorship program for Order of Canada recipients. Tell us a little about that.
GG I’ve made the youth my priority. When I started to think about the possibility of accepting this appointment, when I was approached, I really took the time: I wanted to know exactly what I could do, what I wanted to do; how I wanted to serve my country, what kind of contribution I wanted to [make] during my tenure in this institution. And I thought that the youth had to be one of my main focuses…those who don’t necessarily have all the networks because of so many circumstances….
LL So the more marginalized?
