David Johnston Govenor General Of Canada

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Original air date: January 26, 2011

Canada is the best country in the world bar none. Canada. I’ve got passion for this country; its people; what it stands for in the world. When I travelled to Rideau Hall a few weeks ago to interview our new Governor General, David Johnston, I saw a spark in David Johnston’s eyes, a spark that I love to see when people talk about this country. It is a spark of passion. Pure love and passion for this country, for its greatness, for its people and its ideals. And that’s what Canada stands for: idealism. That’s why people come from all around the world to bring the best parts of their backgrounds and help build this country and become part of it. And that’s what I love about Canada. By the way folks, for you film trivia buffs, you’re going to want to listen to the last part of the interview with Governor General David Johnston, you are going to be amazed at what integral part he played in one of Hollywood’s biggest movies ever released.

David Johnston began his professional career as an assistant professor in the Faculty of Law at Queen’s University in 1966, moving to the Law Faculty at the University of Toronto in 1968. He became dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Western Ontario in 1974. In 1979, he was named principal and vice-chancellor of McGill University, and in July 1994, he returned to the McGill Faculty of Law as a full-time professor. In June 1999, he became the fifth president of the University of Waterloo.

Mr. Johnston has served on many provincial and federal task forces and committees. He has also served on the boards of a number of companies, including Arise, CGI, Fairfax, and Masco. He was president of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada and of the Conférence des recteurs et des principaux des universités du Québec. He was the founding chair of the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy, chaired the federal government’s Information Highway Advisory Council, and served as the first non-American chair of the Board of Overseers at Harvard University. He is the author or co-author of two dozen books, holds honorary doctorates from over a dozen universities, and has been awarded the Order of Canada (Companion).

Mr. Johnston holds an LLB from Queen’s University (1966), an LLB from the University of Cambridge (1965), and an AB from Harvard University (1963). While at Harvard, he was twice selected for the All-American hockey team and is a member of Harvard’s Athletic Hall of Fame. His academic specializations include securities regulation, information technology and corporate law.

He was born in Sudbury, Ontario, and is married to Sharon Johnston. They have five adult daughters and seven grandchildren.

Sworn in on October 1, 2010, His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston is the 28th governor general since Confederation.