Louise Arbour installed as Canada’s 31st Governor General

Former Supreme Court Justice Louise Arbour was installed as Canada's 31st governor general in a formal ceremony at the Senate of Canada Building in Ottawa on Monday, June 8, 2026. The event, attended by outgoing Governor General Mary Simon, Prime Minister Mark Carney, and other dignitaries, marked the beginning of Arbour's five-year term as the King's representative in Canada.

The installation featured traditional military and cultural elements, including a 21-gun salute from Parliament Hill and the raising of the Governor General's Flag on the Peace Tower. The ceremony incorporated a lighting of a traditional Inuit qulliq lamp and musical performances by artists Sara Dufour and Tyler Shaw. Parliamentary Poet Laureate Chimwemwe Undi read a poem composed for the occasion. During the proceedings, Arbour delivered her first address to the nation, outlining her priorities for the role. Prime Minister Carney also gave a speech, thanking the outgoing viceregal, Mary Simon, for her service.

Arbour, a 79-year-old Montreal native and fluently bilingual former jurist, brings a distinguished international legal career to the position. She previously served as the United Nations High...