Julie Payette, a former astronaut who logged more than 25 days on two NASA space flights, was sworn in Monday as Canada’s 29th Governor General, the Queen’s vice-regal representative in the country and the country’s official head of state.
Payette, 53, who is also a successful businesswoman, an engineer and an accomplished pianist and singer chose much of the music for her formal investiture ceremony in the Senate’s Red Chamber on Parliament Hill.
It included Aaron Copeland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man” and Leonard Cohen “Hallelujah,” sung by Joannie Benoit and Melissa Bedard.
Her investiture was attended by members of her family, including her 14-year-old son, Laurier, and 400 friends she personally invited.
Past and present politicians and dignitaries also attended.
They included Indigenous elders and the outgoing Governor General, David Johnson, who had held the largely-ceremonial post since 2010.
Addressing the audience without notes, Payette said she is “a true believer in the strength of teamwork, the power of dreams and in the absolute necessity of a support structure.”
Like Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the United Nations last week, Payette spoke about Canada’s Indigenous peoples, saying they had taught Canadians how to survive in a cold climate and praising them for their “generosity and courage through history.”
Following the ceremony, Payette, her son and other dignitaries visited the National War Memorial, where she laid flowers on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Canada is a constitutional monarchy, where the duties of head of State and head of Government are distinct. Canada’s Parliament consists of three parts: the Queen, represented by the governor general; the Senate; and the House of Commons.
With files from Canadian Press, CBC, Postmedia
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