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[[File:Michaelle Jean.jpg|thumb|Michaelle Jean]]

[[File:Michaelle Jean.jpg|thumb|Michaelle Jean]]

'''Michaëlle Jean''' (born 6 September 1957) is a former [[Governor General]] of [[Canada]].   

'''Michaëlle Jean''' (born September 6, 1957) is a former [[Governor General]] of [[Canada]].   

==History==

==History==

Jean was born in [[Port-au-Prince]], [[Haiti]] and with her family fled as refugees to Canada in 1968. She became the 27th Governor General ([[Elizabeth II|Queen's]] representative in Canada) in 2005 and is also the first black person to hold the title.   

Jean was born in [[Port-au-Prince]], [[Haiti]] and with her family fled as refugees to Canada in 1968. She became the 27th Governor General ([[Elizabeth II|Queen's]] representative in Canada) in 2005 and is also the first black person to hold the title.   

Jean fled Haiti with her family from dictator [[François Duvalier]]'s regime in 1968. Her father, from whom she was estranged for many years, was a philosopher who was tortured under Duvalier's regime and separated from the family for 30 years. The Jean family settled at Thetford Mines, [[Quebec]].

Jean fled Haiti with her family from dictator [[François Duvalier]]'s regime in 1968. Her father, from whom she was estranged for many years, was a philosopher who was tortured under Duvalier's regime and separated from the family for 30 years. The Jean family settled at Thetford Mines, [[Quebec]].

As a student at the [[University of Montreal]], Jean received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Italian and Hispanic languages and literature and, from 1984 until 1986, taught Italian studies while completing a Master of Arts degree in comparative literature. Jean attended the University of Florence, the University of Perugia, and the Catholic University of Milan to continue her studies in language and literature. Besides French and English, Jean is fluent in Spanish, Italian, and Haitian Creole and can read Portuguese.

As a student at the [[University of Montreal]], Jean received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Italian and Hispanic languages and literature and, from 1984 until 1986, taught Italian studies while completing a Master of Arts degree in comparative literature. Jean attended the University of Florence, the University of Perugia, and the Catholic University of Milan to continue her studies in language and literature. Besides French and English, Jean is fluent in Spanish, Italian, and Haitian Creole and can read Portuguese.

While attending university, Jean worked at a shelter for battered women from 1979 until 1987. She later helped establish a network of shelters for women and children across Canada. Jean also worked in organizations that helped immigrants to Canada and then later worked for Employment and Immigration Canada (now Human Resources and Skills Development Canada) and at the Conseil des Communautés culturelles du Québec, where Jean began writing about the experiences of immigrant women

While attending university, Jean worked at a shelter for battered women from 1979 until 1987. She later helped establish a network of shelters for women and children across Canada. Jean also worked in organizations that helped immigrants to Canada and then later worked for Employment and Immigration Canada (now Human Resources and Skills Development Canada) and at the Conseil des Communautés culturelles du Québec, where Jean began writing about the experiences of immigrant women

==Personal life==

==Personal life==

She is married to filmmaker Jean-Daniel Lafond, who has made several films that were seen as sympathetic to the cause of [[Québec]] separatism. They have a daughter, Marie-Éden, adopted from Haiti.  

She is married to filmmaker Jean-Daniel Lafond, who has made several films that were seen as sympathetic to the cause of [[Quebec]] separatism. They have a daughter, Marie-Éden, adopted from Haiti.  

==See also==

==See also==

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jean, Michaelle}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jean, Michaelle}}

[[Category:Canadian Political People]]

[[Category:Canadian Political People]]