Roland Michener
QC FRHSC(hon) | |
---|---|
20th Governor General of Canada | |
In office April 17, 1967 – January 14, 1974 | |
Monarch | Elizabeth II |
Prime Minister | Lester B. Pearson Pierre Trudeau |
Preceded by | Georges Vanier |
Succeeded by | Jules Léger |
24th Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada | |
In office October 14, 1957 – September 26, 1962 | |
Monarch | Elizabeth II |
Governors General | Vincent Massey Georges Vanier |
Prime Minister | John Diefenbaker |
Preceded by | Louis-René Beaudoin |
Succeeded by | Marcel Lambert |
More... | |
Personal details | |
Born | Daniel Roland Michener April 19, 1900 Lacombe, Northwest Territories, Canada (now Lacombe, Alberta) |
Died | August 6, 1991 Toronto, Ontario, Canada | (aged 91)
Spouse | Norah Michener |
Alma mater | University of Alberta (BA) Hertford College, Oxford (MA, BCL) |
Profession | Lawyer, Politician, Diplomat |
Signature | |
Daniel Roland Michener
Michener was born and educated in
On October 15, 1962, Michener was sworn into the
Youth and education
Michener was born in
On February 26, 1927, in St. Mary Magdalene Anglican Church, Michener married Norah Willis; the couple had three daughters.[3]
Political career
Michener first ran for political office in
Michener then tried to enter federal politics in the
As Speaker, Michener angered Diefenbaker by allowing the
In the
Governor General of Canada
Michener was immediately recalled from India and, on March 29, 1967, Queen Elizabeth II appointed Michener as the Governor General on Pearson's advice.[9][10] Although he was a Conservative, Liberal members of parliament and cabinet ministers welcomed the selection of Michener; Paul Martin Sr. said, "I don’t think there was anybody inside or outside the public service who could qualify better than Michener... People just felt that this was a good appointment."[11] Michener was sworn in during a ceremony in the Senate chamber on April 17, after one of the shortest periods served by a Governor General-designate.
Only ten days after Michener was made viceroy, he
Within less than a year of his becoming viceroy, Michener found himself faced with a constitutional crisis when Pearson's government was unexpectedly defeated on a tax bill in February 1968. Had the government been unable to pass a full budget bill, then Pearson would have been legally required to resign or ask for a new election, but the conventions relating to lesser financial bills were less clear. After taking much legal advice, Michener decreed that he would not ask for Pearson's resignation unless an explicit motion of no confidence against the government was passed. Opposition leader Robert Stanfield immediately tabled such a motion, but it ultimately failed after the other main opposition parties, the New Democratic Party and Ralliement créditiste, declined to support the motion. An election nonetheless took place in June of that year, following Pearson's retirement and replacement by Pierre Trudeau.[14]
In October 1970, members of the
On July 1, 1967, the Order of Canada was created, and Michener became the order's first member, as well as the first chancellor and principal companion.[16] As such, he presided over the first investiture ceremony, at Rideau Hall, on July 9, investing 90 people into the order. On a visit to London, United Kingdom, he presented the insignia of the Sovereign of the order to Queen Elizabeth II.[17] On July 1, 1972, the Order of Military Merit was founded and Michener was appointed the first Chancellor and Commander.
Another first was Michener's
Legacy
Though he wore the elaborate
Michener created two awards to be bestowed on Canadians. Reflecting his interest in sport fishing, he formed the Michener Tuna Trophy and, in demonstration of his strong relationship with many reporters and journalists, he founded in 1970 the Michener Award for Journalism. In return, besides being bestowed with a number of honours by both the
Retirement and death
After his term as governor general, Michener and his wife moved to Toronto. They lived at 24 Thornwood Road in the Rosedale neighbourhood. Michener remained active in business throughout the country; he sat on boards of directors and promoted Canadian charities and cultural institutions. From 1973 to 1980, he served as chancellor of
In the mid-1980s, Michener became a caretaker for his wife after she was afflicted with Alzheimer's disease. She died in Toronto on January 12, 1987,[19] and Michener followed on August 6, 1991. Their ashes repose in St. Bartholomew's Anglican Church in Ottawa, directly across Sussex Drive from Rideau Hall.
Honours and arms
Michener's personal awards and decorations include the following:
- Appointments
- Member of Provincial Parliament(MPP)
- August 10, 1953 – June 18, 1962: Member of Parliament (MP)
- Member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada(PC)
- Knight of Justice, Prior, and Chief Officer in Canada of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem (KStJ)[20]
- January 14, 1974 – August 6, 1991: Knight of Justice of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem (KStJ)
- April 17, 1967 – January 14, 1974: Chief Scout of Canada
- 1967 – August 6, 1991: Honorary Member of the Royal Military College of Canada Club
- July 1, 1967 – January 14, 1974: Chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order of Canada (CC)[21]
- January 14, 1974 – August 6, 1991: Companion of the Order of Canada
- July 1, 1972 – January 14, 1974: Chancellor and Commander of the Order of Military Merit (CMM)[22]
- January 14, 1974 – August 6, 1991: Commander of the Order of Military Merit (CMM)
- 1975 – August 6, 1991: Honorary Fellow of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada (FRHSC(hon))[23]
- 1990 – 1991: Member of the Order of Ontario (OOnt)
- Medals
- 1937: King George VI Coronation Medal
- 1953: Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal
- April 17, 1967: Canadian Forces' Decoration (CD)
- 1967: Canadian Centennial Medal
- 1977: Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal
- 2500th Anniversary of the founding of the Persian Empire.[24]
- Awards
- 1973: Royal Victorian Chain
Honorary military appointments
- the Governor General's Horse Guards
- April 17, 1967 – January 14, 1974: Colonel of the Governor General's Foot Guards
- the Canadian Grenadier Guards
Honorary degrees
- Doctor of Laws (LLD)[25]
- 1967: University of Alberta, Doctor of Laws (LLD)[26]
Honorific eponyms
- Awards
- Canada: Michener Award for Journalism
- Canada: Michener Fellowships (later Michener/Deacon Fellowships)
- Ontario: Roland Michener Trophy
- Organisations
- Geographic locations
- Alberta: Mount Michener
- Saskatchewan: Michener Drive – Regina
- Saskatchewan: Michener Crescent, Court, Place, Way – Saskatoon
- Newfoundland and Labrador: Michener Avenue – Mount Pearl
- Buildings
- Schools
- Alberta: Roland Michener Elementary, Calgary
- Slave Lake
- Ontario: Roland Michener Public School, Ajax
- Roland Michener Public School, Kanata
- Ontario: Roland Michener Secondary School, Timmins
- Saskatchewan: Roland Michener School, Saskatoon
Arms
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Archives
There is a Roland Michener fonds at Library and Archives Canada.[27]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d "The Michener Institute > About Michener > Biography of D. Roland Michener". The Michener Institute. 2007. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved March 11, 2009.
- ^ Privy Council Office (October 30, 2008). "Information Resources > Historical Alphabetical List since 1867 of Members of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada > M". Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved March 11, 2009.
- ^ a b "A History of the Campus and Its People > People in Queen's History > Chancellors since 1877 > The Rt Hon Daniel Roland Michener (1900–1991)". Queen's University. Archived from the original on March 27, 2009. Retrieved March 12, 2009.
- ^ Parker, C.W. (1914). Who's who in Canada: an illustrated biographical record of men and women of the time. Vol. 6–7. Toronto: International Press Limited. p. 960.
- ^ Canadian Press (1943-08-05). "Ontario Election Results". The Gazette. Montreal. p. 12.
- ^ Canadian Press (1945-06-05). "How Ontario Electors Voted in all 90 Ridings". The Toronto Daily Star. Toronto. p. 5. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
- ^ Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. "About the Department > Canadian Heads of Posts Abroad from 1880 > India". Queen's Printer for Canada. Archived from the original on March 22, 2012. Retrieved March 11, 2009.
- ^ Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. "About the Department > Canadian Heads of Posts Abroad from 1880 > Nepal". Queen's Printer for Canada. Archived from the original on March 22, 2012. Retrieved March 11, 2009.
- ^ Office of the Governor General of Canada. "Governor General > Former Governors General > The Right Honourable Daniel Roland Michener". Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved March 11, 2009.
- ^ "Canada Gazette volume 101, number 16, 22 April 1967". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
- ^ Milnes, Arthur (May 5, 2010). "Have we found our next Governor General?". Toronto Star. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
- ISBN 0-385-25662-0.
- ^ Quebec Bureau (July 24, 1967). "Quebec gives de Gaulle, warm reserved welcome". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. pp. 1, 10.
- ^ Robertson, Gordon; Memoirs of a Very Civil Servant; pp299-301
- ^ Off, Carol (September 24, 2010). "Archived copy". As it Happens. Season 42. Toronto. 35:30–44:50 minutes in. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on September 30, 2010. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
- ^ Order of Canada citation
- ^ "Mailbox". Royal Insight Magazine (April 2006). London: Queen's Printer: 3. Retrieved March 14, 2008.
- ^ a b Pepall, John (1 March 1990). "Who is the Governor General?". The Idler. Toronto. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
- ^ Delacourt, Susan (January 14, 1987), "Norah Michener: Philosopher enhanced Rideau Hall", The Globe and Mail, p. A17
- ^ Office of the Governor General of Canada. "Honours > Insignia Worn by the Governor General". Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved February 27, 2009.
- ^ Office of the Governor General of Canada. "Honours > Order of Canada". Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved February 27, 2009.
- ^ Office of the Governor General of Canada. "Honours > Order of Military Merit". Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved February 27, 2009.
- ^ a b c d "Arms of Past and Present Canadian Governors General > MICHENER, The Rt. Hon. Daniel Roland, CC, CD, FRHSC (Hon)". Royal Heraldry Society of Canada. Retrieved March 12, 2009.
- ^ Badraie Archived 2016-03-05 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "HONORARY DEGREES" (PDF). Queen's University. December 15, 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2009. Retrieved March 7, 2009.
- ^ "University of Alberta Senate > Honorary Degrees > Past Honorary Degree Recipients > M". University of Alberta. Archived from the original on May 27, 2011. Retrieved April 28, 2009.
- ^ "Finding aid to Roland Michener fonds, Library and Archives Canada" (PDF). Retrieved June 2, 2020.
External links
- Website of the Governor General of Canada entry for Roland Michener
- The Michener Awards Foundation
- The Michener Institute For Applied Health Sciences
- Order of Canada citation
- Daniel Roland Michener – Ontario Legislative Assembly parliamentary history (archive)
- Roland Michener – Parliament of Canada biography