November 30, 2014 - 9:29 AM
DAKAR, Senegal - A sketch of Michaelle Jean, who was named head of la Francophonie on Sunday:
Born — Sept. 6, 1957, in Haiti.
Canada — Moves to Quebec in 1968 as her family flee the regime of Haitian President Francois Duvalier.
Journalism — Works at Radio-Canada between 1988 and 2005.
Politics — Serves as governor general between 2005 and 2010.
UN — Named special envoy to Haiti for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2010.
University — Has been chancellor of the University of Ottawa since 2012.
Languages — Speaks French, English, Italian, Spanish and Creole.
Personal — Married to filmmaker Jean-Daniel Lafond. They have one daughter, Marie-Eden
Quote — "We are fully committed to Canada.'' Jean on Aug. 17, 2005 (about two weeks after it was announced she would become governor general) amid controversy she and Lafond supported Quebec independence.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2014