David Johnston: Lawyer, academic, Canada's next GG
Last Updated: Thursday, July 8, 2010 | 1:23 PM ET Comments3Recommend7
CBC News
David Johnston, Canada's next governor general, is seen arriving in Ottawa. (Chris Wattie/Reuters) David Johnston, a highly regarded academic and lawyer renowned for his keen intellect, has been named Canada's governor general-designate.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper praised Johnston, saying he "represents the best of Canada." Johnston is the president and vice-chancellor of University of Waterloo.
Johnston, 69, will succeed Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean when her term ends Oct. 1.
Born: June 28, 1941, in Sudbury, Ont.
Education:
- Harvard University, A.B. (1963) - studied government and international relations.
- Cambridge University, LL.B (1965).
- Queen's University, LL.B (1966).
Family: Johnston married his high school sweetheart Sharon in 1965. The couple reside at Chatterbox Farm in Heidelberg, Ont. They have five daughters — Deborah, Alexandra, Sharon, Jenifer and Catherine — and seven grandchildren.
Career (academic):
- President and vice-chancellor, University of Waterloo (1999-2010).
- Professor, faculty of law, McGill University (1994-1999).
- Principal and vice-chancellor, professor of law, McGill University (1979-94).
- Dean and professor, University of Western Ontario (1974-79).
- Professor, faculty of law, University of Toronto (1968-74).
- Professor, faculty of law, Queen's University (1966-68).
Government service:
- Independent adviser to the Mulroney-Schreiber task force (2007 - 2008).
- Founding chair of the National Round Table on Environment and the Economy (1988-1991).
- Chair of the National Task Force on High Speed Broadband Access (2000-2001).
- Chair of Referendum on Quebec in Canada (1995).
- Moderated federal leaders debates (1979, 1984).
Distinctions:
Companion, Order of Canada (1998) - "His name is synonymous with leadership. After serving an exceptional fifteen-year term as Principal and Vice-Chancellor of McGill University, he turned his considerable talents to the chairmanship of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research. Always open to new challenges and change, he headed the Information Highway Advisory Council, to ensure a place for Canadians in the evolving world of communications. He also co-chaired the successful 1996 United Way campaign for Greater Montreal and was elected the first non-American President of the Board of Overseers of Harvard University. This is a promotion within the Order."
David Johnston, Canada’s governor general-designate, meets the Queen alongside Prime Minister Stephen Harper during a dinner held in her honour in Toronto on July 5, 2010. (Prime Minister's Office) Officer, Order of Canada (1988) -"His administrative and leadership abilities as Principal and Vice-Chancellor of McGill University and as President of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada have been outstanding, and his expertise in the fields of securities regulations, corporation law and labour law is invaluable to the many committees in which he participates. He is highly regarded by his colleagues in the law profession, students, faculty and all for and with whom he serves."
Honorary degrees from: McMaster University, McGill University, University of Victoria, Algoma University College, University of Montreal, The University of Western Ontario, Queen's University, University of British Columbia, Memorial University, Bishop's University, University of Toronto, Law Society of Upper Canada, Doctor of Divinity, Montreal Theological College.
Books:
- Cases and Materials on Corporate Finance and Securities Law (1967).
- Computers and Law (1968).
- Cases and Materials on Company Law (1969).
- Cases and Materials on Securities Law (1971).
- Business Associations (1979).
- Canadian Companies an the Stock Exchange (1980).
- Canadian Securities Regulation (1982, 2003, 2006).
- Partnerships and Canadian Business Corporations Vols. 1 and 2 (1983, 1989, 1992).
- If Quebec Goes … The Real Cost of Separation (1995).
- Getting Canada On-line: Understanding the Information Highway (1995).
- Cyberlaw (1997).
- Communications in Law in Canada (2000).
- Halsbury's Law of Canada (2007).
Trivia: A hockey star while studying at Harvard, Johnston was twice named to the All-American Hockey Team and named a member of the Harvard Athletic Hall of Fame.
Johnston was reportedly the model for the character Davey Johnston — the Harvard hockey captain — in Erich Segal's Love Story. Johnston and Segal, while studying at Harvard, would go running together.
A prolific writer, Johnston has been nicknamed "Grandpa Book" by his grandchildren for his bookworm tendencies.
In his resume he includes running, hockey, skiing (cross-country and downhill) as his recreational hobbies.
What others say about Johnston:
"He believes in the nobility of public life and could easily have been prime minister himself." — Robert Prichard, former dean of law and then president of the University of Toronto (Toronto Star 2007)
"He has had a track record of accomplishment and success in everything he has done. He was a well-known and highly successful legal scholar and educator. A lot of his work was in commercial law. He understands very well how business works. He was an outstanding university administrator [and] led two of our great institutions — McGill and Waterloo — [for] a total of about 25 years in those roles. He has made important contributions to Canadian public policy and public service. He has a great understanding of who Canadians are, what makes Canada work, what this great country is all about, our values and our institutions." — Red Wilson, chancellor of McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont., to CBC News
"David Johnston represents the best of Canada. He represents hard work, dedication, public service and humility. I am confident he will continue to embody these traits in his new role as the Crown's representative in Canada." — Prime Minister Stephen Harper in a release announcing the new governor general-designate.
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