The Right Honourable David Johnston was Canada’s 28th Governor General (2010-17). In 2018, he was appointed Colonel to the Royal Canadian Regiment. Prior to his installation as Governor General, Mr. Johnston was a professor of law for 45 years, and served as President of the University of Waterloo for two terms, and Principal of McGill University for three terms. He was President of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada and of the Conférence des recteurs et des principaux des universités du Québec. He was the first non-U.S. citizen to be elected Chair at Harvard University’s Board of Overseers, from which he graduated in 1963 magna cum laude, was twice named all-American in hockey, and was named to Harvard’s Athletic Hall of Fame.
He holds degrees from Harvard University, Cambridge University, and Queen’s University and has received more than three dozen honorary degrees or fellowships. He has authored or co-authored more than 30 books. He was named Companion of the Order of Canada in 1997. He has chaired or served on many provincial and federal task forces and committees, has served on the boards of more than a dozen public companies, and is currently serving as the Leaders’ Debates Commissioner, a role from which he will step down to serve as Independent Special Rapporteur.