27 Facts About Roland Michener

Roland Michener acquired a university degree, then attended the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar.

Roland Michener was elected to the House of Commons in 1953, where he served as speaker from 1957 until 1962, and then served in diplomatic postings between 1964 and 1967.

Roland Michener proved to be a populist governor general whose tenure is considered to be a key turning point in the history of his office.

On October 15,1962, Roland Michener was sworn into the Queen's Privy Council for Canada.

Roland Michener then served on the boards of various corporations and charities and sat as Chancellor of Queen's University.

Daniel Roland Michener was born in Lacombe, Alberta, to Senator Edward Michener and Mary E Roland.

Roland Michener attended the University of Alberta, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Rhodes Scholarship that took him to Hertford College at the University of Oxford.

On February 26,1927, in St Mary Magdalene Anglican Church, Roland Michener married Norah Willis; the couple had three daughters.

Roland Michener first ran for political office in Ontario's 1943 election as the Progressive Conservative candidate in the riding of St David, but was defeated by William Dennison of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation.

Roland Michener ran in St David again in the 1945 election and defeated Dennison this time Roland Michener was then appointed to Premier George Drew's cabinet as provincial secretary and registrar of Ontario, being responsible for formalizing cabinet procedures, including agenda and minutes.

Roland Michener then tried to enter federal politics in the 1949 election but was unsuccessful.

Roland Michener tried again in the election of 1953 and was elected in the riding of St Paul's.

Roland Michener was appointed speaker of the House of Commons, after the post was turned down by Stanley Knowles.

Roland Michener returned to Toronto and dedicated his time to his law practice, Lang Roland Michener LLP.

Six months later Roland Michener became Canada's first ambassador to Nepal.

Roland Michener was immediately recalled from India and, on March 29,1967, Queen Elizabeth II appointed Roland Michener as the Governor General on Pearson's advice.

Only ten days after Roland Michener was made viceroy, he opened Expo 67 in Montreal.

The exposition, held on the 100th anniversary of Confederation, attracted fifty-three heads of state and numerous other dignitaries; as the representative of Canada's head of state, Roland Michener greeted and held audience with each of them.

Roland Michener welcomed de Gaulle when he landed at his first stop in Canada, Quebec City, and was present when the French president declared "Vive le Quebec libre" to a crowd at Montreal City Hall.

In 2010, in interviews with Jacques Lanctot, Jacques Rose, and other involved in the kidnappings, done for a documentary aired on Tout le monde en parle, it was revealed that Roland Michener had been the FLQ's intended target; it was alleged that the FLQ leaders planned to commandeer the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's Television de Radio-Canada and conduct a 24-hour telethon with the Governor General bound in a chair as a prop on the stage.

On July 1,1967, the Order of Canada was created, and Roland Michener became the order's first member, as well as the first chancellor and principal companion.

On July 1,1972, the Order of Military Merit was founded and Roland Michener was appointed the first Chancellor and Commander.

Roland Michener fostered links between his position and those of the lieutenant-governors of the provinces by holding periodic meetings with them, starting in 1973.

Roland Michener was criticized for not reacting to Pierre Trudeau's "contemptuous musings" about the Crown and the governor general.

In return, besides being bestowed with a number of honours by both the Queen-in-Council and private organizations, Roland Michener became the second of only two Canadians, after former governor general Vincent Massey, to be presented with the Royal Victorian Chain, a personal gift of the monarch, awarded to him by Queen Elizabeth II for his service.

Roland Michener remained active in business throughout the country; he sat on boards of directors and promoted Canadian charities and cultural institutions.

Roland Michener died in Toronto on January 12,1987, and Michener followed on August 6,1991.