Roland Michener was appointed Governor General of Canada on April 4, 1967, just months before Canada celebrated its 100th birthday. He was the right person for the time, for Canadian society was changing.Michener succeeded in making the Office of Governor General more accessible and more modern.
Michener was a graduate of the University of Alberta and a Rhodes scholar at Oxford, where he got his law degree. He practised law in Toronto from 1924. In 1945, he entered provincial politics and was a cabinet minister in the Ontario government (1946-48). He entered federal politics in 1953, and was Speaker of the House from 1957-62. He was defeated in the 1962 election, and Prime Minister Pearson appointed him Canadian High Commissioner to India in 1964. Pearson named him Governor General in 1967.
Michener and his wife, Her Excellency Mrs. Norah Michener, immediately involved themselves with Canada's centenary celebrations. In 1967, the Order of Canada was created, and Michener was made its Chancellor. In 1972, the Order of Military Merit was instituted for the Canadian military, with Governor General Michener as first Chancellor. In addition, Michener participated in a number of visits by foreign heads of state, including three Royal Visits. On behalf of Canada, the Micheners travelled abroad to the United States, the Caribbean, Iran, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands.
The Micheners set an energetic pace. Michener's own belief that physical fitness is an important part of a balanced life inspired many Canadians. In addition to jogging two miles a day, the Governor General curled, swam, and played tennis. As Governor General, he also promoted national unity and took his role as Chief Scout of the Boy Scouts of Canada very seriously.
Michener retired in 1974 after accepting two extensions to his term. In 1979, a mountain in the Canadian Rockies was named for him. He climbed the last 1500 feet to the summit of the mountain in 1982. He was 82 at the time.
