Sharon Johnston Explained
Sharon Johnston (born 1943) is a Canadian author who was the 55th viceregal consort of Canada, due to being the wife of David Johnston, the 28th Governor General of Canada.
Life and career
A native of Sault Ste. Marie, she completed her studies in physiotherapy and occupational therapy at the University of Toronto and received a BSc degree at the University of Western Ontario and an MSc degree at McGill University. She also graduated as a Doctor of Philosophy in rehabilitation science at McGill.[1] [2]
The Johnstons married in 1964 and were high school sweethearts.[3]
She began her medical career working for the Crippled Children's Centre in Toronto, now known as the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital.[4]
At the time of her husband's appointment as Governor General, she was taking a creative writing course at Humber College and writing a historical fiction novel.[4] [5] The novel, the first volume of a planned trilogy, was published by Dundurn Press as Matrons and Madams in April 2015.[6]
She operates a horse training centre,[7] Chatterbox Farm outside of Waterloo, Ontario, which she owns with her husband.[4] They have five daughters together, including Alex Johnston.[8]
Honours
- As the viceregal consort of Canada, she was styled Her Excellency while in office. She was invested ex officio as a Companion of the Order of Canada (CC) by Queen Elizabeth II on September 5, 2010, during an audience with Her Majesty at Balmoral Castle.[9] She was also appointed as a Dame of Justice of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem (DStJ) at the same time.[10]
- When she and her husband left office on October 2, 2017, their Order of Canada appointments were transferred to appointments as Extraordinary Companions.
- In 2012, she was awarded the Canadian version of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.[11]
- On April 18, 2018, she was given the Key to the City of Ottawa by Mayor of Ottawa Jim Watson.[12]
- On July 29, 2018, she was named an Alpha Gamma Delta Distinguished Citizen, one of their highest alumnae honours.
Ribbon bars of Sharon Johnston
| Ribbon | Description | Notes |
| Order of Canada (CC) | - Companion
(September 5, 2010)
- Extraordinary Companion
(October 2, 2017)[13]
|
| Order of St. John (DStJ) | - Dame of Justice
(September 5, 2010)
|
| | - Canadian version
(February 6, 2012)
| |
Honorary military appointments
June 6, 2016present: Honorary Captain of the Royal Canadian Navy, with responsibility for Military Personnel Command of the Canadian Armed Forces.[14] [15]
Honorary educational appointments
Sharon Johnston has been nominated to many voluntary educational roles, such as the board of Collège international Marie de France in Montreal, and Bishop's College School in Lennoxville, Quebec.
Honorary degrees
See also
External links
Notes and References
- http://newsrelease.uwaterloo.ca/news.php?id=1068 "David Johnston named UW president"
- News: November 28, 2012 . Media Advisory: Her Excellency Sharon Johnston to Give Keynote Address at the Third Edith Aston-McCrimmon Lecture Series at McGill University - Yahoo Finance . . February 10, 2014.
- http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/07/08/f-governor-general-david-johnston-profile.html "David Johnston: Lawyer, academic, Canada's next GG"
- https://montrealgazette.com/news/Wife+next+Governor+General+likes+write+shuns+spotlight+friends/3251917/story.html "Wife of next Governor General likes to write, but shuns the spotlight, say friends"
- News: July 8, 2010 . Next governor-general unveiled . . July 8, 2010 . July 10, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100710215651/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/next-governor-general-unveiled/article1632781/ . dead .
- https://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/books/of-matrons-madams-and-rideau-hall-traditions-sharon-johnston-talks-about-her-new-novel "Of Matrons, madams and Rideau Hall traditions: Sharon Johnston talks about her new novel"
- . canoe.ca, July 7, 2010.
- Web site: February 7, 2012 . Home - Office of the President . June 5, 2018.
- http://www.cbc.ca/politics/story/2010/09/05/gg-designate-meets-queen.html GG-designate visits Queen
- Web site: The Governor General of Canada . June 5, 2018.
- Web site: The Governor General of Canada . June 7, 2018.
- Web site: April 19, 2018 . The Right Honourable David Johnston and Mrs. Sharon Johnston receive the Key to the City . June 5, 2018 . ottawa.ca . June 13, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180613084549/https://ottawa.ca/en/news/right-honourable-david-johnston-and-mrs-sharon-johnston-receive-key-city . dead .
- Web site: The Governor General of Canada . June 7, 2018.
- Web site: Her Excellency Sharon Johnston . June 5, 2018 . forces.gc.ca. April 22, 2013 .
- Web site: June 6, 2016 . Her Excellency Sharon Johnston, CC - Honorary Captain (Navy) for Military Personnel Command - Biography . aem.
- Web site: Record of Honorary Doctorate Recipients . June 4, 2018 . www2.viu.ca.
- Web site: Sharon Johnston Receives Honorary Doctorate from Carleton University . June 5, 2018 . newsroom.carleton.ca . July 7, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170707100028/http://newsroom.carleton.ca/2016/06/07/sharon-johnston-receives-honorary-doctorate-carleton-university/ . dead .
- Web site: Honorary Degrees Awarded Since 1954 - Senate . June 5, 2018 . carleton.ca.
- Web site: University of Manitoba - University Governance - Sharon J. Johnston, LL.D., May 18, 2017 . June 5, 2018 . umanitoba.ca.
- Web site: Honorary Degrees Awarded, 1881 - Present . November 15, 2019 . University of Western Ontario.
- Web site: Honorary Degree Recipients . Nipissing University.
- Web site: Mount Allison University | Honorary degree recipients 21st century . mta.ca . August 7, 2020 . June 9, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210609232358/https://www.mta.ca/Community/Governance_and_admin/Governance/Board_of_Regents/Board_committees/Honorary_degrees/Honorary_degree_recipients_21st_century/Honorary_degree_recipients_21st_century/ . dead .
- Web site: David and Sharon Johnston to be presented honorary degrees. SooToday.com. June 3, 2021.
