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From serving as a Supreme Court justice and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, to being appointed a Companion of the Order of Canada, the country’s highest honour, Louise Arbour has a long list of accomplishments. Now, she’s taking on a new role. <\/p>\n
Prime Minister Mark Carney named Arbour as Canada’s next governor general on Tuesday morning, praising her legal work both in Canada and on the international stage. <\/p>\n
“Her work matters in and of itself. It also tells us something about what Louise Arbour will bring to Rideau Hall,” Carney said. <\/p>\n
But long before Rideau Hall was on the horizon, Arbour’s home was in Montreal, where her impact and influence is still felt today. <\/p>\n
Arbour’s journey began at the Universit\u00e9 de Montr\u00e9al where she earned a law degree in 1970. <\/p>\n
“She really is an extraordinarily inspiring person,” said Daniel Jutras, the rector of the university, and a former colleague of Arbour’s. <\/p>\n
“She’s well known on our campus and I would say that the excitement is palpable today,” he told CBC on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
In addition to her work in human rights and international law over the years, Arbour has also taken on roles as a mentor and championed causes close to her heart. <\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1778061070_51_default.jpg\")
Louise Arbour, centre, is known in Montreal for her work with organizations like the Mobile Legal Clinic, which supports the unhoused. (Submitted by Donald Tremblay)<\/p>\n
In 2016, she became the ambassador of the Mobile Legal Clinic in Montreal, which offers support to people who are unhoused in the city. <\/p>\n
“She’ll always have a special place for people who are outside the norms of society, who are vulnerable, who are excluded, especially the homeless,” said Donald Tremblay, the director of the organization. <\/p>\n
Tremblay added that Arbour meets with students at the clinic every year, and often advises the organization on legal matters. <\/p>\n
“She’s not only someone who’s smart, intelligent, but who’s profoundly human and who takes time to give back to society,” he said.<\/p>\n
Legal community, francophone association welcome nomination <\/p>\n
Pascale Fournier describes Arbour as a “fearless” leader and kind mentor. <\/p>\n
Now a professor at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law, Fournier recalls meeting Arbour while working as a clerk at the Supreme Court of Canada in 2001. <\/p>\n
WATCH | ‘Very inspiring’: Montrealers react to Arbour’s appointment:![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1778061070_202_default.jpg\")
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‘Fearless’ Louise Arbour lauded in hometown Montreal after her governor general appointment<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Mark Carney has picked Louise Arbour to serve as Canada\u2019s next governor general, replacing the retiring Mary Simon. Arbour has a long legal resum\u00e9, having prosecuted war crimes for international criminal tribunals for Rwanda and Yugoslavia. She also served as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.<\/p>\n
“She would invite the law clerks and have these receptions,” she said, adding that Arbour made her feel as though they were the next generation of leaders.<\/p>\n
Arbour’s appointment as the country’s next governor general is a “moment of celebration,” she said. <\/p>\n
“It’s a big source of pride for the legal community, for the country as a whole,” she said. <\/p>\n
“She is known for taking positions that sometimes are not popular because we live in a world where injustice is present. So if we want justice to really be meaningful, it takes courage. It takes someone who is fearless.”<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1778061071_892_default.jpg\")
Louise Arbour, pictured first from the left in the back row, served as a Supreme Court justice from 1999 to 2004. (Submitted by Pascale Fournier)<\/p>\n
Former Montreal mayor Denis Coderre worked with Arbour. He says her appointment is a good move by Carney, in part due to her francophone background.<\/p>\n
“I had nothing against Madame Simon, but listen, I’m francophone, you notice the accent. So I think it’s important for me as a Quebecer, as a French Canadian to be represented,” he said.<\/p>\n
The appointment is good news for Liane Roy, the president of the F\u00e9d\u00e9ration des communaut\u00e9s francophones et acadienne du Canada, which represents French-speaking Canadians outside of Quebec. <\/p>\n
“It is important to reflect Canada’s values in both official languages,” Roy said. <\/p>\n
Retiring governor general Mary Simon<\/a>, the first Indigenous person in the role, faced criticism<\/a> for her lack of proficiency in French. <\/p>\n She speaks English and Inuktitut, but despite taking French lessons hasn\u2019t become fluent in that language.\u00a0<\/p>\n