Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership
Female Heads of State of Canada (Female Suffrage 1918)  Dominion 1867, Fully independent 1931, Constitutional Monarchy

The act from 1947 respecting the office of Governor General provide that, should the Governor General die, become incapacitated or be absent from the country for a period of more than one month, the Chief Justice or, if that office is vacant, the senior Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court, would become the Administrator of Canada and exercise all the powers and duties of the Governor General.

1837-1901 Queen Victoria

1952- Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom, Canada and Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith/Elizabeth Deux, par la grâce de Dieu, Reine du Royaume-Uni, du Canada et de ses autres royaumes et territoires, Chef du Commonwealth, Défenseur de la Foi.

1984-90 24th Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada The Rt. Hon. Jeanne Mathilde Benoit Sauvé, Ph.D
She was Minister of State of Science 1972, 1974-75 Minister of Environment, 1975-79 Minister of Communication and Culture and 1980-84 Speaker of the House of Commons. She lived (1922-93).

1982-2002 Deputy of the Governor General Hon. Madame Justice Bertha Wilson
She lived (1927-2007).

1987-2002 Deputy of the Governor General Hon. Madame Justice Claire Heureux-Dubé
Supreme Court Judge in the priod. (b. 1927-).

1999-2005 26th Governor General and Commander-in-Chief Adrienne Clarkeson

1999-2004 Deputy of the Governor General Hon. Madame Justice Louise Arbour
As Supreme Court Judge in the same period. Former chief UN war crimes prosecutor and from United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

1989-2000 Deputy of the Governor General
2000- 1. Deputy to the Governor General, Chief Justice of Canada Rt. Hon. Beverly McLaughlin
2005 Administrator of the Government
Judge in the Supreme Court from 1989. Took over the Vice-Regal duties in 2005 when Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson, was hospitalized to have a pacemaker installed

2002-12 Deputy of the Governor General Madame Justice Hon. Marie Deschamps
Supreme Court Judge from the same year.

2004- Deputy of the Governor General Madame Justice Rosalie Abella

2004-11 Deputy of the Governor General Madame Justice Louise Charron

2005-10 27th Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief Michaëlle Jean
She is daughter of Haitian immigrants who fled the Duvalier regime in 1968, former university literature professor, social activist and veteran CBC broadcaster from Quebec (b. 1957-).

2007- Deputy of the Governor General Sheila-Marie Cook
Secretary of the Governor-General and Herald Chancellor from 2006.

2017 - Julie Payette, Governor General

Last update 03.10.13