"No one who listened closely to Her Excellency's remarks that night could have missed the compassion and conviction in her voice when she spoke about meeting with young street people and women 'survivors' during a recent trip to Vancouver," said CCSA's Chief Executive Officer Michel Perron. "We were also touched by her praise for CCSA’s founder, Dr. H. David Archibald, for, as she put it, 'wanting to loosen the bonds of servitude forged by every kind of dependency'."

Michaëlle Jean was born in Port au Prince, Haiti and sought refuge in Canada with her family in 1968. By 1984, Madame Jean had received her Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees from the University of Montreal, and began working with battered women and children in shelters. She actively contributed to the establishment of a network of emergency shelters throughout Quebec and elsewhere in Canada and worked with various aid organizations to assist immigrant women and families. Her commitment to social advancement led Madame Jean to a career as an award-winning journalist. Michaëlle Jean became Canada’s 27th governor general in September 2005. 

CCSA has enjoyed the patronage of Rideau Hall during three previous mandates, beginning in 1992 when Her Excellency Gerda Hnatyshyn, wife of then Governor General, the late Ray Hnatyshyn, kindly agreed to present CCSA's annual Award of Distinction in the stately Ballroom at Rideau Hall.

CCSA is honoured that Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean is continuing to support CCSA's mission to provide national leadership and evidence-informed analysis and advice to mobilize collaborative efforts in Canada to reduce alcohol- and other drug-related harms.