Georges Vanier (1888–1967): soldier, diplomat and Governor General

BIOGRAPHY

The bilingual soldier who gave 772 Squadron its name

Georges Philias Vanier (1888–1967) was the first French Canadian to become Governor General of Canada, serving from 1959 until his death in 1967. A founding officer of the 22nd Battalion, he lost a leg in battle in 1918 before going on to a long career as a diplomat.

Raised in both French and English, he made national unity the great theme of his time in office. That is why Trois-Rivières' 772 Squadron, declared a bilingual squadron when it was founded in 1967, bears his name.

A bilingual childhood in Montreal (1888–1914)

Georges Vanier was born in Montreal on April 23, 1888. His father, Philias Vanier, was of Norman descent; his mother, Margaret Maloney, was of Irish origin. They raised him in both languages, a background that would shape his whole life.

He studied at Montreal's Loyola College, graduating in 1906, then law at the Montreal branch of Université Laval. He was called to the Quebec bar in 1911.

The 22nd Battalion and the Great War (1914–1918)

When the First World War broke out, Georges Vanier was one of the founding officers of the 22nd (French Canadian) Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, which became the Royal 22^e Régiment in 1920. He fought at the St. Eloi Craters in 1916 and at Vimy Ridge in 1917, and received the Military Cross in 1916.

On August 28, 1918, during the Hundred Days, the offensive that would end the war, he was badly wounded by a shell near the village of Chérisy, France, and his right leg had to be amputated. After convalescing, he refused to go home: "I simply cannot go back to Canada while my comrades are still in the trenches in France." In 1919, he received the Distinguished Service Order and a Bar to his Military Cross.

Soldier and diplomat (1919–1953)

In 1921, he became aide-de-camp to the Governor General, Lord Byng of Vimy, and married Pauline Archer. The couple had five children. In the mid-1920s, he commanded the Royal 22^e Régiment at the Citadelle of Québec.

His diplomatic career began in 1928 with Canada's military delegation to the League of Nations. From 1931 to 1938, he served at the Canadian High Commission in London. Appointed Canada's minister to France in 1939, he had to flee the country during the German invasion of 1940.

Back in Canada, he commanded the Québec military district in 1941 and was promoted to major-general in 1942. In 1943, he returned to London as minister to the Allied governments in exile. From 1944 to 1953, he was Canada's first ambassador to France.

Governor General (1959–1967)

On September 15, 1959, at the age of 71, Georges Vanier was installed as Governor General of Canada, the first French Canadian and the first Quebecer to hold the office.

In a country shaken by rising Quebec nationalism, he made Canadian unity the guiding thread of his time in office. He gave his speeches in French and English and had a bilingual sign installed at the gates of Rideau Hall. According to Veterans Affairs Canada, he made 131 tours of the country and gave more than 500 speeches.

Young people and families were close to his heart. As Chief Scout of Canada, he created the Vanier Cup for university football in 1965, as well as awards for outstanding young Canadians. In 1964, he convened the Canadian Conference on the Family, which gave rise to the Vanier Institute of the Family.

Georges Vanier died in office in Ottawa on March 5, 1967. He is buried at the Citadelle of Québec, alongside the regiment he helped found.

Why 772 Squadron bears his name

772 Squadron in Trois-Rivières was founded on June 28, 1967, less than four months after the Governor General's death. When it received its charter from the Air Cadet League of Canada, it was declared a bilingual squadron, a first in the country according to Le Nouvelliste. It was named after Georges Vanier, whom the newspaper described in 1991 as the man then regarded as the most perfectly bilingual person in Canada.

Nearly 60 years later, the squadron still bears the name "Vanier". In Trois-Rivières, rue du Général-Vanier, in the Cap-de-la-Madeleine sector, also honours his memory.

Key dates

April 23, 1888 – Born in Montreal.
1911 – Called to the Quebec bar.
1914 – Founding officer of the 22nd (French Canadian) Battalion.
1916 – Military Cross.
August 28, 1918 – Wounded at Chérisy, France; his right leg is amputated.
1921 – Aide-de-camp to Lord Byng; marries Pauline Archer.
1939–1940 – Canada's minister to France.
1942 – Promoted to major-general.
1944–1953 – Canada's first ambassador to France.
September 15, 1959 – Installed as Governor General, the first French Canadian in the office.
1964 – Canadian Conference on the Family, which led to the Vanier Institute of the Family.
1965 – Creation of the Vanier Cup.
March 5, 1967 – Dies in office in Ottawa; buried at the Citadelle of Québec.
June 28, 1967 – 772 Vanier Squadron is founded in Trois-Rivières.