Vanier, Georges-Philias, << va NYAY, zhawrzh FIHL ee uhs >> (1888-1967), served as governor general of Canada from 1959 to 1967. He was the first French Canadian and the first Roman Catholic to hold the office, which represents the British monarch in Canada. During his term, an independence movement in Quebec gained strength. Vanier worked for national unity and respect for Canadians’ diverse ethnic backgrounds. His name is also spelled Georges-Phileas Vanier.
Vanier was born on April 23, 1888, in Montreal, Quebec. He earned his law degree at Laval University in Quebec, and then practiced law for a few years before joining the Canadian Army. He served in Europe during World War I (1914-1918), where he lost a leg fighting in France. During World War II (1939-1945), Vanier held several posts in the Canadian government and military. He eventually reached the rank of major general. From 1944 to 1953, he was Canada’s ambassador to France. He died on March 5, 1967.
