EPISODE · Mar 20, 2026 · 32 MIN

The Governors General

from Witness to Yesterday (The Champlain Society Podcast on Canadian History) · host The Champlain Society

Often misunderstood or even unrecognized, Canada’s governors general are not merely heads of state; they are amongst the great constitutional curiosities of our age. In this delightful and often whimsical account of the Canadians who have held this post since 1952, journalist and author John Fraser explains the successful, if illogical, evolution of the institution and engages readers with the hilarious foibles, moving triumphs, and sombre tragedies of the men and women who have been chosen to represent the Sovereign in Canada. John Fraser is a Canadian journalist, writer, and academic, and is the founding president of the Institute of the Study of the Crown in Canada. He was the editor of Saturday Night magazine, columnist, China correspondent, Ottawa bureau chief, and London correspondent for The Globe and Mail. He is the recipient of multiple national journalism awards and was chair of the Canadian Journalism Foundation until 2008. John served as Master of Massey College from 1995 until his retirement in 2014. He is the author of several best-selling books. If you like our work, please consider supporting it: bit.ly/support_WTY. Your support contributes to the Champlain Society’s mission of opening new windows to directly explore and experience Canada’s past. Image Credit: Sutherland House