Famous Canadian Immigrant Adrienne Clarkson
Adrienne Clarkson, Canada's first immigrant Governor General was born in Honkong.
Clarkson is of Taishan, Guangdong, China ancestry and was born in Hong Kong in 1939.
Adrienne Clarkson came to Canada as an immigrant/refugee with her family, during the war in 1942.
She was born into the Hong Kong elite and lived in a house filled with servants. When the family came to Canada their surroundings were not that glamorous but they were not poor either.
She obtained an Honours B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from the University of Toronto. She also did post-graduate work at the Sorbonne in France and adrienne is fluently bilingual.
A leading figure in Canada's cultural life, Adrienne Clarkson had a rich and distinguished career in broadcasting, journalism, the arts and the public service.
In 1963, she married Stephen Clarkson, a University of Toronto political science professor, and they had three daughters, one of whom died at the age of 9 months. The couple divorced in 1975.
Adrienne is a well known figure in broadcasting, hosting and producing shows for the CBC between 1964-1982. She also was a regular contributor to magazines like Maclean's and Chatelaine.
She wrote and published novels: A Lover More Condoling, Hunger Trace, and True to You in My Fashion.
Clarkson hosted The Fifth Estate TV program from 1975 till 1983.
As one of Canada's best-known media personalities, she has hosted more than 3500 television programs.
Adrienne married philosopher John Ralston Saul on 31 July 1999.
She was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1992, and was the 26th Governor General of Canada from October 7, 1999 to September 27, 2005.
