Titles and Awards
The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean holds the following official titles: Member of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada (C.P.), Companion of the Order of Canada (C.C.), Commander of the Order of Military Merit (C.M.M.), Commander of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces (C.O.M.) and the Canadian Forces Decoration (C.D.).
On July 13, 2011, France elevates Ms. Jean to the dignified rank of the Grand Cross, the highest distinction granted by the order of the Legion of Honour, in recognition of "her acute awareness of the rights and freedoms that she defends on all fronts", her "deep sense of solidarity", "her unwavering courage to fight the injustices of this world", her "strong connection with France" and her "eminent contribution to Franco-Canadian friendship”.
On June 30, 2014, the country of Benin elevates Ms. Jean to the rank of Grand Cross of the National Order of Benin. On Aprils 14, 2015, Cameroon honours and decorates her with the distinction of Grand Officer of the Order of Valour of Cameroon. On June 17, 2016, the President of the Republic of Mali elevates in turn Michaëlle Jean to the honour of Grand Cross of the National Order of Mali, the country's highest distinction, as an expression of gratitude for the role of the Secretary General of La Francophonie in supporting Mali through its current crisis.
In 2003, the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie had highlighted her outstanding merit by naming her to the Ordre des Chevaliers de La Pléiade. The City of Montréal and the Ministère de l’Immigration et des relations avec les citoyens du Québec also made her an Honorary citizen.
In 2009, Michaëlle Jean was awarded the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) Canada Award for her outstanding contribution in advancing gender equality. That same year, she received the Board of Governors Recognition Achievement Award from the National Quality Institute for her contribution to the quality of life of Canadians, and humanity.
In 2011, the Universities Fighting World Hunger international network launched the Michaëlle Jean Award granted to students who have made a major contribution to combating hunger in an emergency relief situation.
On June 20, 2016, the President of Mali, HE Ibrahim Boubacar Kéïta, elevates Michaëlle Jean to the rank of Grand Cross of the National Order of Mali.
January 20, 2017, Michaëlle Jean is elevated to the rank of Grand Officer of the National Order of Niger by Prime Minister, Head of government, HE Brigi Rafini.
On March 20, 2017, in Côte d’Ivoire, Madame Jean is made Honorary citizen of the city of Abidjan by Mr. Robert Beugré Mambé, minister to the President of the Republic in charge of the VIIth Games of La Francophonie.
On September 14, 2018, Michaëlle Jean is honoured to be invested by the Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Zohrab MNATSAKANYAN, into the National Order of Armenia.
Honorary Doctorates
A number of universities have conferred honorary doctorates recognizing her commitments and accomplishments:
University of Ottawa (2006);
University of Foreigners of Perugia in Italy (2006);
McGill University (2006);
York University (2007);
University of Manitoba (2007);
University of Alberta (2008);
Université de Moncton (2009);
Université Laval (2009);
Royal Military College of Canada (2010);
Université de Montréal (2010), her alma mater;
University of Guelph (2011);
University of Calgary (2011);
The Law Society of Upper Canada (2012);
Carleton University (2012);
École normale supérieure de Lyon (2012);
DePaul University of Chicago (2013);
NorQuest College (2013);
Laurentian University (2014);
University of Yaounde I (2015);
University of Bangui (2017)
Dalhousie University (2019).