Patron

We are honoured that Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, granted viceregal patronage to MediaSmarts in September 2023.

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, 
Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada,


Photo credit, Sgt Johanie Maheu, Rideau Hall © OSGG-BSGG, 2021 

As Canada’s leading digital media literacy organization, MediaSmarts believes that education is the key to innovation, economic growth and engaged citizenship in the digital age. We are honoured that Her Excellency supports our vision that all people in Canada have the critical thinking skills to engage with media as active and informed digital citizens.  

The Governor General has focused her efforts on reconciliation, which is a way of life and which does not have an end date. MediaSmarts recognizes the importance of reconciliation and we strive to ground our work in care and reciprocity. This includes being in a constant state of learning—especially when it comes to understanding the digital well-being and experiences of Indigenous peoples and communities across Canada. We commit to creating and maintaining respectful processes and relationships that recognize and seek to address power imbalances across the digital media literacy landscape.  

As a champion for youth and education and diversity and inclusion, Her Excellency is an inspiring role model for all Canadians.  

MediaSmarts has been privileged to have Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston and His Excellency the Right Honourable Roméo Leblanc as our previous viceregal patrons. 

For more information on the Governor General of Canada, visit www.gg.ca.