New Commissioner of Official Languages Announced

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien today announced that the House of Commons and the Senate have approved the appointment of Dr. Dyane Adam as Commissioner of Official Languages. Dr. Adam is currently Principal of Glendon College, a bilingual post-secondary institution in Toronto.

"For many years, Dr. Dyane Adam has played a prominent role in the official languages field in Canada, and especially in Ontario," the Prime Minister said. "She has helped to found many provincial and regional organizations and a number of projects for Francophones and women across the country."

Dr. Adam is the first Francophone from outside Quebec to be Commissioner of Official Languages. She is also the first women to fill the position. The office of Commissioner has been held by Keith Spicer, Max Yalden, D'Iberville Fortier and Victor Goldbloom.

Dr. Adam holds a doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Ottawa. She has worked in the Ontario and Quebec health systems and has practised in various minority language communities. She is also a co-founder of the Réseau des chercheures féministes de l'Ontario français and a member of many organizations, including the Regroupement des universités de la francophonie hors-Québec. In addition, she has chaired the Advisory Committee on Francophone Affairs of the Ontario Ministry of Education and Training.

The appointment is effective on August 1, 1999. The current Commissioner, Dr. Victor Goldbloom, has agreed to continue in office until then.

PMO Press Office: (613) 957-5555