On Wednesday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the historic appointment of Lt-Gen Jennie Carignan as the first woman to lead the military of the G7 and NATO member nation. Carignan, a highly decorated soldier and mother of four—two of whom serve in the Canadian Armed Forces—will be promoted to the rank of general. She will succeed the retiring General Wayne Eyre as Chief of the Defense Staff in a ceremony on July 18.
“I am confident that, as Canada’s new Chief of the Defence Staff, she will help Canada be stronger, more secure, and ready to tackle global security challenges,” Prime Minister Trudeau stated.
During a press conference in Montreal, Trudeau emphasized that Carignan’s leadership comes at a crucial time characterized by “complicated geopolitics and increased threats.” Additionally, the Canadian Armed Forces are addressing significant internal challenges, including a toxic culture identified in a 2022 external report as “hostile to women… (and) conducive to more serious incidents of sexual harassment and assault.”
