The Office of the Secretary to the Governor General is structured into three branches that report to the secretary as deputy head.
Responsibilities
The secretary acts as the senior advisor to the Governor General and is responsible for the management and operations of the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General. The secretary is also responsible for the viceregal program, and holds the titles and responsibilities of herald chancellor and secretary general of the Order of Canada.
Biography
One of nine children from a naval family originating in the Atlantic provinces, Mr. Wallace grew up in Halifax and Ottawa, studied the arts and business administration, and has focused much of his career on international affairs and public administration. His early work as a teacher, volunteer, diplomat and aid worker concentrated mainly on Africa and Central America. Mr. Wallace spent many years with the Canadian International Development Agency, where he managed several reconstruction programs and served as the vice-president of the Afghanistan Task Force. His public policy assignments included the Special Joint Committee of Parliament Reviewing Canadian Foreign Policy, as well as work on civil society with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. As a senior public servant, Mr. Wallace served as assistant secretary of government operations at the Treasury Board Secretariat, and most recently, as associate deputy minister for the Department of Canadian Heritage. He is a recipient of the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal. Stephen Wallace became secretary to the Governor General in February 2011.
Arms of Office of the Herald Chancellor
The position of herald chancellor is held by the secretary to the governor general, who is responsible for the administration of the entire viceregal office. The herald chancellor or the deputy herald chancellor issues the warrants permitting the chief herald to make grants or registrations of arms. They also sign each completed grant or registration document, along with the chief herald.
The red shield features a gold maple tree with its roots visible. As well as being a national emblem, the maple tree represents the predominant species of trees on the grounds of Rideau Hall, the official site of the Authority. The batons of office use the colours of the arms, and are decorated with shields of the arms of the Authority.
Responsibilities include the following:
- Policy, Planning and Protocol
- Events and Visitor Services
- Public Affairs
- Program Operations and Security
- Household Services
Biography
Before joining the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General, Patricia Jaton worked for five years at the Canada School of Public Service, holding various positions, including that of director general of the Language Training Centre. She was also director general of the Corporate Leadership Development Programs, where she led the design, development and delivery of new programs and courses for senior leaders, executives and high-potential employees in the Public Service of Canada, and for board members of crown corporations. Prior to this, Ms. Jaton worked at Health Canada for 12 years. She led the creation of several new services, including the Centre for Workplace Ethics, the Internal Disclosure Office and the Ombudsman Service. Although these three services were centralized in Ottawa, they were available to employees from across the country. Between 1989—when she began her career in the Public Service—and 2000, she worked in human resources and held a variety of positions within several departments. She studied education at the Université de Sherbrooke (Quebec) as well as organizational ethics at Carleton University. In 2008, she completed the Living Leadership - The Executive Excellence Program. She arrived at the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General in September 2011.
Responsibilities include the following:
Biography
Ms. Emmanuelle Sajous was born in France and spent her childhood in Moncton, New Brunswick. She holds a master's degree in public administration and a certificate in law. She also undertook doctoral studies in political sciences at l'Université Laval before joining the public service in 1992, as a management trainee. After working for a number of federal institutions including the Canadian Human Rights Commission and the Public Service Commission, she joined the Privy Council Office in 1999 where she became Director, Leadership Development and Human Resources policy. In 2005, she joined the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General where she was appointed Deputy Secretary of Honours and Deputy Herald Chancellor.
Coat of Arms
Responsibilities include the following:
- Strategic Management and Financial Services
- Administration and Human Resources Services
- Materiel Management
- Informatics Services
- Information Management
Biography
Born in Tripoli, Lebanon, Mr. Abdul-Nour speaks English, French and Arabic fluently. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science degree, as well as a degree in mechanical engineering, both from the University of Ottawa and obtained his accreditation as a professional engineer in 1990. In June 2003, Mr. Abdul-Nour was chosen to be a participant in the federal government’s Accelerated Executive Development Program (AEXDP) for his strong leadership potential, strategic thinking and, most importantly, high ethical standards and values. Previous assignments in the AEXDP have included chief audit executive of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police; director general of Commercial Acquisitions and Supply Management, at Public Works and Government Services Canada; chief information officer and director general of the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission; and senior director of Cost and Forensic Analysis, at Public Works and Government Services Canada. He also held senior positions in the private industry, mainly in engineering enterprises. Mr. Abdul-Nour became director general of OSGG Corporate Services in July 2011.