TORONTO — A woman has become the top commander of Canada’s armed forces for the first time.
General Jennie Carignan officially assumed command of the Canadian Armed Forces at a ceremony at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa on Thursday.
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Carignan is the first woman to lead the armed forces of any Group of 20 or Group of Seven country.
“This could create a model and a change in terms of what is possible for women,” Carignan said. “It’s a big step forward. It’s the result of many, many years in the Canadian Forces.”
Carignan was promoted to the rank of general during the change of command ceremony after being chosen by the Trudeau government to become Canada’s first female defense chief.
Trudeau called it a historic day and praised Carignan as someone of the right caliber to take the helm. He named her to the role earlier this month.
“You are the first woman to become Chief of Defense Staff in Canada, the first in the G7 and G20. You are a role model for all Canadians and the world,” Trudeau said during the ceremony.
In 2018, Trudeau appointed the first female chief of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and his cabinet has been 50% female since taking office in 2015.
Carignan is no stranger to new developments. She was also the first woman to command a combat unit in the Canadian military, and her career included tours in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia and Syria.
For the past three years, she has been head of professional conduct and culture, a role created as a result of the 2021 sexual misconduct scandal.
Carignan called the promotion a natural step and said she is grateful.
“I’m ready for it. I worked all this time,” she said.
She said her top priorities include recruitment and retention.
The appointment comes as Canada continues to face criticism from NATO allies for not spending 2% of its gross domestic product on defence. The Canadian government recently said it would achieve its NATO commitment by 2032, but specific details have not yet been provided.
