Memories of a Governor General's Daughter

Janet Arnett is the former campus manager of adult education at Ontario’s Georgian College. She is the author of Antiques and Collectibles: Starting Small, The Grange at Knock, and 673 Ways to Save Money.

Roland Michener’s career included being a lawyer, politician, Speaker
for the House of Commons, High Commissioner to India, and
Governor-General of Canada. This is the story of life in the
Micheners’ home, as experienced by their eldest daughter, Joan.

From Joan’s childhood, home life was influenced by wealth and a
stress on education. Private schools and private summer camps, servants,
and lessons in music and proper manners make up her earliest memories.
Later, politics and public life dominated, and home life in Toronto’s
wealthy Rosedale area was replaced by life in official residences in
Ottawa and India and by summers at Kingsmere, the farm provided by the
Canadian government to the Speaker.

After Michener became Canada’s High Commissioner to India and Nepal
in 1964, Joan visited her parents in New Delhi, where she experienced
the rarefied life of a diplomatic household: armies of servants, garden
parties, a visit by Madame Gandhi, the excitement of a lizard in the
palace, etc.

The India period was followed by Michener’s appointment as
governor-general and a move to Rideau Hall. Memories of this era focus
on redecorating the official residence, formal receptions, and visits by
British royalty.

The format of the book is first-person notes by Joan, connected by
Heath’s narrative framework. This framework provides continuity and
bridges, as well as essential background. Joan stretches for the funny
story, the interesting anecdote; unfortunately, she often comes up
empty-handed.

Stylistically, the work is average—not great, but reasonably
readable. Good design, a generous number of watercolor illustrations,
and a sprinkling of quotes from Joan’s parents help the history go
down.