Signing of the Rebellion Losses Bill

Date: April 25, 1849 • Location: Longueuil, Canada

This milestone marked the outbreak and beginning of this historic period, which spanned 1849.

The governor general of Canada is the federal representative of the Canadian monarch, currently King Charles III. The monarch of Canada is also sovereign and head of state of 14 other Commonwealth realms and resides in the United Kingdom. The monarch, on the advice of his or her Canadian prime minister, appoints a governor general to administer the government of Canada in the monarch's name. The commission is for an indefinite period—known as serving at His Majesty's pleasure—but is usually for five years. Since 1959, it has also been traditional to alternate between francophone and anglophone officeholders. The 31st and current governor general is Louise Arbour, who was sworn in on 8 June 2026.