Whit Grant Fraser (born November 26, 1942) is a Canadian journalist, broadcaster, and author who has served as the 56th viceregal consort of Canada from 2021 to 2026, as the husband of Governor General Mary Simon.Catharine Tunney and John Paul Tasker, "Inuk leader Mary Simon named Canada's 1st Indigenous governor-general" . CBC News, July 6, 2021.
Biography Born in Merigomish, Nova Scotia, and educated in Stellarton, Fraser began his career in journalism as a reporter for CKEC-FM in New Glasgow.Adam MacInnis, "'So many similarities': Pictou County man shares unique perspective of Canada’s north in new book" . SaltWire Network, October 17, 2018.
He joined CBC News in 1967 as a reporter in Frobisher Bay and later in Yellowknife. He covered topics such as land claims and oil and gas development in northern Canada. His coverage of the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Inquiry in the late 1970s expanded his national prominence, following which he worked for a number of years as a national reporter based in Ottawa and Edmonton.Tony Atherton, "Whit Fraser to host 6-hour CBC newscast". Ottawa Citizen, May 24, 1989. In 1989 he was one of the final contenders to replace Peter Downie as host of the network's noon-hour newscast Midday, but was not selected;"Prime Timer headed for the Baby Journal". Toronto Star, April 2, 1989. instead, he became host of This Country, a six-hour nightly program on the CBC's new all-news channel CBC Newsworld which covered regional news from across the country."Whit Fraser to host TV show". Vancouver Sun, May 24, 1989.
He left the CBC in 1991 when he was appointed by the federal government as chair of the Canadian Polar Commission, a new federal government agency devoted to territorial and Arctic issues."Former CBC journalist to chair polar panel". Edmonton Journal, September 17, 1991. He briefly returned to television with the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation in 1999 as cohost with Jonah Kelly of the special broadcast covering the formal creation of Nunavut.Jim Bell, "Whit Fraser’s big-hearted memoir looks back on 50 years of service" . Nunatsiaq News, January 9, 2019. He subsequently served as chief operating officer of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami in the 2000s.Sutton Eaves, "Inuit group angry at $5m budget cut". National Post, February 26, 2005.
In 2018, he published True North Rising, a memoir of his work in Arctic communities.
In 2021, he was appointed an ex-officio Extraordinary Companion of the Order of Canada by Queen Elizabeth II – a customary appointment for all modern viceregal consorts – and gained the temporary courtesy style of Excellency upon his wife's assumption of office as governor general.
In 2022, he published his second book, Cold Edge of Heaven, a historical fiction novel set in Dundas Harbour and based on some actual events.
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