Jennie Carignan named Canada’s 1st woman army chief

Canada made history on Wednesday by appointing a woman as the country’s top soldier for the first time, as part of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s ongoing effort to place women in the highest-ranking positions. Lieutenant-General Jennie Carignan, who has been leading efforts to eradicate entrenched sexism and misconduct in the armed forces, will assume the role of chief of the defense staff on July 18.

With a background as a military engineer, Carignan has commanded troops in Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iraq, and Syria over her 35-year military career.

Trudeau praised her in a statement, highlighting her exceptional leadership, commitment to excellence, and dedicated service as invaluable assets to the Armed Forces.

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Carignan Takes Helm Amid Defense Challenges and Gender Equality Push

Carignan takes over at a time when Canada is under pressure from allies to ramp up its defense spending. The armed forces are struggling to meet recruitment goals and have been slow to replace outdated equipment.

Last November the head of the navy said the service was in “a critical state” and might not be able to carry out its basic duties in 2024.

Trudeau, an avowed feminist, took office in late 2015 and has pursued policies designed to boost gender equality.

In 2018, he appointed Brenda Lucki as the first female head of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The last two governors general, the official representative of the British monarchy, have been women. Trudeau named them both.

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