Jennie Carignan officially took command of the Canadian Armed Forces Thursday morning during a ceremony at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.
The lieutenant general was also promoted to the rank of general during the change of command ceremony.
Mme Carignan was selected by the federal government to become Canada’s first female chief of the defence staff.
She is no stranger to firsts, as she was also the first woman to command a combat unit in the Canadian military.
During her career, she was deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia and Syria.
For the past three years, she has served as chief professional conduct and culture officer, a position created following the 2021 sexual misconduct scandal.
“I feel ready, prepared and supported to take on this multifaceted challenge,” said Mme Carignan during the ceremony, alongside dignitaries including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Governor General Mary Simon.
“So I approach my mandate as Chief of the Defence Staff with confidence. Confidence in our team, in our partners and in Canadians. We have what it takes,” she said.
“As Chief of Staff, my expectations of you are simple: always do your best, stick together, work together, and be a positive influence in our institution, across the country, and around the world. My promise to you in return is to always do the same.”
His predecessor as chief of the defence staff, General Wayne Eyre, is due to retire from the Armed Forces later this summer after leading the military for about three years.
Mme Carignan thanked him for his “renewed sense of duty” that the forces were able to find under his leadership – and for the “well-marked path” that he left them.
Mr Eyre closed his term earlier in the ceremony with his own remarks.
“We know it’s time to go when most of the military platforms we served on are here in a museum,” he joked, drawing laughter from the audience.
Mr. Eyre said the circumstances under which he came into the job were “not ideal,” and recalled that Mr. Trudeau had described the situation he inherited as shitty.
The soldier thanked leaders for giving him the chance to serve and witness history in the highest position in the Canadian military.
“The security situation is not improving and we will continue to face multiple crises, often one on top of the other,” Eyre said, noting the significant threats that continue to be posed by the war in Ukraine and online disinformation.
“To play our part in the free world, we must be at our maximum capability and readiness, and by doing so, employ maximum deterrence to confront this threat.”
It will take the whole of government and the whole of society to support the military’s urgent mission, he said, to ensure that happens. General Carignan brings “very relevant experience” to her role, General Eyre said. “You are ready to take on this role that you fully deserve,” he told her.
After the official transfer of power, Mr. Trudeau thanked Mr. Eyre, saying he was “the right person to help lead Canada through incredibly difficult times.”
He greeted M.me Carignan as someone who is fully capable of taking over and stressed that she was the first woman to lead the army of a G20 country.
“You have demonstrated time and again your ability to lead with strength and flexibility,” Trudeau said. “You have shown tremendous agility, vision and courage.”