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Alex Johnston (Canadian businesswoman)

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Alex Johnston
Alma mater
Occupations
  • Business executive
  • author
  • political staffer
Political partyOntario Liberal Party
Parents

Barbara Alexandra Johnston[1] is a Canadian lawyer, author, policy advisor, women's advocate, and businesswoman as well as the daughter of David Johnston, the former Governor General of Canada from 2010 to 2017.

Life and career

[edit]

Johnston was born to David Johnston, later the 28th Governor General of Canada, and his wife, Sharon.[2] She would spend her early years in Montreal, becoming bilingual in English and French.[2] Johnston attended Montreal's Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf and holds a BA in history as well as an LLB and a BCL from McGill University.[3]

Johnston practiced corporate and commercial law at Goodmans LLP before joining the office of former Ontario premier Dalton McGuinty, where she was executive director of policy between 2003 and 2011.[2][4][5] In that role, Johnston worked alongside Gerald Butts, McGuinty's principal secretary.[2] Between 2012 and 2015, Johnston ran the Canadian office of Catalyst Inc., a global non-profit advocating for the advancement of women in business.[6][7][8] In her role at Catalyst, Johnston highlighted the persistence of gender inequalities in the workplace, including gender pay gap in Canada that was double the global average.[5][9] In 2016, Johnston was appointed as the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's VP of strategy and public affairs.[2][6][5][10]

In 2021, Johnston published a book documenting her experiences overcoming infertility.[11][12][13] In the book, Johston advocates for a more effective and inclusive approach to addressing infertility in Canada, as an increase in the average Canadian child-bearing age has led to an increase in age-related infertility.[13][4]

Johnston is the CEO and a co-founder of 360 Concussion Care, a network of concussion treatment clinics.[14][13] Johnston is on the board of directors of Desjardins General Insurance Group and Bishop's College School, is the co-chair of the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada, and is on the advisory board for the Women's College Hospital Institute for Health Systems Solutions and Virtual Care.[15]

Arms

[edit]
Coat of arms of Alex Johnston
Adopted
September 24, 2010 (granted by the Canadian Heraldic Authority) [1]
Crest
A candle Argent enflamed and within a stand Or flanked by four closed books their spines palewise, two Gules and two Or, all set on a closed book bound Or its edge fesswise Argent
Escutcheon
Argent fretty Sable, on a pale Gules the Royal Crown between two open books Or
Motto
CONTEMPLARE MELIORA (Latin for “To envisage a better world” (literally “To envisage better things”))

References

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  1. ^ a b General, The Office of the Secretary to the Governor. "David Lloyd Johnston". reg.gg.ca. Archived from the original on March 22, 2025. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e McFarl, Janet (9 February 2016). "CBC appoints women's advocate Alex Johnston VP of strategy, public affairs". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  3. ^ "Alex Johnston • Catalyst". womenworthwatching.com. Archived from the original on March 23, 2025. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
  4. ^ a b Weikle, Brandie (11 May 2021). "Opinion | Trying for a baby? Pandemic delays in fertility treatment 'terrifying and devastating' for many women". thestar.com. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  5. ^ a b c Attfield, Paul (8 June 2016). "What other countries see as the top qualities of great leaders". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  6. ^ a b February 10, Julianna Cummins. "CBC names new VP of strategy, public affairs". Retrieved 25 March 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ "Les ressources expliqueraient le manque de femmes sur les C.A." Finance et Investissement (in French). 9 March 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  8. ^ Posadzki, Alexandra (8 March 2016). "Resource economy partly to blame for poor gender diversity on boards: CIBC CEO". CTVNews. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  9. ^ Beach, Mary (5 May 2015). "Gender pay gap in Canada more than twice global average, study shows". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  10. ^ February 10, Julianna Cummins. "CBC names new VP of strategy, public affairs". Retrieved 11 April 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ Johnston, Alex (4 May 2021). Inconceivable. Canada: Sutherland House. p. 152. ISBN 9781989555392. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  12. ^ Reisman, Heather; Johnston, Alex. "Alex Johnston on Facing Infertility". Well Said Podcast/Chapters. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  13. ^ a b c Johnston, Alex; Dixon, Marjorie (8 May 2022). "Opinion: Canadians are suffering in silence from infertility". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  14. ^ "Alex Johnston – Sutherland House Publishing". Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  15. ^ "The Right Honourable David Johnston - Canadian Club Toronto". www.canadianclub.org. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
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