Manitoba Superior Court Chief Justice Glenn D. Joyal has been appointed as the newest member of the Supreme Court of Canada, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Monday. Joyal, a trilingual amateur playwright, brings deep Franco-Manitoban roots that connect him to Métis leader and Member of Parliament Louis Riel.
Background and Education
Joyal attended St. Paul's Jesuit High School in Winnipeg before earning a Bachelor of Arts at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver. He also studied at the Sorbonne in Paris and attended language and cultural schools in Italy. He obtained a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Manitoba, with a year at McGill University in Montreal, and a Master of Arts in political science from the University of Manitoba. In 1995, he began a Doctor of Philosophy program at Oxford University but was unable to complete it due to a family emergency and his obligations to the Federal Department of Justice.
Previous Application and Withdrawal
Joyal had applied for a Supreme Court position in 2017, but the news was leaked to the media, creating a scandal. He later confirmed to The Canadian Press that he withdrew his application due to his wife's health issues.
Languages and Talents
In addition to English and French, Joyal speaks Italian. He describes himself as an amateur playwright, with plays theatrically produced and published. His last staged play, "Les Lions et Leurs Ponts" (2005), explored themes of identity, community, inclusion, and survival. He has served on arts boards and councils, stating that his experience with the arts community has given him insight into Canadian diversity and the human condition.
Franco-Manitoban Heritage
Joyal's Franco-Manitoban roots extend back more than 200 years. His ancestors include Marie Anne Gaboury, the first woman of European descent to settle in what is now western Canada, and the maternal grandmother of Métis leader and Member of Parliament Louis Riel.
Vacancy on the Court
Joyal fills the vacancy left by Justice Sheilah Martin, who retired on May 30, a day before her 70th birthday and five years before the mandatory retirement age for Supreme Court justices.
