The Governor General has been appointed Honorary Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard.

Mary Simon was officially appointed during a ceremony in St. John’s this morning.

Simon says she is honoured to accept the position and commends the Coast Guard for the work they do.

“All of you save lives, protect our marine environment and play a vital role in search and rescue operations,” she said. “For me, coming from the north, I know how important that is and can be.”