Michaelle Jean, an award-winning journalist who immigrated to Quebec as a child, was appointed to replace Adrienne Clarkson as the new Governor-General of Canada, Prime Minister Paul Martin announced on Thursday morning.

"Today, it is my great pleasure to announce that Her Majesty the Queen has graciously approved the appointment of Madame Michaelle Jean as the next Governor General of Canada," Martin said at a news conference at the Parliament Hill.

To be officially installed on Sept. 27, Jean, 48 years old, will become one of the youngest governors general ever, the third woman in the job and the first black person to call Rideau Hall home.

Jean's name surfaced after weeks of rumors about who would be replacing the current Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson, who took up the post in 1999 and is stepping down this fall.

Jean, who has a six-year-old daughter with filmmaker Jean- Daniel Lafond, has worked for CBC and Radio-Canada since 1988. She is currently the host of the Newsworld documentary series, "The Passionate Eye." She has received many awards for her documentary work, including the Amnesty International Journalism Award.

Source: Xinhua