Adrienne Clarkson calls it a sign of Canadian evolution.

She's the first immigrant to be named Canada's governor general.

The 60-year-old Clarkson was born in Hong Kong in 1939, but came to Canada as a refugee with her family in 1942.

She says she remembers a cold and snowy Ottawa with "white people" everywhere.

Clarkson says the country has evolved since then, when minorities were much less visible.

Ms. Clarkson says Prime Minister Jean Chretien approached her ``early in the summer'' about replacing Governor-General Romeo LeBlanc, who had asked to step down.

She says she plans to play an active, yet sensible role in Canadian unity.

For example, Clarkson says, she and her husband, author John Ralston Saul, plan to use the governor general's Quebec City residence, the Citadel, more often.

Clarkson says it's important people remember how Canada was founded on two languages along with native peoples.

Clarkson, who currently heads the board of the Canadian Museum of Civilization, officially replaces Romeo LeBlanc on Oct. 7.

LeBlanc, who will be 72 in December, was appointed in 1995.

"I am very humbled by the idea of serving beyond, really, what I could ever have expected to do for my country," said Clarkson. "I will do my best to live up to that and to give the best of myself to it."

"Madame Clarkson is admired and respected across Canada, a remarkable Canadian of strong intellect, a profound sense of personal integrity, warmth and humanity," Chretien said.

"Most important of all, she is a person who loves her adopted country and its people. Her appointment is a reflection of the diversity and inclusiveness of our society, an indication of how our country has matured over the years.''

Clarkson, who lives in Toronto, is best known for her career with CBC-TV, where she was a high-profile interviewer and host for three decades.

The Governor General, the legal head of the Canadian state, makes more than 300 public appearances a year .

2. Who says the country has evolved since then, when minorities were much less visible?