CANADA | New Commissioner of Official Languages of Canada appointed

Kelly Burke took office as Canada’s eighth Commissioner of Official Languages on March 30, 2026.

Born and raised in Cornwall, Ontario, with both English and French roots, Kelly Burke embodies Canada’s linguistic duality, which she has worked to protect and promote since the start of her career.

Ms. Burke holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor in Education from Queen’s University, a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Ottawa and a Master of Laws from York University with a specialization in alternative dispute resolution. She has been a member of the Law Society of Ontario since 1996, and her career has combined strict legal standards, strategic leadership and an unwavering commitment to language rights.

She began her career as a French immersion teacher, which shaped her in-depth understanding of Canada’s linguistic realities. Since then, she has dedicated her expertise to promoting the French language, supporting the development of linguistic minority communities and strengthening Canada’s language policy.

An experienced bilingual lawyer and administrator, Ms. Burke has more than 25 years of experience in Ontario’s public service. In Toronto, she held a number of senior management positions at the Ministry of the Attorney General, where she advised the provincial government on employment, governance and French-language services. She also developed continuing education programs for legal professionals to improve access to justice in French.

From 2014 to 2019, Ms. Burke was the Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Administrative Officer in the Ministry of Francophone Affairs, where she co-chaired the Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie, helping to strengthen intergovernmental cooperation on official languages. From 2019 to 2020, she was the Assistant Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Colleges and Universities.

Ms. Burke then served as Ontario’s French Language Services Commissioner from 2020 to 2023 and was responsible for protecting and promoting the language rights of Franco-Ontarians. She also played an active role on the world stage as Vice Chair of the International Association of Language Commissioners.

Recognized for her strategic vision, her ability to engage in dialogue and her commitment to a truly bilingual Canada, Ms. Burke is approaching her new role with a focus on modernizing the language policy framework, strengthening public trust and making official languages a catalyst for unity, equity and vitality for all generations.

Kindly click here to access the Commissioner's Statement upon taking office.

Source: The Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages, Canada