Georges Vanier became Governor General of Canada on September 15, 1959. His years in office were unusually turbulent and unsettling but his obvious interest in the poor and the humble, in the problems of young people and in the condition of the family won him the admiration and affection of Canadians.
In 1964, Pauline and Georges founded The Vanier Institute of the Family to provide aid to families in need of counsel and to deepen understanding of the vital importance of family life to all Canadians.

One of the five children in the Vanier family, Jean continued the humanitarian and spiritual tradition of the family, establishing L'Arche [The Ark], a cooperative network of self-help communities whose aim is to integrate those who are mentally challenged and help them to live full and productive lives. 
Today, Jean Vanier's L'Arche movement has spread throughout the world, including many Canadian L'Arche homes. L'Arche communities exemplify the ideal that the commitment of love and understanding can make a difference to the quality of our lives and to the societies in which we live.