Jean Vanier is known as a social visionary with a keen sense of what makes for a compassionate society. He has received numerous humanitarian honours including the Companion of the Order of Canada. He had a naval career, earned a doctorate in philosophy (Institut Catholique, Paris) and taught at St. Michael's College, University of Toronto, before founding L'Arche. Jean Vanier also founded an international network of support groups for families of people with developmental disabilities. He is a son of Canadian Governor-General Georges Vanier and Pauline Vanier.