Graydon Nicholas
Encyclopedia
Graydon Nicholas ONB
is the 30th and current Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick
. An attorney and judge, he is the first Aboriginal person to hold this office, as well as the first to be appointed as a provincial court judge (in 1991), and the first in Atlantic Canada
to obtain a law degree.
degree from St. Francis Xavier University
and, in 1971, a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of New Brunswick
. He was the first First Nations
person in Atlantic Canada
to earn a law degree. He obtained a Master of Social Work
degree from Wilfrid Laurier University
in 1974.
.
He was appointed a provincial court judge in 1991, the first aboriginal to be selected for the position. He has worked for justice for First Nations and other peoples.
In September 2009, Nicholas was appointed as the next Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick on the advice of Prime Minister
Stephen Harper
, on the suggestion of Premier
Shawn Graham
with support from the opposition. He is the first Aboriginal named to this position. He is serving a five-year term. He succeeded Herménégilde Chiasson
, the poet and philosopher on September 30, 2009.
Order of New Brunswick
The Order of New Brunswick is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of New Brunswick. Instituted in 2000 by Lieutenant Governor Marilyn Trenholme Counsell, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier Bernard Lord, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended...
is the 30th and current Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick
Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick
The Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick or Lieutenante-gouverneure du Nouveau-Brunswick) is the viceregal representative in New Brunswick of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada...
. An attorney and judge, he is the first Aboriginal person to hold this office, as well as the first to be appointed as a provincial court judge (in 1991), and the first in Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada is the region of Canada comprising the four provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec: the three Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia – and Newfoundland and Labrador...
to obtain a law degree.
Early life and education
A member of the Maliseet nation, Nicholas was born on the Tobique First Nations Reserve. He earned a Bachelor of ScienceBachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree from St. Francis Xavier University
St. Francis Xavier University
St. Francis Xavier University is a post-secondary institution located in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. The school was founded in 1853, but did not offer degrees until 1868. The university has approximately 5000 students.-History:...
and, in 1971, a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of New Brunswick
University of New Brunswick
The University of New Brunswick is a Canadian university located in the province of New Brunswick. UNB is the oldest English language university in Canada and among the first public universities in North America. The university has two main campuses: the original campus founded in 1785 in...
. He was the first First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
person in Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada is the region of Canada comprising the four provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec: the three Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia – and Newfoundland and Labrador...
to earn a law degree. He obtained a Master of Social Work
Master of Social Work
The Master of Social Work is a master's degree in social workand especiality of sociology.- United States :In the United States, MSW degrees must be received from a graduate school that has been approved by the Council on Social Work Education...
degree from Wilfrid Laurier University
Wilfrid Laurier University
Wilfrid Laurier University is a university located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. It also has campuses in Brantford, Ontario, Kitchener, Ontario and Toronto, Ontario and a future proposed campus in Milton, Ontario. It is named in honour of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the seventh Prime Minister of Canada....
in 1974.
Career
Returning to New Brunswick, Nicholas worked for the Union of New Brunswick Indians, serving as its Chairman of the Board (1976-1980) and President (1980-1988). He has also taught at St. Thomas UniversitySt. Thomas University
Schools with the name St. Thomas University:*St. Thomas University *St. Thomas University *St. Thomas University, Japan...
.
He was appointed a provincial court judge in 1991, the first aboriginal to be selected for the position. He has worked for justice for First Nations and other peoples.
In September 2009, Nicholas was appointed as the next Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick on the advice of Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
, on the suggestion of Premier
Premier of New Brunswick
The Premier of New Brunswick is the first minister for the Canadian province of New Brunswick. They are the province's head of government and de facto chief executive....
Shawn Graham
Shawn Graham
Shawn Michael Graham, MLA is a New Brunswick politician, who served as the 31st Premier of New Brunswick. He received a Bachelor of Physical Education Degree in 1991 and a Bachelor of Education Degree in 1993, he worked for New Brunswick's civil service before being elected to the Legislative...
with support from the opposition. He is the first Aboriginal named to this position. He is serving a five-year term. He succeeded Herménégilde Chiasson
Herménégilde Chiasson
-External links:* entry in *...
, the poet and philosopher on September 30, 2009.
Honours
- New Brunswick Human Rights Award
- Fredericton YMCA Peace Medallion
- Canada 125 Medal
- Inaugural recipient of the Golden Jubilee Medal
- 2011, Nicholas was honoured as one of Wilfrid Laurier UniversityWilfrid Laurier UniversityWilfrid Laurier University is a university located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. It also has campuses in Brantford, Ontario, Kitchener, Ontario and Toronto, Ontario and a future proposed campus in Milton, Ontario. It is named in honour of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the seventh Prime Minister of Canada....
's 100 alumni of achievement.
External links
- Official website of the Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick
- Backgrounder: The Honourable Graydon Nicholas. Office of the Prime Minister. September 10, 2009.
- "Graydon Nicholas named N.B.'s next lieutenant-governor", CBC News. September 10, 2009.