List of female viceroys in Canada
Encyclopedia
A total of eighteen women have served, or are currently serving, as a viceroy
in Canada
.
Canada is a constitutional monarchy
in which Queen Elizabeth II is recognized as Queen of Canada and serves as the country's head of state
. As the Queen does not reside in Canada, her daily responsibilities in the country are undertaken at the national level by the Governor General of Canada
and at the provincial level in each of the ten provinces by a lieutenant governor
. Collectively, these individuals are the Queen's official viceregal representatives.
, the Queen's viceregal representative at the national level in the country.
acts as the Queen's viceregal representative. A total of fifteen women have served, or are currently serving, as the lieutenant governor of a province. The lieutenant governors of the provinces are appointed by the Governor General of Canada
on the advice of the Prime Minister of Canada
. As of 2011, all of the provinces except Newfoundland and Labrador
have had at least one woman serve as lieutenant governor. The only current female provincial viceroy is Mayann Francis of Nova Scotia
.
or a Lieutenant Governor
, who are officially representatives of the Queen of Canada, the commissioners are appointed by the Government of Canada
and therefore, they are not technically viceregal representatives. However, they too perform duties akin to a viceroy including reading the Speech from the Throne
at the opening of the territorial Legislature. Under the federal statute
s governing the territories, the Commissioners act in accordance with written instructions from the Canadian federal cabinet or the minister responsible (currently the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
). While commissioners used to have a direct day-to-day role in administration and government and chaired the Executive Council of the territory, today they are under instruction to act more like provincial Lieutenant-Governors, as territorial assemblies have taken on more responsibility.
A total of seven women have served, or are currently serving, as a Commissioner in the territories of Canada; one woman has served terms as a commissioner in two territories.
Viceroy
A viceroy is a royal official who runs a country, colony, or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. The term derives from the Latin prefix vice-, meaning "in the place of" and the French word roi, meaning king. A viceroy's province or larger territory is called a viceroyalty...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Canada is a constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether it be a written, uncodified or blended constitution...
in which Queen Elizabeth II is recognized as Queen of Canada and serves as the country's head of state
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
. As the Queen does not reside in Canada, her daily responsibilities in the country are undertaken at the national level by the Governor General of Canada
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
and at the provincial level in each of the ten provinces by a lieutenant governor
Lieutenant Governor (Canada)
In Canada, a lieutenant governor is the viceregal representative in a provincial jurisdiction of the Canadian monarch and head of state, Queen Elizabeth II, who resides predominantly in her oldest realm, the United Kingdom...
. Collectively, these individuals are the Queen's official viceregal representatives.
Federal Governors General
A total of three women have served as the Governor General of CanadaGovernor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
, the Queen's viceregal representative at the national level in the country.
| Name | Home Province | Start of Mandate | End of Mandate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeanne Sauvé Jeanne Sauvé Jeanne Mathilde Sauvé was a Canadian journalist, politician, and stateswoman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 23rd since Canadian Confederation.... |
Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota.... |
14 May 1984 | 28 January 1990 | First female Governor General in Canadian history; appointed by Queen Elizabeth II 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... Pierre Trudeau Pierre Trudeau Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, , usually known as Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 4, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984.Trudeau began his political career campaigning for socialist ideals,... ; member of the Fransaskois Fransaskois Fransaskois are francophones or French Canadians living in the Prairie province of Saskatchewan. The term franco-saskatchewanian may also be used on occasion, although in practice it is rare due to its length and unwieldiness.-Population:... community |
| Adrienne Clarkson Adrienne Clarkson Adrienne Louise Clarkson is a Canadian journalist and stateswoman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 26th since Canadian Confederation.... |
Ontario Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... |
7 October 1999 | 27 September 2005 | First visible minority and first Chinese Canadian Chinese Canadian Chinese Canadians are Canadians of Chinese descent. They constitute the second-largest visible minority group in Canada, after South Asian Canadians... to be appointed Governor General; first Governor General without a military or political background |
| Michaëlle Jean Michaëlle Jean Michaëlle Jean is a Canadian journalist and stateswoman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 27th since Canadian Confederation, from 2005 to 2010.... |
Québec Quebec Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level.... |
27 September 2005 | 1 October 2010 | First Black Canadian Black Canadian 'Black Canadians is a designation used for people of Black African descent, who are citizens or permanent residents of Canada. The term specifically refers to Canadians with Sub-Saharan African ancestry. The majority of Black Canadians are of Caribbean origin... woman to serve as a viceroy in Canada |
Provincial Lieutenant Governors
In each of the ten provinces of Canada, a lieutenant governorLieutenant Governor (Canada)
In Canada, a lieutenant governor is the viceregal representative in a provincial jurisdiction of the Canadian monarch and head of state, Queen Elizabeth II, who resides predominantly in her oldest realm, the United Kingdom...
acts as the Queen's viceregal representative. A total of fifteen women have served, or are currently serving, as the lieutenant governor of a province. The lieutenant governors of the provinces are appointed by the Governor General of Canada
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
on the advice of the Prime Minister of Canada
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...
. As of 2011, all of the provinces except Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
have had at least one woman serve as lieutenant governor. The only current female provincial viceroy is Mayann Francis of Nova Scotia
Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia
The Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia is the viceregal representative in Nova Scotia 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 and resides predominantly in her oldest realm, the...
.
| Name | Province | Start of Mandate | End of Mandate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pauline McGibbon | Ontario Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... |
1974 | 1980 | First female viceroy in Canadian history; appointed Lieutenant Governor of Ontario Lieutenant Governor of Ontario The Lieutenant Governor of Ontario is the viceregal representative in Ontario 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 and resides predominantly in her oldest realm, the United... by Governor General Governor General of Canada The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II... Jules Léger Jules Léger Jules Léger was a Canadian diplomat and statesman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 21st since Canadian Confederation.... upon 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... Pierre Trudeau Pierre Trudeau Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, , usually known as Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 4, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984.Trudeau began his political career campaigning for socialist ideals,... |
| Pearl McGonigal Pearl McGonigal Pearl Kathryne McGonigal, CM, OM is a retired Manitoba politician and office-holder. She was a prominent Winnipeg-area municipal politician from 1969 to 1981, and served as the province's 19th Lieutenant Governor from October 23, 1981 to December 11, 1986... |
Manitoba Manitoba Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other... |
23 October 1981 | 11 December 1986 | First female lieutenant-governor in Western Canada Western Canada Western Canada, also referred to as the Western provinces and commonly as the West, is a region of Canada that includes the four provinces west of the province of Ontario.- Provinces :... |
| Wilma Helen Hunley | Alberta Alberta Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces... |
1985 | 1991 | |
| Sylvia Fedoruk Sylvia Fedoruk Sylvia Olga Fedoruk, OC, SOM is a Canadian scientist, curler and the 17th Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan.Born in Canora, Saskatchewan, of Ukrainian immigrants, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in physics at the University of Saskatchewan, in 1949, and a M.A... |
Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota.... |
1988 | 1994 | |
| Marion Loretta Reid Marion Loretta Reid Marion Loretta Reid, CM, O.PEI is a former Canadian politician, the first female Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island, and the 24th as well as first female, Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island... |
Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population... |
1990 | 1995 | First female lieutenant-governor 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... |
| Margaret McCain Margaret McCain Margaret Norrie McCain, is a Canadian philanthropist, the 27th and first female Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick.Born in Amos, Quebec, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mount Allison University and a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Toronto... |
New Brunswick New Brunswick New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area... |
1994 | 1997 | |
| Lise Thibault Lise Thibault Lise Thibault is a Canadian civil servant who was appointed the 27th Lieutenant Governor of Quebec on January 30, 1997. As a former Vice-Regal representative of Elizabeth II, as Queen in Right of Quebec, she is styled The Honourable for life.-Early life:Born in Saint-Roch-de-l'Achigan, Quebec,... |
Québec Quebec Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level.... |
1997 | 2007 | First physically disabled person to serve as a viceroy in Canada |
| Marilyn Trenholme Counsell Marilyn Trenholme Counsell - References :*... |
New Brunswick New Brunswick New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area... |
1997 | 2003 | Succeeded Margaret McCain as 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... ; first woman to succeed another woman as a viceroy in Canada |
| Hilary Weston Hilary Weston Hilary M. Weston , CM, O.Ont was the 26th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, serving from 1997 to 2002. During her five year tenure, Mrs... |
Ontario Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... |
1997 | 2002 | |
| Lois Hole Lois Hole Lois Elsa Hole, CM, AOE was a Canadian politician, businesswoman, academician and best-selling author. She was the 15th Lieutenant Governor of Alberta from February 10, 2000 until her death... |
Alberta Alberta Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces... |
11 February 2000 | 6 January 2005 | Died while in office on January 6, 2005 at the age of 75 |
| Lynda Haverstock Lynda Haverstock - External links :***... |
Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota.... |
2000 | 2006 | |
| Myra Freeman Myra Freeman -References:* . Government of Nova Scotia. Accessed 2010-12-22.... |
Nova Scotia Nova Scotia Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the... |
17 May 2000 | 7 September 2006 | |
| Iona Campagnolo Iona Campagnolo Iona Campagnolo, is a Canadian politician, and was the first woman and 27th Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia. Prior to becoming Lieutenant Governor she was a Canadian politician and cabinet member in the Liberal government of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.-Career:Born Iona Victoria Hardy... |
British Columbia British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858... |
2001 | 30 September 2007 | |
| Barbara Oliver Hagerman Barbara Oliver Hagerman Barbara Oliver Hagerman, OPEI is a distinguished Canadian music teacher and performer and was the 27th Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island... |
Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population... |
31 July 2006 | 15 August 2011 | |
| Mayann Francis | Nova Scotia Nova Scotia Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the... |
7 September 2006 | Incumbent Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... |
Second Black Canadian Black Canadian 'Black Canadians is a designation used for people of Black African descent, who are citizens or permanent residents of Canada. The term specifically refers to Canadians with Sub-Saharan African ancestry. The majority of Black Canadians are of Caribbean origin... woman to serve as a viceroy in Canada, after Governor General Michaëlle Jean |
Territorial Commissioners
In each of the three territories of Canada, a Commissioner is the formal head of state. Unlike the Governor GeneralGovernor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
or a Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor (Canada)
In Canada, a lieutenant governor is the viceregal representative in a provincial jurisdiction of the Canadian monarch and head of state, Queen Elizabeth II, who resides predominantly in her oldest realm, the United Kingdom...
, who are officially representatives of the Queen of Canada, the commissioners are appointed by the Government of Canada
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
and therefore, they are not technically viceregal representatives. However, they too perform duties akin to a viceroy including reading the Speech from the Throne
Speech from the Throne
A speech from the throne is an event in certain monarchies in which the reigning sovereign reads a prepared speech to a complete session of parliament, outlining the government's agenda for the coming session...
at the opening of the territorial Legislature. Under the federal statute
Statute
A statute is a formal written enactment of a legislative authority that governs a state, city, or county. Typically, statutes command or prohibit something, or declare policy. The word is often used to distinguish law made by legislative bodies from case law, decided by courts, and regulations...
s governing the territories, the Commissioners act in accordance with written instructions from the Canadian federal cabinet or the minister responsible (currently the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (Canada)
The Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who heads two different departments...
). While commissioners used to have a direct day-to-day role in administration and government and chaired the Executive Council of the territory, today they are under instruction to act more like provincial Lieutenant-Governors, as territorial assemblies have taken on more responsibility.
A total of seven women have served, or are currently serving, as a Commissioner in the territories of Canada; one woman has served terms as a commissioner in two territories.
| Name | Territory | Start of Mandate | End of Mandate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ione Christensen Ione Christensen Ione Jean Christensen, is a former Canadian Senator.The daughter of former North-West Mounted Police constable Gordon Irwin Cameron, and Dawson City born Martha Ballentine Cameron, her family moved to Whitehorse in 1949. Christensen graduated from high school in 1953... |
Yukon Yukon Yukon is the westernmost and smallest of Canada's three federal territories. It was named after the Yukon River. The word Yukon means "Great River" in Gwich’in.... |
20 January 1979 | 10 October 1979 | First female territorial commissioner in Canadian history; resigned from position within one year to run for public office in the 1980 Canadian federal election Canadian federal election, 1980 The Canadian federal election of 1980 was held on February 18, 1980 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 32nd Parliament of Canada... |
| Helen Maksagak Helen Maksagak Helen Mamayaok Maksagak, CM was a Canadian politician. She served as the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories from January 16, 1995 until March 26, 1999 and as the Commissioner of Nunavut from April 1, 1999 until April 1, 2000... |
Northwest Territories Northwest Territories The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south... |
1995 | 1999 | Last Commissioner of the Northwest Territories before its partition to create the territory of Nunavut Nunavut Nunavut is the largest and newest federal territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, though the actual boundaries had been established in 1993... |
| Helen Maksagak | Nunavut Nunavut Nunavut is the largest and newest federal territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, though the actual boundaries had been established in 1993... |
1999 | 2000 | First Commissioner of Nunavut following its creation on April 1, 1999 |
| Judy Gingell Judy Gingell Judy Gingell, CM is an aboriginal Canadian politician, who served as Commissioner of the Yukon from 1995 to 2000.Born in Whitehorse, Gingell was the founding director of the Yukon Native Brotherhood in 1969... |
Yukon Yukon Yukon is the westernmost and smallest of Canada's three federal territories. It was named after the Yukon River. The word Yukon means "Great River" in Gwich’in.... |
1995 | 2000 | |
| Glenna Hansen Glenna Hansen Glenna F. Hansen is an Inuvialuit Canadian politician. She served as Commissioner of the Northwest Territories from March 31, 2000 to April 29, 2005.-Early life:... |
Northwest Territories Northwest Territories The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south... |
31 March 2000 | 29 April 2005 | |
| Ann Meekitjuk Hanson Ann Meekitjuk Hanson Ann Meekitjuk Hanson was the Commissioner of Nunavut. She served from April 21, 2005 until April 10, 2010... |
Nunavut Nunavut Nunavut is the largest and newest federal territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, though the actual boundaries had been established in 1993... |
2005 | 2010 | |
| Geraldine Van Bibber Geraldine Van Bibber Geraldine Van Bibber was the Commissioner of the Yukon Territory. She is a member of the Gwichʼin First Nation.She was appointed a Commander of the Order of St. John in 2006.... |
Yukon Yukon Yukon is the westernmost and smallest of Canada's three federal territories. It was named after the Yukon River. The word Yukon means "Great River" in Gwich’in.... |
2005 | 2010 | |
| Edna Elias Edna Elias Edna Elias is a Canadian politician from Kugluktuk, Nunavut. On 12 May 2010 she was appointed as the 4th Commissioner of Nunavut by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.... |
Nunavut Nunavut Nunavut is the largest and newest federal territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, though the actual boundaries had been established in 1993... |
2010 | Incumbent Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... |