B.C.'s first female lieutenant-governor, Iona Campagnolo, dies at 91

Iona Campagnolo, B.C.'s first female lieutenant gov‐ ernor, has passed away at the age of 91.

Campagnolo, who was ap‐ pointed as the province's 27th lieutenant-governor in 2001, was a "trailblazer," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a news re‐ lease announcing her death. She was the first woman to hold the role and remained in the position until Sept. 30, 2007.

"Her relentless dedication, optimism and commitment to equality will leave a lasting mark on Canada."

She championed many causes while serving as lieu‐ tenant-governor, including climate action, gender equal‐ ity and reconciliation, Trudeau said.

WATCH | Remembering the life and legacy of Iona Campagnolo:

The prime minister issued his condolences to her family and to B.C. residents in a statement, saying Canada had lost a role model for women in politics.

Campagnolo had a thriv‐ ing career as a radio broad‐ caster in Prince Rupert be‐ fore entering politics, ac‐ cording to the statement.

LISTEN | B.C. Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin remembers her mentor:

"A believer in the impor‐ tance of public service, she later became a member of her local school board and city council, then was elected as a member of Parliament in 1974," the statement reads.

Former B.C. finance minis‐ ter Carole Taylor said she re‐ members Campagnolo as "gracious and thoughtful."

Taylor, also the host of

B.C. Legends, interviewed the former lieutenant-governor for her show back in 2022.

"She just makes me feel inspired," the show host told CBC's On The Coast. "The way she approached every job, she did it with such en‐ thusiasm."

LISTEN | Former B.C. fi‐ nance minister Carole Tay‐ lor speaks about Campag‐ nolo:

Campagnolo's resume was filled with many firsts, Taylor said.

She was the first woman to serve as president of the Liberal Party of Canada, she became the country's first minister for fitness and ama‐ teur sport in 1996, and was also the founding chancellor of the University of Northern British Columbia,

"It may sound easy being the first, but whatever you are first at you have to break ground ... and she just did it one [time] after another," Taylor said.

Current B.C. Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin said she has always considered Campagnolo a mentor.

"She was a role model for many, including myself," Austin said in an interview with CBC's On The Coast host Gloria Macarenko.

"She was a passionate ad‐ vocate for Indigenous rights and for women's equality."