LOIS MITCHELL SWORN IN AS LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR
Lois Mitchell humbled and thrilled by post
Lois Mitchell inspects a guard of honour after being installed Friday as Alberta’s 18th lieutenant-governor in a ceremony at the provincial legislature.
Calgary businesswoman Lois Mitchell couldn’t conceal her excitement at being installed as Alberta’s 18th lieutenantgovernor Friday.
“In my wildest dreams, I could not have imagined my life’s path leading to this moment,” she said at a colourful swearing-in ceremony that began in the legislative assembly in Edmonton and ended with an inspection of troops and a 15-gun salute under an overcast sky.
In her speech, Mitchell, a former teacher, said she would also like to help parents, schools and communities ensure that all Alberta’s children have the emotional tools they need — “the soft skills of empathy, patience, compassion and resiliency that are as important to success in life as any academic learning.”
She said it would be a challenge to match the feats of her predecessors, but she hoped to start by doing what she can “for fellow Albertans who need a little help in achieving their goals.”
“It could be offering support to people living with intellectual disabilities, which is an area I have come to learn about through my association with Special Olympics,” she said.
Mitchell also pledged to carry on the legacies of previous lieutenant-governors, including Donald Ethell’s advocacy for treatment of mental illness, Norman Kwong’s campaign to foster active living and Lois Hole’s focus on education, literacy, libraries and the arts.
“I recognize that I have fallen into some pretty big footsteps,” she said.
Premier Rachel Notley described Mitchell as “a tireless advocate for women.”
The ceremony was attended by former premiers Ed Stelmach and David Hancock, as well as aboriginal leaders and MLAs.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced May 20 that Mitchell would replace Ethell, whose five-year term had expired. She is the third woman appointed to the largely ceremonial post.
Mitchell was governor of the Canadian Women’s Hockey Association and served on the boards of UBS Bank Canada, Mitacs and Canada World Youth. Her past roles have included stints as chair of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce and on the boards of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts and the Special Olympic Foundation.
According to her biography, her love of music and the arts can be seen in past volunteer duties as chair of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, the National Youth Orchestra and the American Symphony Orchestra League Council. Mitchell became a member of the Order of Canada and received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.
Mitchell is expected to deliver the first speech from the throne of the new NDP government Monday.