Prime Minister Stephen Harper has announced Alberta’s new Lieutenant Governor.
Officials said businesswoman Lois Mitchell has been chosen to be Lieutenant Governor of Alberta.
Calling Mitchell “an accomplished businesswoman, long-time volunteer and community leader”, she brings 25 years of business expertise to the role.
Currently, she’s a senior partner and founder of Rainmaker Global Business Development, a consulting and marketing firm.
Previously, she worked with a number of other organizations – sitting on the board of directors for UBS Bank (Canada), Mitacs and Canada World Youth, and is co-founder and Vice Chair for the Global Business Forum.
In addition, Mitchell is also the Governor of the Canadian Women’s Hockey Association, the Co-Chair of the Gold Medal Plates Dinner in Calgary in support of current and aspiring Canadian Olympians.
The appointment comes after Mitchell was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada, and received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.
Mitchell was chosen following a process by the Advisory Committee on Vice-Regal Appointments.
Canada’s Lieutenant Governors are appointed by His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, on recommendation of the Prime Minister.
Lieutenant Governors serve terms of at least five years as the province’s vice-regal representative – individuals in the position act as representatives of Her Majesty the Queen of Canada in their provinces, fulfilling the roles and functions of The Queen, such as granting Royal Assent to laws.
The Lieutenant Governor would usually oversee the swearing in of a new premier and cabinet - as the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta is in transition, the Chief Justice of Alberta will handle the swearing-in of Premier-Designate Rachel Notley and her cabinet on Sunday, May 24.
Mitchell will replace Lieutenant Governor Donald Ethell, who has served in the role since May 11, 2010.
