Anita Neville named new lieutenant-governor of Manitoba
Former Liberal member of Parliament Anita Neville has been named Manitoba's next lieutenant-governor.
In announcing the appointment, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Neville has long been a champion for the people of her community, province and country.
"As lieutenant-governor of Manitoba, I know she will continue to make a difference for Manitobans and Canadians. I wish her all the best in her new role," Trudeau said in a news release Monday.
Neville held the Winnipeg South Centre seat from 2000 to 2011, when she lost to Conservative Joyce Bateman.
Neville will be sworn in as Manitoba's 26th lieutenant-governor. She will be the first Jewish lieutenant-governor of Manitoba and the third woman to hold the role.
"The Hon. Neville is active in her community and I am confident she will serve as a formidable lieutenant-governor," said Premier Heather Stefanson in a statement.
Manitoba NDP Opposition Leader Wab Kinew also congratulated Neville on the appointment.
"Her commitment to public service has positioned her well to be an important part of our democracy in Manitoba," Kinew said in a statement.
Neville was born and raised in Winnipeg. She was a longtime member of the Winnipeg School Division Board of Trustees and served five years as its chair. She has also been involved in local organizations and other boards, including the Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada and the Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council.
Neville sat on various committees during her time in the House of Commons and served as the parliamentary secretary to the minister of Canadian Heritage and the minister responsible for Status of Women.
Neville replaces current Lt.-Gov. Janice Filmon, who has held the position since 2015. Filmon had suggested she would be stepping away during the speech from the throne last November.
Stefanson thanked Filmon and her husband, former premier Gary Filmon, for more than seven years of service as the Queen's representative in Manitoba.
"Her Honour believes in the power of giving back to the community and took great pride in celebrating the achievements and service of inspiring Manitobans," Stefanson said.
"On behalf of all Manitobans, I thank her for her service, kindness and unique ability to bring people together to learn and inspire the next generation."
Lieutenant-governors are appointed by the Governor General of Canada on the recommendation of the prime minister. A shortlist is provided by a non-partisan committee.
Neville tells CTV News the decision was not made overnight.
She says vague talks began months ago with discussions ramping up in June. It was made official last week when the Prime Minister phoned her and she accepted the position. Neville says this is an opportunity for her to continue to serve the public.
“(I’m) very proud, very overwhelmed, like many others when moved into a position you wonder why me?”
Neville says she would like to take an active role beyond the ceremonial duties that come with the job, focusing on education and advancing reconciliation.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 15, 2022.
With files from CTV's Jeff Keele
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
He didn't trust police but sought their help anyway. Two days later, he was dead
Jameek Lowery was among more than 330 Black people who died after police stopped them with tactics that aren’t supposed to be deadly, like physical restraint and use of stun guns, The Associated Press found.
Fluid in eye cells can 'boil' if you watch the eclipse without protection: expert
Millions of people in parts of Eastern and Atlantic Canada will be able to see the rare solar eclipse happening on April 8. But they should only look up if they have proper eye protection, experts say.
NEW More unauthorized products for skin, sexual enhancement, recalled: Here are the recalls of this week
Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency recalled various items this week, including torches, beef biltong and unauthorized products related to skin care and sexual enhancement.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Do these exercises for core strength if you can't stomach doing planks
Planks are one of the most effective exercises for strengthening your midsection, as they target all of your major core muscles: the transverse abdominis, rectus abdominis, external obliques and internal obliques. Yet despite the popularity of various 10-minute plank challenges, planking is actually one of the most dreaded core exercises, according to many fitness experts.
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Angst and calls for resting places as Surrey, B.C., pet cemetery development continues
A single headstone is all that remains of dozens of markers for long-buried pets in a subdivision in Surrey’s Newton neighbourhood, where a half-acre parcel bears a large sign announcing the proposed construction of new homes.
Polar ice is melting and changing Earth's rotation. It's messing with time itself
One day in the next couple of years, everyone in the world will lose a second of their time. Exactly when that will happen is being influenced by humans, according to a new study, as melting polar ice alters the Earth’s rotation and changes time itself.