Neville sworn in today at legislature

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This article was published 23/10/2022 (794 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Anita Neville will become the oldest lieutenant-governor in Manitoba history today, when she’s officially sworn in at the legislature in a special ceremony that the public can view virtually but not attend.

The 80-year-old becomes Manitoba’s 26th lieutenant-governor after taking the oath of office administered by Manitoba Court of Appeal Chief Justice Richard Chartier at 2:30 p.m.

“I’ve still got a lot to contribute,” Neville told the Free Press recently. ”I don’t think I’m any different than a whole host of people out there who are wanting to get back into the workforce or another area of contribution.”

Neville succeeds Janice Filmon, who has served as Manitoba’s vice regal since June 19, 2015.

The outgoing lieutenant-governor, Premier Heather Stefanson, MLAs, representatives of the judiciary, the Armed Forces, the Governor General, the Privy Council Office and the Department of Canadian Heritage will attend the ceremony along with invited guests.

The public cannot attend in person because there won’t be enough room. The entire gallery will be filled with the lieutenant-governor designate’s invited guests, chief of protocol for the province, Brad Robertson said Friday.

Neville was the Liberal MP for Winnipeg South Centre from 2000 to 2011, serving as parliamentary secretary to the minister of Canadian heritage and the minister responsible for the status of women. Prior to that, she chaired the board of the Winnipeg School Division.

Her appointment was announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Aug. 15.

Neville also becomes the first Jew to hold the position.

She will move into Government House in the coming weeks, said Kate Gameiro, executive director and private secretary of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba.

Most of the personal effects of Filmon and her husband Gary Filmon, the former premier who supported his wife in her vice-regal duties, have been moved from the official residence of the lieutenant-governor, Gameiro said Friday. The Filmons would be working over the weekend, she said.

Neville’s swearing-in ceremony will be livestreamed on the Government of Manitoba YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/ManitobaGovernment.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca