(File photo)

By Connor Gunn/Lethbridge News Now

Hon. Salma Lakhani Installed as 19th Lieutenant Governor of Alberta

Aug 28, 2020 | 11:57 AM

The Honourable Salma Lakhani began her tenure as Her Majesty the Queen’s representative in Alberta, during a formal installation at the Alberta Legislature.

In her remarks during the ceremony, Lieutenant Governor Lakhani said, “Mine is the story of a person whose presence before you in this capacity today is made possible, even probable, by a single fact: that it happened in Canada. A place where the realization of unlikely stories occurs not by accident, but by design.”

“While my story may sound unique, it is also the story of Alberta…a place where individual stories are woven into our collective tapestry…a province whose narrative is defined by the generations of stories of hope.”

Elements of the installation program included a blessing by an Indigenous Elder, a military Salute, and administration of the oath of office by the Hon. Catherine Fraser, Chief Justice of Alberta.

The Lieutenant Governor was also made the Chancellor and a member of the Alberta Order of Excellence and became a Dame of Justice of the Order of St. John.

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Born and raised in Kampala, Uganda, she came to Canada in 1977 as a stateless person, after all, Ugandans of Asian origin were expelled from that country.

Lakhani, an Ismaili Muslim, replaces the Honourable Lois Mitchell, who has served in the LG role since June 2015.

“We have met with countless people who represent the very best of the Alberta spirit and we have been reminded, time and again, of the energy, strength, resilience, creativity and compassion that fuel our province,” Mitchell said. “These essential qualities resonate through our history to date and they will continue to carry Albertans forward through any challenge.

“As we open a new chapter, we pledge to continue doing whatever we can to be of service to the province and country that have given us so much.”

Lakhani has offered longstanding service to a range of organizations, including NorQuest College, the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights, the Lois Hole Hospital for Women, the Aga Khan Foundation Canada, Kids Kottage, Sorrentino’s Compassion House, the Alberta Cancer Board, and the Zebra Foundation.

Lakhani also built a business focused on early childhood education. Her Honour is married to distinguished Edmonton cardiologist, His Honour Dr. Zaheer Lakhani.