The Honourable Lois E. Mitchell CM AOE LLD (Government of Alberta)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

April 6

Alberta’s 18th Lieutenant Governor to be honoured with legislature portrait

Apr 5, 2022 | 1:34 PM

Officials with the provincial government say Alberta’s 18th Lieutenant Governor will be honoured with a legislature portrait on April 6.

“The Honourable Lois Mitchell exemplifies what it means to be an outstanding Canadian,” said Honourable Nathan Cooper, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, on Monday. “Her commitment to volunteerism, education and community has created an inspiring legacy that will continue to enrich our province and serve Albertans for generations to come. We are truly appreciative of her service to Alberta in the role of Lieutenant Governor.”

Following an accomplished business career and a lifetime commitment to community service and volunteerism, Lois Mitchell served as Lieutenant Governor from June 12, 2015 until August 26, 2020. During her service as Lieutenant Governor she spearheaded several legacy initiatives to celebrate Canadian history and heritage and inspire Albertans. Government officials say she spearheaded bringing the Commonwealth Walkways to Alberta. They encourage outdoor adventure and an exploration of Canada’s history and Commonwealth connections. She opened the only Canadian sites in Banff and Edmonton.

She is a Member of the Order of Canada, the Alberta Order of Excellence, a Dame of Justice of the Order of St. John and she holds honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from the universities of Alberta and Calgary. She is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II diamond jubilee medal and was named Calgary citizen of the year for 2008.

The Hon. Lois Mitchell is currently vice-chair of the Global Business Forum, and a governor of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. She is also a board member of Football Canada, the Canadian Paralympic Foundation and the World Literacy Foundation. She is founding patron and current Chair of the History and Heroes Foundation.

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Her résumé as a community volunteer includes service in a wide range of areas, including sport, education, the arts and support for Canada’s men and women in uniform. She is a past board chair of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, past chair of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and a past director for UBS Bank (Canada) and Mitacs, a national research organization. She completed a 12-year tenure as Honorary Consul of Colombia for Alberta and Saskatchewan and chaired the advisory board of the Latin American Research Centre at the University of Calgary.

Her extensive work in sport includes service as volunteer director of the Hockey Canada Foundation and governor of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League. She has also long been a proud supporter and advocate of the Special Olympics Canada Foundation. Lois and her husband, Doug, have extended generous patronage over the years to a variety of programs and scholarships to support Canada’s athletes and to foster opportunities for women in amateur sport. The Doug and Lois Mitchell Trophies are presented annually to the top male and female Canadian university athletes as part of the U SPORTS Mitchell Family Athletic Awards which have been championed by the Mitchells since 1993.

David Goatley, acknowledged as one of North America’s leading portrait painters, is the artist. Goatley has completed hundreds of portrait commissions, including official portraits of HRH the Duke of York and the Right Honourable Kim Campbell, former Prime Minister of Canada. The Hon. Lois Mitchell’s portrait will join the collection permanently displayed on the third floor of the Legislature Building.

As Her Majesty the Queen’s representative in Alberta the Lieutenant Governor is said to fulfil a very important constitutional role in safeguarding elements of Canada’s democratic system of government such as granting royal assent, opening and closing sessions of the Legislature and swearing-in Members of the Legislative Assembly.

The official portrait of the Honourable Lois E. Mitchell, CM, AOE, LLD, 18th Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, will be unveiled on April 6, 2022, at 3 p.m. in the rotunda of the Alberta Legislature Building.