I would like to thank Ms. Elaine Barbour, student support and community liaison worker, for the invitation to come to Grandview Elementary School. I would also like to thank my Aide-de-Camp, Superintendent David Valentine, for accompanying Gwen and I here today. You should know that my wife has a formal title, she is the Chatelaine. She is a doctorial student and a professor, teaching at the University College of the Fraser Valley.

I would like to acknowledge Ms. Liz Kloepper, Principal of Grandview; Mr. Chris Kelly, Superintendent, Vancouver School Board; Mr. Clarence Hansen, Chair, Vancouver School Board of Trustees; Mr. Don Marriott, Associate Superintendent, Vancouver School Board; Mrs. May Edwards, Haida Elder for Grandview/ Uuqunak’uuh Elementary; Teachers, students, and guests.

I have decided to attend as many schools in BC as is humanly possible during my term of office. My topic for today is the role of the Lieutenant Governor in BC.

My job is to represent The Queen. Canada is still part of the 54 countries called the British Commonwealth of Nations. Queen Elizabeth II is that sovereign head of state for all of these countries. As it is not possible for her to be present in every country, she has a representative called the Governor General who resides in Ottawa and a Lieutenant Governor who resides in each province.

The primary role of the Lieutenant Governor is to ensure that BC has a government in place to run the province on a day-to-day basis. The government is selected by the people at periodic elections, and then sworn-in by the Lieutenant Governor. The secondary role of the Lieutenant Governor is to grant what is called Royal Assent to all laws passed by government.

This means that I have to actually enter into the Provincial Legislature from time to time to address the members. I also have to open and close each session of parliament and at the formal opening read the Speech from the Throne. The last one was just over an hour long!

The Lieutenant Governor is the formal constitutional head of state on behalf of the Queen, and as such diplomats from around the world come to pay their respects whenever a new Lieutenant Governor is appointed. The Lieutenant Governor is also a patron of over 100 different community-based BC organizations. This means that I get to attend many gatherings to speak on behalf of all British Columbians. The role of the Lieutenant Governor is non-partisan, non-political, constitutional, and ceremonial all at the same time. Gwen and I do reside at Government House in Victoria. We do, however, maintain a permanent home in Chilliwack at Skowkale as well.

I hope each of you is enjoying your time here at school. It is a time for you to learn your lessons as planned by your teachers, but more importantly it is a time for you to improve your skills, such as reading, writing, speaking, problem solving, finishing projects on time, applying yourself everyday, respect for self and others, honesty and thoughtfulness. It is my pleasure to be here with you.

LOCATION:1401 Rockland Avenue
Victoria, British Columbia
Canada V8S 1V9

PHONE:(250) 387-2080

FAX:(250) 387-2078

EMAIL:ghinfo@gov.bc.ca

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