The Honourable Iona Campagnolo was installed as the 27th Lieutenant Governor on September 25th, 2001. Her career path included broadcast media, public office and public service as well as international advocacy supporting democratic development and human rights.
Elected as the Member of Parliament representing Skeena during the 1970s, she was appointed as the first Minister of State for Fitness and Amateur Sport in the Government of the late Pierre Elliott Trudeau. Ms. Campagnolo served a number of non-governmental agencies in the capacity of board member and chair, including both the North South and Arctic Institutes. She was amongst the founders of the Fraser Basin Council, and held the title as founding Chancellor of the University of Northern British Columbia.
Ms. Campagnolo received the Order of Canada in 1973 and the Order of British Columbia in 1998. In addition to two honoured Aboriginal names, Ms. Campagnolo received Honorary Doctorates from the University of Victoria, the University of Northern British Columbia, Simon Fraser University and Brock University.