The Honourable Iona Campagnolo, B.C.’s first woman Lieutenant Governor, was installed as the 27th Lieutenant Governor of the province on September 25, 2001. Her Honour opened the third session of the 37th Parliament on February 12th, 2002.
Born on Galiano Island, she moved to Prince Rupert as a child when her dad took work at a fish cannery. She later became a school trustee, school board Chair, and city alderman in the northern B.C. town.
She served as the Member of Parliament for Skeena from 1974 to 1979 and was a Cabinet minister in the Pierre Elliott Trudeau government. In 1982, she was the first woman to be elected as president of the national Liberal Party, an office she held until 1986. Ms. Campagnolo was also the founding chancellor of the University of Northern British Columbia and has served on various non-governmental boards and commissions. She has been awarded the Order of Canada and the Order of British Columbia in recognition of her community contributions and leadership.
