Our Meeting With the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario

In March, we had the privilege of meeting with the Honourable Edith Dumont, Ontario’s 30th Lieutenant Governor and the King’s Representative in the province. She is also the first francophone of francophone descent in the province. In Canada’s parliamentary democracy, the head of state—the Crown—holds supreme authority on behalf of the people and delegates it to the government of the day. One of the responsibilities of the Lieutenant Governor involves ensuring the continuity of government, across election cycles. In her role, Madame Dumont aims to increase public understanding of the constitutional monarchy system and her role within it. 

We were welcomed into the Lieutenant Governor’s Suite at the Legislative Assembly for a thoughtful discussion on Madame Dumont’s role in supporting communities in Ontario. We also discussed the Lieutenant Governor’s efforts to represent francophones, her extensive background in education, and her diplomatic work on behalf of Ontario and Canada. We especially appreciated learning about her efforts to listen and engage with Indigenous communities and young people across the province. 

Madame Dumont shared insightful reflections, encouraging us to confidently take up space by speaking in our mother tongue and engaging in experiential learning opportunities alongside traditional lecture-based education. 

Thank you, Madame Dumont, for your warm welcome and inspiring conversation!