Published October 1, 2012 | 2:04 pm
SAANJ NEWS
Ottawa: Prime Minister Stephen Harper named prominent rancher Judith Guichon as the 29th lieutenant-governor of British Columbia on Monday morning.
Guichon is the owner and operator of Gerard Guichon Ranch Limited in the Nicola Valley and is known for promoting an environmentally sustainable cattle industry.She replaces Steven Point, a veteran first nations leader who held the five-year post starting in October of 2007.
“Mrs. Guichon has dedicated herself to her community, province and country,” said the Prime Minister. “She is a leader in keeping British Columbia’s agriculture and cattle industries environmentally sound and she has worked hard to promote and protect the ranchers of British Columbia.”
Guichon has had a successful career in ranching and introduced the Holistic Management method to ranchers in British Columbia. She is the owner and operator of Gerard Guichon Ranch Limited in the Nicola Valley where she resides with two of her four children. Mrs. Guichon has worked with several organizations including the Fraser Basin Council of B.C., the Grasslands Conservation Council of B.C. and recently completed her two-year term as the president of the British Columbia Cattlemen’s Association.
Lieutenant Governors are appointed by His Excellency the Governor General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. They serve five-year terms, during which they act as their provinces’ vice-regal representatives.
Prime Minister Harper also took the opportunity to thank the Honourable Steven L. Point for his dedicated service as Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, which began in October 2007.