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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office August 1, 2006 |
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| Governor General | Michaëlle Jean |
| Premier | Lorne Calvert, Brad Wall |
| Preceded by | Lynda Haverstock |
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| Born | January 22, 1945 Saltcoats, Saskatchewan |
| Spouse | Naomi Barnhart |
| Profession | Civil servant |
Gordon L. Barnhart SOM (b. January 22, 1945) is a former Clerk of the Canadian Senate and the Saskatchewan Legislature, as well as former Secretary of the University of Saskatchewan. As one of the current Lieutenant-Governors, he represents Canada's Sovereign, Queen Elizabeth II, in Saskatchewan.
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Biography
Barnhart was born in Saltcoats, Saskatchewan. He completed his Bachelor of Arts in History in 1967 and in 1968, he took a job teaching grades ten and eleven history at North Battleford Collegiate Institute (Now North Battleford Comprehensive High School). In 1968, after only four months of teaching, he was appointed Clerk of the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly, the youngest to take on such a position across the Commonwealth. During his tenure, he worked on his Master of Arts at the University of Regina, completing it in 1977.
In 1989, Governor General Jeanne Sauvé, on the advice of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, appointed Barnhart to Clerk of the Senate, and thereby Clerk of the Parliaments. After five years, which included contributing to the failed Charlottetown Accord, he resigned from his position in the Senate. He returned to the University of Saskatchewan, where he completed his Doctorate in 1998.
From 2000 to 2005, he served as Secretary of the University of Saskatchewan. He retired to teach political studies classes, specializing in Canadian politics, government and the Canadian Senate.
In 2001, Barnhart's book Peace, Progress and Prosperity (ISBN 0-88977-142-1), which provided the first detailed biography of Saskatchewan's first Premier, Thomas Walter Scott, was first published. Some of his other works include Saskatchewan's Premiers of the Twentieth Century, Building for the Future; a photo journal of Saskatchewan's Legislative Building and Parliamentary Committees: Enhancing Democratic Governance.
On April 28, 2006, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced that Gordon Barnhart would replace Lynda Haverstock as Lieutenant-Governor of Saskatchewan. He was sworn in on August 1, 2006.
Naomi Barnhart
Naomi, Mrs. Gordon Barnhart (a native of Osler, Saskatchewan), is an active advocate of physical fitness and healthy living.
As Lieutenant-Governor
| “ | It’s a non-partisan position, so I’m not representing the government, I’m not representing a political party, I’m representing the Queen. So that’s the role of the Head of State, and I think it’s a very important one. I would like to think that we’ve had a very good string of Lieutenant Governors in Saskatchewan. I feel that I am part of a heritage of very strong, hardworking people who have been Lieutenant Governor over the decades. [1] | ” |
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— Gordon Barnhart, Saskatoon, 2006
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As Lieutenant Governor, Barnhart carries out such duties as reading throne speeches, swearing in premiers and cabinet ministers, opening legislative sessions, approving legislation and bestowing honours to Saskatchewan citizens.
Upon being sworn in, Barnhart expressed his respect and admiration for his predecessors. As an academic, he expects to focus his efforts on education. He also plans on travelling a great deal to continue the office's accessibility to average Saskatchewanians provided by Haverstock.[1]
Barnhart hosted hundreds of visitors on the occasion of his first New Year's Day levée at Government House in 2007, a traditional event that Lieutenant Governors in Regina have hosted since 1884.
Additional roles
- Visitor to the University of Saskatchewan
- Visitor to the University of Regina
Patronage
- Saskatchewan Brain Injury Association
- Canadians Clubs of Saskatchewan
- Canadian Parents for French
- Canadian Peony Society Show, Regina, 2008
- Conexus Arts Centre, Regina
- Saskatchewan Craft Council
- Saskatchewan Elocution and Debate Association
- International Biology Olympiad, Saskatoon, 2007
- Lung Association of Saskatchewan
- Luther College, Regina
- Monarchist League of Canada
- Saskatchewan Music Festivals Association
- Saskatchewan Poet Laureate Program
See also
Sources
- "Barnhart says he has big shoes to fill" by Sarah Macdonald, The Leader-Post, July 31, 2006, retrieved August 1, 2006,
- "Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan" retrieved December 18, 2006,
- Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan
- Barnhart Becomes Lieutenant Governor (2006)
- Feature interview with the Sheaf newspaper (2007)
References
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