Tribute to the Hon. Dr. Lois E. Hole

Speaking Notes for the Hon. David Kilgour

Jewish National Fund of Edmonton

June 9, 2002

Edmonton

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Your Honour, Ambassador, Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends,

How privileged I feel to be with all of you here for tonight’s tribute to someone who makes us all prouder to be Albertans and Canadians.  

Who can claim such a successful and diverse career?  Wife, mother, grandmother, businesswoman, horticulturist, best-selling author, broadcaster, Chancellor of the University of Alberta and currently Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, the person we honour is one of a kind.

Her list of awards and honours is long: Honourary doctorate from Athabasca University and the Distinguished Citizen Honourary Diploma from Grant MacEwan College; Named both Edmonton Business and Professional Woman of the Year and St. Albert’s Citizen of the Year in 1995; and Member of the Order of Canada, Her Honour can now add tonight’s prestigious tribute.

Is there anyone in this room or the province who has not been hugged by Her Honour? Besides giving an estimated three million warm hugs, she is a visionary who has devoted her life to education and the community.

Thank you, of course, to the Fund of Edmonton for doing this.

My own respect for both Her Honour and the Fund are such that I’m delighted to fly all night on the “red eye” to be here. On behalf of the federal government, congratulations Your Honour on this tribute. I know you will continue to work tirelessly in the future and I join everyone here in wishing you “bonne chance” during your hopefully next 20 years as our Lieutenant Governor. 

 

Thank you.