This Ontario educator was just named to represent the King

Edith Dumont has most recently been a vice-president at the Universite de l’Ontario francais in Toronto.

Thestar.com
Aug. 4, 2023
Rob Ferguson

Ontario is getting its first Francophone lieutenant-governor.

She is career educator and former special education teacher Edith Dumont, who most recently has been a vice-president at the Universite de l’Ontario francais in Toronto.

The appointment of Dumont -- who will replace Elizabeth Dowdeswell in the post representing the King -- was announced Thursday by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

“Ms. Dumont is an educator and an accomplished community advocate,” Trudeau said in a statement. “She has dedicated her career to supporting Francophone communities in Ontario, Canada and around the world.”

The province has more than 600,000 Francophones, including at least 60,000 in Toronto, according to the most recent census. That makes it the largest French-speaking minority in any Canadian province.

More than 1.5 million Ontario residents speak French. Since 2010, Sept. 25 has been officially designated as Franco-Ontarian Day to celebrate over more than 400 years of history dating to explorer Samuel de Champlain.

Premier Doug Ford -- who sparked protests in the Francophone community with his 2018 move to close the stand-alone office of the province’s French--language services commissioner and make it part of the Ombudsman’s operations -- said he welcomes Dumont’s history-making appointment.

“As a long-time educator, she has dedicated her career to community service and advocating for Francophone communities in Ontario and throughout Canada,” the premier said in a statement.

“I look forward to working with her to build a brighter future for all Ontarians and wish her the best of luck.”

Dowdeswell, who was appointed lieutenant-governor in 2014, said she will continue in the office until Dumont is sworn in at an installation ceremony. The date will be announced “in due course.”

The two were slated to have a conversation about the role and the transition Thursday afternoon.

Dumont will be Ontario’s 30th lieutenant-governor, a role that involves giving royal assent to legislation and championing causes close to their hearts. For Dowdeswell, it was the environment, and for her predecessor David Onley, who had polio as a child and used a mobility scooter, it was disability rights.

“As a former education critic for the NDP, I’m very excited to see an educator coming into this role,” said New Democrat Leader Marit Stiles.

Dumont was the first woman to head the Conseil des ecoles de l’Est de l’Ontario, representing French-language school boards in eastern Ontario. She also served as a school principal. In her role at the university, she has been in charge of partnerships, communities and international relations.