Gordon Barnhart
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gordon L. Barnhart, SOM, BA, MA, Ph. D. is a former Clerk of the Canadian Senate and the Saskatchewan Legislature, as well as former Secretary of the University of Saskatchewan. As its current Lieutenant-Governor, he represents Canada's Sovereign, Elizabeth II, in Saskatchewan.
Contents |
[edit] 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. 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 Masters 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 2000-2005, 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.
[edit] As Lieutenant-Governor
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 traveling a great deal to continue the office's accessibility to average Saskatchewanians provided by Haverstock.[1]
Barnhart will host his first New Year's Day Levee in January 2007 at Government House. Lieutenant Governors of Saskatchewan have hosted public levees on New Year's Day since 1884. Dr. and Mrs. Barnhart will also have opportunity to meet citizens in Saskatoon at a public reception hosted in December 2006 by the Monarchist League of Canada, which normally enjoys the patronage of Saskatchewan's Lieutenant Governors.
Mrs. Naomi Barnhart of Osler, Saskatchewan, is an avid runner, cyclist, fitness expert, and advocate for wellness and healthy lifestyles. She has volunteered for such organisations as the Saskatoon Women’s Network.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- "Barnhart says he has big shoes to fill" by Sarah Macdonald, The Leader-Post, July 31, 2006, retrieved August 1, 2006,
[edit] External Links
| Preceded by: Dr. Lynda Haverstock |
Lieutenant-Governor of Saskatchewan 2006 - present |
Succeeded by: incumbent |
| Image:L-G-Saskatchewan.PNG | Lieutenant-Governors of Saskatchewan |  |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Forget | Brown | Lake | Newlands | Munroe | McNab | Miller | Parker | Uhrich | Patterson | Bastedo | Hanbidge | Worobetz | Porteous | McIntosh | Johnson | Fedoruk | Wiebe | Haverstock | Barnhart | |||
