Trudeau appoints Brenda Murphy as new Lt.-Gov. of New Brunswick

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday the appointment of Brenda Murphy as the new Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick.

Her appointment follows that of the former Lieutenant Governor, the Honourable Jocelyne Roy Vienneau, who passed away last month following a battle with cancer.

“I recognize that I’m picking up I guess, or taking up where our previous lieutenant governor, the honorable Roy Vienneau left off and I feel very privileged to be doing that because she was really quite a great ambassador for New Brunswick and so those are large shoes to fill,” said Murphy.

“This is a little bitter sweet because of what happened with her.”

Brenda Murphy is the former executive director of the Saint John Women’s Empowerment Network, an organization she led for more than 20 years.

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As a long-time social justice advocate, she is committed to ending poverty and family violence, and advancing women’s equality.

“I’ve had the pleasure and the privilege to work, I would say in the trenches with folks who live on the margins and I think that you know will serve me well,” Murphy said.

According to a media release, Murphy was nominated as a member of the Gender Equality Network Canada — a network of diverse women leaders from across the country. She was also a member of the National Advisory Council on Poverty and the New Brunswick Advisory Council on the Status of Women.

In addition, she has served three terms as a municipal councillor for the town of Grand Bay-Westfield, New Brunswick.

“I am confident that Ms. Murphy is up to these tasks and will bring her years of experience to this new role. She has already demonstrated her commitment to our province through her work,” said Premier Blaine Higgs.

READ MORE: N.B. lieutenant-governor Jocelyne Roy Vienneau dies after battle with cancer

As a volunteer, Murphy also worked with a variety of organizations, including the Hestia House shelter for women, the Saint John Legal Centre, the Coverdale Centre for Women and the Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation of New Brunswick.

Murphy lives in Grand Bay-Westfield with her partner Linda Boyle.

She says she will be meeting with staff in the coming days to arrange the formal start of her position.

According to the Government of Canada, Lieutenant Governors are the personal representatives of Her Majesty The Queen of Canada in their respective provinces. They fulfill the roles and functions of the Queen, including granting Royal Assent to provincial laws and visiting communities.

Lieutenant Governors are appointed by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General of Canada, on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. They serve terms of at least five years.