‘Rural Saskatchewan roots’: Lt. Gov. Designate Bernadette McIntyre takes on new role

“My dad was a farmer – a mixed farmer, my mom a schoolteacher,” she said of her idyllic beginnings in Bethune alongside two brothers – just 40 km north of Regina.

After graduating from university with a degree in business administration and economics, which led to a career working for the provincial government, SGI, working as the CEO for the Wascana Centre Authority (Provincial Capital Commission) and later serving on the board as interim executive director for the Globe Theatre Regina.

The journey to be named as the 24th Lieutenant Governor earlier this month is as storied as it varied but a key thread has always been to serve her community. In a statement from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of the announcement, he spoke of his confidence in the choice.

“Her leadership and spirit of volunteerism represent the very best of what Canadians do to build a more prosperous and welcoming country,” he said.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe also sent congratulations. In a statement on social media, he said he looked forward to working with her.

“Bernadette has enriched our province through her significant contributions in several areas, including sport, tourism, business and planning major events.”

It was through one of McIntyre’s greatest passions that she was able to continue to make a difference – in curling, along with a myriad of education and foundation boards.

“Although I was a decent curler, when I was probably at the peak of my game, Sandra Schmirler was at the peak of her game,’ she said referring to the late Olympian.

“So, I found my niche in organizing curling events and being involved in organization.”

McIntyre was the first female president of Curl Saskatchewan, the first female to chair the Brier in 2006 and served on the Curling Canada board for five years.

“Being part of the community and giving back has been a big part of my life and that all comes from the rural Saskatchewan roots ‘cause everybody had to help out,” she said.

Looking ahead to taking over her role at the end of next month, the designate said as she and her team work on outlining which pillars will define her term, volunteerism will be among them.

“The lieutenant governor’s office already recognized and has an award for volunteers, and I think I just want to take that and expand it a bit and helping encourage people to volunteer in some way,” she said.

The other area McIntyre plans to continue is the work done by the Mirastys on truth and reconciliation.

“I want to learn from that and be able to keep that momentum going in whatever way I can as not being a person of Indigenous descent.”

In her time serving on boards and holding leadership positions, she has met others who have come before her and said they’ve all seemed to find their niche and evolve the role to both fit the person but at the same time commemorate and celebrate the province.

“I’ll be really thinking about that and seeking guidance from his Honour (Mirasty) and other previous lieutenant governors,” said McIntyre.

As for Day One, that will be taken up by strategizing with the team on how to shape their next five years.

“I’ve learned that to rush into a new organization and change things very quickly usually isn’t beneficial to the organization or yourself,” she said.

“Growing up in small town Saskatchewan, your parents were involved, everybody’s involved to make the community work,” she said.

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julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmdia.com

On BlueSky: juleslovett@bsky.social

by Julia Lovett-Squires

‘Rural Saskatchewan roots’: Lt. Gov. Designate Bernadette McIntyre takes on new role

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