Government House’s loss is the Nicola Valley’s gain.
Outgoing lieutenant-governor Judith Guichon is set to end her term on April 23, handing over the keys to the official residence to the incoming Janet Austin, after serving as the Queen’s representative in Victoria since 2012.
Guichon’s duties led her across the province, and included a particularly memorable role in the transition between governments following the provincial election in 2017. But after five and a half years, the former Nicola Valley rancher is eager to return home.
“I’ll be home Tuesday afternoon,” she told the Herald.
Once described as a largely ceremonial role, the job of lieutenant-governor took on an extremely consequential responsibility following 2017 provincial election, after which no party commanded a majority of the seats in the legislature.
Faced with a BC NDP-Green alliance, BC Liberal leader Christie Clark urged Guichon to dissolve the legislature and call another election. Instead, Guichon turned to NDP leader John Horgan to form government.
“It’s certainly not something any lieutenant-governor contemplates when they step into the role, and it certainly will probably be a while before it happens again. But I’m very pleased because I also learned a lot and studied a lot, and had some terrific advice,” said Guichon.
But while the drama that played out in Government House was historic, Guichon’s fondest memories of her time as lieutenant-governor came from working alongside children and youth.
Continuing the work of her predecessor Steven Point, Guichon helped build literacy programs across the province through the Write to Read Project. The program allowed remote communities and First Nations to build libraries in their communities — including one in the Nicola Valley, on the Nooaitch reserve.
“We’ve opened 11 to date, I believe. Just wonderful, wonderful projects,” she said. “In every community where we’ve opened them, they take on a very different personality and reflect the needs of that community.”
Guichon’s background as an environmentalist also played a part in developing a program called Stewards of the Future, which was aimed at secondary school students with a passion for conservation.
“Students are able to get out of the classroom and go into their community to explore issues that affect land and water,” said Guichon. “If you can come up with a way to speak to young people at their level, they are tremendous at educating their parents.”
Before moving to Victoria, Guichon served as president of the B.C. Cattlemen’s Association, worked on the British Columbia Agri-Food Trade Advisory Council and worked alongside Grasslands Conservation and the Fraser Basin Council of B.C.
And despite moving on from her official duties on Monday, Guichon was eager to start working in her own backyard once again.
“I already had a phone call with some folks about somethings that are coming up, so I’ll be re-engaged quite quickly,” said Guichon.
While life in Government House was full of pomp and circumstance and — at times — monumental decision making, Guichon said her roots as a Nicola Valley rancher played an important role during her term.
“I think it helped me because my feet were firmly planted in the ground.”
In the immediate future, there was only one more burning question for the outgoing lieutenant-governor to answer: will she be retaking her seat as a flute player with the community band?
“I sure hope they’ll have me back,” she said with a laugh. “I guess I’ll have to start practicing a little more.”
