Raymonde Gagné CM OM (born January 7, 1956)[1] is a Canadian politician and academic who has served as the speaker of the Senate of Canada since May 12, 2023. She was named to the Senate of Canada to represent Manitoba on March 18, 2016.[2][3]
Raymonde Gagné | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Gagné in 2024 | |
| Speaker of the Senate of Canada | |
| Assumed office May 12, 2023 | |
| Nominated by | Justin Trudeau |
| Appointed by | Mary Simon |
| Preceded by | George Furey |
| Canadian Senator from Manitoba | |
| Assumed office March 18, 2016 | |
| Nominated by | Justin Trudeau |
| Appointed by | David Johnston |
| Preceded by | Terry Stratton |
| Deputy Representative of the Government in the Senate | |
| In office January 31, 2020 – May 12, 2023 | |
| Leader | Marc Gold |
| Preceded by | Diane Bellemare |
| Succeeded by | Patti LaBoucane-Benson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 7, 1956 St-Pierre-Jolys, Manitoba, Canada |
| Political party | Liberal |
Background
editPrior to her appointment to the Senate, Gagné worked in the education field. She worked as a high school teacher and principal and was a longtime faculty member of the Université de Saint-Boniface in Winnipeg, serving as president of the school between 2003 and 2014.[1][4]
Gagné contributes to numerous organizations and boards within Manitoba and across Canada. She served as President of the Association of Colleges and Universities of the Canadian Francophonie from 2005 to 2009, was a member of the Advisory Committee on Official Languages for the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages of Canada from 2007 to 2009.[5]
Political career
editGagné was appointed to the Senate by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on March 18, 2016. However, she chose to sit as a member of the Independent Senators Group.
On January 31, 2020, she was appointed Deputy to Representative of the Government in the Senate Marc Gold.[6] Upon this appointment she left the ISG, becoming designated as non-affiliated with any Senate political group.
Speaker of the Senate
editOn May 12, 2023, Gagné was named Speaker of the Senate by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau following the retirement of George Furey, becoming the third female Speaker of the Senate and the first since Renaude Lapointe who served as speaker from 1974 to 1979.[7]
Honours and awards
editIn May 2014, Gagné was recognized with the Order of Manitoba.[8]
On November 20, 2014, Gagné was awarded the Order of Canada and was invested as a Member of the Order of Canada on September 23, 2015, for services to education and social services.[9] She also received the Prix Riel in the community development category in 2015.[10]
She is also the recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.[9]
References
edit- ^ a b Canada, Senate of. "Senators". SenCanada.
- ^ "Trudeau appoints seven new senators". The Globe and Mail. 2016-03-18. Retrieved 2023-05-13.
- ^ "Manitoba Sen. Raymonde Gagné becomes Senate's third-ever female Speaker". thestar.com. 2023-05-12. Retrieved 2023-05-13.
- ^ "Raymonde Gagné nommée membre de l’Ordre du Canada". Radio-Canada, September 23, 2015.
- ^ "The Honourable Raymonde Gagné". pm.gc.ca. May 12, 2023. Retrieved 2023-02-13.
- ^ "With two new Senate appointments, Trudeau has now appointed half of the upper house". CBC News. January 31, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
- ^ "Manitoba Senator Raymonde Gagné named Speaker of the Senate". CBC News. May 12, 2023. Retrieved 2023-02-13.
- ^ "RAYMONDE GAGNÉ, NOUVELLE MEMBRE DE L'ORDRE DU MANITOBA". Association des universités de la francophonie canadienne (AUFC). Archived from the original on January 4, 2017. Retrieved May 13, 2014.
- ^ a b "It's an Honour". Office of the Governor General. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
- ^ ICI.Radio-Canada.ca, Zone Société - (7 March 2015). "Janine Bertrand et Raymonde Gagné reçoivent un Prix Riel". Radio-Canada.ca (in Canadian French). Retrieved 2023-05-13.