Gordon Barnhart

The Honourable
Gordon Barnhart
CM SOM
20th Lieutenant-Governor of Saskatchewan
In office
August 1, 2006 – March 22, 2012
Monarch Elizabeth II
Governor General Michaëlle Jean
David Johnston
Premier Lorne Calvert
Brad Wall
Preceded by Lynda Haverstock
Succeeded by Vaughn Solomon Schofield
12th Clerk of the Senate and Clerk of the Parliaments
In office
1989–1994
Preceded by Charles A. Lussier
Succeeded by Paul Bélisle
Personal details
Born (1945-01-22) January 22, 1945
Saltcoats, Saskatchewan
Spouse(s) Naomi Barnhart
Profession Civil servant

Gordon Leslie Barnhart, CM SOM (born January 22, 1945) is a former Clerk of the Canadian Senate and the Saskatchewan Legislature, as well as former Secretary of the University of Saskatchewan. He was the 20th Lieutenant-Governor of Saskatchewan from 2006 until 2012. He was the acting President of the University of Saskatchewan as from May 21, 2014 until October 24, 2015.

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 10 and 11 history at North Battleford Collegiate Institute (now North Battleford Comprehensive High School). 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 Master 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 to 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. Barnhart's term ended on March 22, 2012, when he was replaced by Vaughn Solomon Schofield.[1]

The University of Saskatchewan announced that Barnhart would return to the faculty of the Department of History as of April 1, 2012 as an adjunct professor.[2]

On May 21, 2014, it was announced that Barnhart had been appointed interim President at the University of Saskatchewan to replace Ilene Busch-Vishniac who was fired.[3] As such, he becomes the first former Lieutenant Governor to serve in this capacity. He served as president until October 24, 2015, when he was succeeded by Peter Stoicheff.[4]

On June 30, 2014, Barnhart was named a Member of the Order of Canada.[5]

As Lieutenant-Governor

It’s a non-partisan position, so I’m not representing the government, I’m not representing a political party, I’m representing the Queen. So that’s the role of the Head of State, and I think it’s a very important one. I would like to think that we’ve had a very good string of Lieutenant Governors in Saskatchewan. I feel that I am part of a heritage of very strong, hardworking people who have been Lieutenant Governor over the decades.[6]
— Gordon Barnhart, Saskatoon, 2006
Gordon and Naomi Barnhart attend a community event for the Monarchist League of Canada in their first year as Saskatchewan's vice-regal couple, 2006.

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 travelling a great deal to continue the office's accessibility to average Saskatchewanians provided by Haverstock.[7]

Barnhart hosted hundreds of visitors on the occasion of his first New Year's Levee at Government House in 2007, a traditional event that lieutenant-governors in Regina have hosted since 1884.

Barnhart also initiated the "Lieutenant-Governor's Leadership Forum",[8] which will accept eighteen grade 11 and 12 students each year from 2007 till 2011 to tour the province, meet successful leaders in various fields, and to develop the students' own leadership abilities.

Additional roles

Patronage

Arms

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Biography". Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Sasakatchewan. Retrieved 26 Mar 2012.
  2. ↑ OCN. "The Honourable Gordon Barnhart returning to U of S". On Campus News. University of Saskatchewan. Retrieved 26 Mar 2012.
  3. ↑ OCN. "The Honourable Gordon Barnhart Appointed Interim President". On Campus News. CBC. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  4. ↑ "Rally kicks off Peter Stoicheff's tenure as U of S president". CBC News. 2015-10-26. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
  5. ↑ "Order of Canada Appointments". June 30, 2014. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Sheaf Newspaper interviews Barnhart (2007)". Thesheaf.com. Retrieved 2012-06-22.
  7. ↑ Leader, The (2006-07-31). "Barnhart says he has big shoes to fill". Canada.com. Retrieved 2012-06-22.
  8. ↑ Archived October 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
  9. ↑ Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan Archived May 8, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
Government offices
Preceded by
Lynda Haverstock		 Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan
2006–2012 		Succeeded by
Vaughn Solomon Schofield
Academic offices
Preceded by
Ilene Busch-Vishniac		 President of the University of Saskatchewan
2014–2015 		Succeeded by
Peter Stoicheff
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