Government NEWS Information Services Branch Legislative Bldg., SERVICE MANITOBA Phone 946-7175 Date:August1 1970

McKEAG TAKES OFFICE AS LT.-GOV. SEPT. 2 - - - Swearing-In Ceremony Set for Historic Date The September 2 ceremony at which William John McKeag will be sworn in as Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba comes 100 years to the day after the province's first Lieutenant-Governor was sworn in. Adams G. Archibald took the oath of office September 2, 1870, at Fort Garry, publicly assumed office September 6, and served in the post for two years. W. J. McKeag, at 42 the province's youngest Lieutenant-Governorlsucceeds Richard S. Bowles, who has held the post since 1965. The ceremony at 11 a.m. September 2 at the Legislative Building will be marked by the firing of two 15-gun salutes -- the first for the retiring Lieutenant-Governor and the second for the new Lieutenant-Governor -- and a review of a military guard of honor. Participating in the swearing-in ceremony in Room 200 will be Premier , the senior officers of the Canadian Armed Forces and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Manitoba, the Chief Justice of Manitoba, the Chief Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench, the judges of the Court of Appeal and the Court of Queen's Bench, the Lieutenant-Governor's civil aide, and the Clerk of the Manitoba Executive Council. During the ceremony, Mk*. McKeag will read the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of Office and sign original copies of the two oaths engrossed in the "Book of Oaths". The Clerk of the Executive Council will present the new Lieutenant- Governor with the Great Seal of Manitoba, which he will then hand to the Attorney- General saying, "To your safe custody I commit the Great Seal of the Province of Manitoba". Following the ceremony, an informal reception will be held by the new Lieutenant-Governor for the retiring Lieutenant-Governor, members of the Executive Council and guests. At the conclusion of the reception the Lieutenant-Governor will leave the Legislative Building. He will be given a royal salute by the guard of honor, which he will then inspect, and then proceed to Government House by car. Mr. McKeag, the province's 17th Lieutenant-Governor, was born in Winnipeg in 1928. He attended Winnipeg schools and graduated from the in 1949 with a degree of Bachelor of Commerce. - more - - 2 - McKEAG TAKES OFFICE

He joined the family firm, Security Storage Co. Ltd., in 1949 and was appointed general manager in 1952. He remained as president of the company when it was sold to British interests in 1956 and is still a member of the board of direct- ors. In 1960, he entered the real estate business as president of the firm of McKeag-Harris Realty and Development Co. Ltd., a post he presently holds. He has been active in both federal and provincial politics, served three years as chairman of the Greater Winnipeg Election Committee, and was a councillor for four years in the Town of Tuxedo. Mr. McKeag is active in the work of St. Andrews River Heights United Church and served four years as a member of the board of regents of United College prior to its becoming the University of Winnipeg. Active in the Kiwanis Club movement since 1951, he served as district governor of the 67 clubs in western Canada in 1967. He has also served as a member of the board and provincial campaign chairman for the Manitoba division of the Canadian Cancer Society, a member of the board of governors of the Balmoral School for Girls, executive member of the Winnipeg Blue Bomber Football Club, and director of the Winnipeg Real Estate Board and Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce. He belongs to a number of fraternal and athletic clubs. His hobbies include curling, golf, skiing, duck hunting and fishing. In 1950 he married Dawn Campbell, daughter of former Premier D. L. Campbell. They have four children, daughters Janis, Darcy and Kelly, and a son, Douglas. - 30 -