12 août 2014 – Telegraph Journal Incoming lieutenant-governor to champion literacy SHAWN BERRY LEGISLATURE BUREAU

FREDERICTON • She rose from humble beginnings to be named to ’s highest office. Now lieutenant-governor designate Jocelyne Roy-Vienneau hopes her nomination will inspire others. “It’s not because you come from a small, rural place like Robertville that you can’t dream of doing whatever you want,”Roy-Vienneau said on Monday. “I want to give hope to everyone in New Brunswick, and especially younger New Brunswickers, that if they work hard, believe in themselves, have goals and pursue their goals, they too can reach top positions.” Prime Minister announced Roy-Vienneau’s appointment on Friday during a stop at the Congrès mondial acadien in Edmundston. Roy-Vienneau said she’s living proof that a girl from humble,rural beginnings can make her mark. Born in Newcastle and raised in a family of nine children in Robertville, near Bathurst, she was one of the first women to graduate from the Université de Moncton’s engineering school, worked at the Esso refinery in Montreal,came home to teach mechanical engineering at the college level and went on to serve in public administration in post-secondary institutions and in government. Vienneau said she wants to be a patron to the social cause of improving literacy in the province. “Literacy is the base of all kinds of education,it can be university,college,trades, technology or apprenticeship.Literacy is the base, and it will be my main focus,” Roy-Vienneau said a meeting with reporters on Monday in Fredericton. “I will try to inspire New Brunswickers around the province to continue their education, to follow their dreams, and that’s really my main focus.” Roy-Vienneau said she has no qualms about representing the Queen and the British Crown. “It is part of us; it’s part of who we are. We are New Brunswickers.It’s part of our system. “Being an Acadian doesn’t mean that you are not part of that system. For me, it’s natural. I am an Acadian; you can hear it in my accent. But I am a New Brunswicker first. “It’s an honour for me to have been chosen to play this important role for New Brunswickers,”she said. Roy-Vienneau has been vice-rector of the Université de Moncton’s Shippagan campus since 2005. Before that she was assistant deputy minister for Post-secondary Education with the province. Roy-Vienneau began her career as a project engineer at the Esso Imperial Oil Limited refinery in Montreal. She went on to teach mechanical engineering at the community college campus in Bathurst and went on to become dean and principal. Roy-Vienneau says she was a serious student in high school with a good grasp of math and physics. As she learned about the field of engineering, Roy-Vienneau decided to pursue her studies in that profession. When she earned a degree in industrial engineering at the Université de Moncton, she was only the third woman to earn a degree in engineering at the school. The experience of studying and earning her way into a profession then dominated by men made her stronger, she said. “It taught me not to take certain things too personally, to laugh, and to have a good sense of humour.” Roy-Vienneau is likely to be installed as the next lieutenant governor sometime after the next government is sworn in following the Sept. 22 general election. “This is something I have to discuss with the existing lieutenant-governor,” she said. Lieutenant governors typically serve a five-year term. Lt. Gov. Graydon Nicholas will reach that milestone on Sept. 30. Ronald Vienneau joined his wife to meet media on Monday in Fredericton. “It’s exciting. It’s great news,”he said of his wife’s appointment. “We’ve lived in Fredericton before. We enjoyed our experience here and are looking forward to returning,”he said. Roy-Vienneau went through a vetting process with a five-member advisory committee appointed to select candidates for the appointment. Roy-Vienneau said she learned she was on the short-list two weeks ago when she got a call from the Prime Minister’s Office asking if she was interested in the position. “I was quite surprised to get that call from the Prime Minister’s Office. To be honest, I sent my resumé but didn’t expect to be selected” The PMO informed her on July 29 that she was on shortlist of candidates. Two days later, a representative from the PMO travelled to Shippagan for a meeting. “We had a discussion for two hours. After that he returned to Ottawa” She heard from the PMO a few more times before being offered the position on Aug. 5. “He (the PMO representative) said if you are still interested, then the prime minister is ready to make the proposition to the Governor General.He said he would like to make the announcement very soon. He talked about the Congrès mondial acadien and asked me if I was expecting to be in Edmundston. “I said,‘No I’m not expecting, but I will be there. If you ask me to be there, I will be there.’” Premier congratulated Roy-Vienneau on her nomination as the province’s 31st lieutenant- governor. “Ms. Roy-Vienneau’s combination of hard work,dedication and life experience makes her an ideal choice for the role. She will no doubt serve as an inspiration for the people of our province and represent us well here at home, on the national stage and internationally,”Alward said “She’s been influential at every stop along her way, and I have no doubt that will continue in her new position as lieutenant-governor.” Alward also thanked outgoing Lt.-Gov Graydon Nicholas for his work throughout the past five years. “He has been a great ambassador for New Brunswick and a role model for residents.His tenure will be remembered as a historic one in our province,”he said of Nicholas,a who is the first aboriginal person to hold the post. Roy-Vienneau,who has two grown children, has sought to promote research and innovation. She has devoted time and effort to the development of the Acadian community and the promotion of New Brunswick business, education, environment health, music and youth. She serves as on a number of community organizations. She is a member of the boards of Fondation communautaire de la Péninsule acadienne, of the Comité Avenir Jeunesse de la Péninsule acadienne, and the Collectivité ingénieuse de la Péninsule acadienne.

New Brunswick’s new lieutenant-governor designate, Jocelyne Roy-Vienneau, met with members of the media in Fredericton on Monday. Roy-Vienneau says she hopes her nomination will inspire other New Brunswickers to pursue their dreams. PHOTO: STEPHEN MACGILLIVRAY/THE DAILY GLEANER