Shilo Stag

Manitoba’s Lt-Gov Anita Neville made her inaugural visit to CFB Shilo, with a stop at Base HQ to visit with BComd LCol Chris Wood and his Command Team.

She also stopped by 2PPCLI and 1RCHA before making her way to CFB Shilo’s MFRC, where she met with staff.During her stop at Base HQ, she was greeted by a 50-person guard with sword-carrying COS Maj Scott Youngson at the helm. With the arrival of Lt-Gov Neville and her aide-de-camp LCol Bruce Kiecker, she was met by BComd LCol Chris Wood and BRSM CWO Jeremy Abrahamse.

Once inside and seated at the conference table, with a fresh cup of coffee, she also met Base-wide command teams, including 1RCHA, 2PPCLI, 11 Health, 3 Cdn Div Training Centre C Coy Det Shilo, 1 MP Reg, RPOU-W Det Shilo, 3 CDSG Sig Sqn Det Shilo, MFRC and PSP.

Apologetic she might ask lots of questions, Lt-Gov Neville’s sense of curiosity afforded her an opportunity to do just that when each OC or manager explained what they did or provided on the Base. Familiar with 2PPCLI when the unit was based in Winnipeg and she was involved in federal politics, she was especially interested in what CO LCol Joe O’Donnell shared about 1RCHA’s service overseas on Op REASSURANCE in Latvia.

She later made stops at 2PPCLI, where A/CO Maj Chris Hartwick shared his unit’s facilities, while LCol O’Donnell also received a short visit.

Before departing for Brandon and her involvement in Ag Days, Lt-Gov Neville made her way to the MFRC, where she met with staff.

“What are some of the challenges you are facing,” she asked her attentive audience after showing MFRC staffer Chris Brereton (children services assistant director) her own medals, including the Queen’s platinum jubilee medal which marked the late Queen’s 70 years on the throne.

Listening intently, she learned one of the main challenges of many military spouses, who arrive from other parts of Canada with their military partner, and must adjust to finding work, especially if they are nurses or teachers, as each province has different rules when it comes to being hired, especially not having Manitoba’s educational certifications or qualifications.

Lt-Gov Neville offered to broach this subject from her position, knowing education and health come under provincial jurisdictions, while the military is federal. She even offered to bring a MFRC staffer to Winnipeg to talk about these challenges at one of her evening sessions held periodically at Government House.

Who is Lt-Gov Neville? Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the appointment of Neville as the 26th lieutenant-governor of Manitoba last August.

A dedicated community leader and a respected public servant, she is a longtime advocate for Manitobans. From helping revitalize Winnipeg’s urban core to working in education and advancing skills training, Lt-Gov Neville has a unique set of experiences and expertise.

She spent more than a decade working in education, including as a member — and later Chair — of the Winnipeg School Division Board of Trustees. From 2000 to 2011, she represented her community of Winnipeg South Centre as a Member of Parliament (MP), where she defended the rights of minorities and helped advance reconciliation, and served on numerous committees, parliamentary associations, and parliamentary groups.

She also served as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible for Status of Women. She replaced Lt-Gov Janice Filmon, who served seven years.

When she assumed office last October, Lt-Gov Neville became the third woman to serve as Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba. She is also the first Jewish lieutenant-governor of Manitoba.

Appointed by the Governor General on the recommendation of the prime minister, lieutenant-governors are the representatives of the King in their respective provinces. They fulfil the roles and

functions of King Charles III, including granting royal assent to provincial laws, opening legislative sessions with the speech from the throne and swearing in members of the executive council.

It was only a short visit, but what she observed and learned inspired Lt-Gov Anita Neville to make a return visit to CFB Shilo, something BComd LCol Chris Wood said he would accommodate. Lt-Gov Neville had a 50-person guard out front of Base HQ when she arrived, and was met by LCol Wood and BRSM CWO Jeremy Abrahamse, She then spent time in the HQ conference room learning what the units do on the Base, including representation from PSP and MFRC. She was especially interested in what 1RCHA is doing in Latvia when she listened to CO LCol Joe O’Donnell talk about his unit’s deployment on Op REASSURANCE. A curious MFRC staffer checked out Lt-Gov Neville’s medals on her final stop during her Base visit. Photos Jules Xavier/Shilo Stag