[t6hawk]

For those Albertans at home and abroad who have yet to learn that the much loved Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of Alberta, The Honourable Lois E. Hole has passed away on January 6th 2005. She was a wonderful kind hearted person who will be terribly missed by all Albertans.

Statement from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta on the passing of Lois E. Hole

It is with profound sadness that the Office of Alberta's Lieutenant Governor announces that Her Honour, the Lieutenant Governor, The Honourable Lois E Hole, CM, AOE, died from peritoneal (abdominal) cancer at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton on the evening of Thursday January 6, 2005.

Throughout her life, the beloved and respected Mrs. Hole focussed on the issues that were most important to her and to many Albertans. Chief among them were public education, public libraries, public health care, the fine arts and issues of social justice such as women's rights, racism, economic inequalities, and tolerance and respect for people of different ideologies. She gave support and legitimacy to the groups that needed it most, to the people who often went unheard in our culture and to the charitable groups that needed all of the help and publicity they could get. She hoped that her actions would inspire her fellow citizens to carry on with this work once she was no longer able to do so herself.

At the request of Mrs. Hole and her family, a private funeral will be held. A public memorial service is being arranged and details will be announced as soon as possible. (Public services are at the Winspear Center on January 18th according to the Edmonton Sun. - 01/08/05 edition, pg 5.)

The Lieutenant Governor's family wishes to thank the doctors, nurses and staff at the Royal Alexandra Hospital for the wonderful comfort and care they provided to Mrs. Hole over the past several weeks. The family also extends its gratitude to all Albertans for the unwavering love and support they so unselfishly gave to Mrs. Hole throughout her life.

A Book of Condolence will be opened at the Provincial Legislature Building in Edmonton and at McDougall Centre in Calgary, from 9:00 am until 9:00 pm, beginning Saturday January 8. An online Book of Condolence will be opened on Saturday January 8 at www.lieutenantgovernor.ab.ca. Albertans who wish to send a message of support or condolence to the Hole family are invited to visit these locations or the website to send their personal messages.

Mr. Bill Hole and Mr. Jim Hole, sons of the late Lieutenant Governor, will be available to the media to talk about their mother at 1:30 pm, Friday January 7, in the rotunda of the Alberta Legislature.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Edmonton Community Foundation for the Lois Hole Care and Nurture Legacy Fund at: Edmonton Community Foundation, #710, 10117 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T5J 1W8 (Ph: 780-426-0015) www.ecfoundation.org . or The Calgary Foundation, #700, 999 - 8 Street SW, Calgary, AB T2R 1J5 (Ph: 403- 802-7700) www.thecalgaryfoundation.org This fund has been created to honour the legacy of Lois Hole and to sustain and improve the institutions she believed in. It will serve charitable and public institutions and organizations that serve the arts, public libraries, public schools, the disadvantaged, and any group that serves the public good.

More information:

• Lois Hole biographical sketch
• Queen of Hugs has died
• Beloved Alta lieutenant-governor dies
• Lois loved all Albertans
• Provincial Book of Condolences

[PacHead]

the Office of Alberta's Lieutenant Governor announces that Her Honour, the Lieutenant Governor, The Honourable

I never heard of that person before, but do all canadian politicians get addressed as "her honour", "the honourable" etc. ? Was she a judge or something, or are all your politicians "honourable" ?

[t6hawk]

She was the Queen's Representative in the Province of Alberta. That's where that title of Her Honour, the Lieutenant Governor, and The Honourable Lieutenant Governor comes from.

Most politicians though do have the title of honorable but only inside the legislature or house of commons. Lois Hole is the only person in Canadian politics that I can honestly say deserves the title of Honourable, both in office and as a person.

[PacHead]

Originally posted by t6hawk:
She was the Queen's Representative in the Province of Alberta. That's where that title of Her Honour, the Lieutenant Governor, and The Honourable Lieutenant Governor comes from.

Oh ok, I didn't know Canada was still that connected to the royals in Britian.

[t6hawk]

Originally posted by PacHead:
Oh ok, I didn't know Canada was still that connected to the royals in Britian.

Well we do have the Queen on all our coins still and we are still part of the Commonwealth (aka former british colonies that still have ties to Britain)

[Kilbey]

I am sure she'll be missed by many. My prayers go out to her family during this trying time.

[khufuu]

Originally posted by t6hawk:
Lois Hole is the only person in Canadian politics that I can honestly say deserves the title of Honourable, both in office and as a person.

There were many of them over the years. Do more research.

[yukon]

I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting to see this here. Very sad.

Got a few rose bushes from Hole's last year, it'll be nice in the spring.

[milhous]

some questions i've always had:

1. does the queen have an official residence in canada?

2. i would assume that every year there's an official state opening of parliament just as in the uk. since i believe it's been many years since she last visited, who presides over the offical opening?