Judy Foote made it clear her appointment as the first female lieutenant-governor in Newfoundland and Labrador’s history is not just about her career in politics.
“Today’s appointment is for every woman in our province,” Foote said to a round of applause.
A group of Girl Guides from Foote’s hometown of Grand Bank sat to her left throughout Thursday’s installment ceremony on the floor of the House of Assembly. Foote looked to the girls, who were dressed in their uniforms, and spoke to them directly.
“I wanted them here because I want every young girl in Newfoundland and Labrador to know it doesn’t matter where you came from. It doesn’t matter if it was the smallest rural community in our province,” Foote told the group.
“It doesn’t matter your history or who your parents were. None of that matters. You are what is important and you are so capable of being whatever you want to be.”
Foote, with her husband Harold by her side, her family to her right, took the oath of office after 22 years as an elected official. She started out as the MHA for Grand Bank, later becoming a cabinet minister, and ended her elected career as a cabinet minister sitting beside Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
She ended her career in politics in August 2017, citing concerns for the health of family members.
Foote stepped out of retirement and into the top position of public service, taking over the title from Frank Fagan, who served from Government House for the last five years.
Foote’s investiture ceremony was a celebration of the women of the province.
Choral groups Celeste, the Lady Cove Choir, and Cheryl Hickman and Anne Devine performed at the ceremony.
Hickman and Devine performed a stunning rendition of “Woman of the Island,” a song Foote says has inspired her throughout her career.
“I grew up with children whose dads didn’t return. A lot of women had large families to raise on their own. I saw the strength of those women. When I hear ‘Woman of the Island,’ those women come to mind for me,” Foote said.
“They raised their children the best way that they could. They were always kind, considerate, even in the face of their tragedy.”
Foote took part in an Indigenous water ceremony, a tradition that can only be performed by Indigenous women.
Foote addressed every woman in the province in the hope that her appointment can inspire others to reach new heights.
“I want them to know they can be whoever they want to be and do whatever they want to do. I want us to talk about gender equality,” Foote said.
“I want us to recognize that it’s way too long to have a woman occupy the top position in Newfoundland and Labrador. But it’s finally happened. And we can celebrate.”
Twitter: DavidMaherNL
