Lt. Gov. embraced community

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Alberta's much loved Lt. Gov. Lois Hole passed away on Jan. 6 leaving a legacy of caring and compassion in the province and some large shoes to fill for the next person appointed to the position by Prime Minister Paul Martin.

Hole was known as much for the hugs she gave as she was for the work she did to promote libraries and literacy. She was a great friend to the Aboriginal community, and arguably the only lieutenant governor since Ralph Steinhauer to embrace the Aboriginal community and their issues.

"We mourn the loss of Lois Hole because of her warmth and her appreciation for people, including our people and our women and she has demonstrated that to us in many ways," said Muriel Stanley Venne, president of the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women (IAAW).

"Lois Hole came to our social justice awards when we honored Warren Goulding, who wrote the book Just Another Indian. By her coming and showing support was really significant because we were just struggling to get recognition for Aboriginal women, so we really appreciated her presence.

"I think it was a learning experience for her too, because our world of serial killers of Aboriginal women, and all the things that Warren had talked about in his book were certainly not something she knew about."

Venne said the demands on Hole were tremendous, but she took the time to contribute and listen.

"She actually gave us the first bouquet of roses that we ever presented to a woman. And we were just new, and this is before she was lieutenant governor." Hole and her husband Ted were farmers who incorporated their vegetable and mixed garden business into Hole's Greenhouses & Gardens Ltd. in 1979.

The roses Hole donated to the IAAW were presented to Audrey Poitras on the occasion of her election to the top position of the Metis Nation of Alberta.

"Lois Hole made an enormous commitment towards the betterment of the lives of Metis and all Albertans through her genuine dedication to education, libraries, the arts and public health," said Poitras in an e-mail sent to Alberta Sweetgrass. "Her respect for Metis people was never disguised. She spoke openly of her connection to the Metis. A case in point is a reference to a Metis family in St. Albert that her book, I'll Never Marry a Farmer, sources as an influence in her life."

The MNA president said Hole was a positive and enthusiastic person who advocated on behalf of her fellow Canadians.

"Her warmth, compassion and humanity will be sadly missed."

The prime minister is expected to quickly choose another lieutenant governor and speculation is that it will be someone from the southern part of the province.

Venne hopes that of the attributes the next lieutenant governor will possess, chief among them will be appreciation of the history of Aboriginal people in this province "and the need for inclusion of Aboriginal people as part of the fabric of this country."