Pauline McGibbon, Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario

First Woman Vice-Regal in Canada and the Commonwealth

Jan 20, 2009 Susanna McLeod

A success in volunteering, Pauline Mills McGibbon was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario in 1974. Her focus was on the arts, theatre, culture and volunteering.

When she was a young girl, Pauline Mills watched her mother's dedication to a number of causes, from promoting music in schools, to church organist and member of choirs and orchestras in the area. She observed her mother's participation on the school board for two decades plus volunteering with the Children's Aid Society of Sarnia, Ontario. Along with Pauline's father, she passed on strong values of “the importance of contributing to the welfare and cultural improvement of her community,” noted the Provincial Government site, Ontario Heritage Trust.

Pauline was born on October 20, 1910 in Sarnia, Ontario. She was the only child of Alfred William Mills and Esther Salina Mills. Alfred partnered with his brother, Edgar, to operate a clothing and dry goods business. Upon graduation from Sarnia Collegiate Institute and Technical School, Pauline entered Victoria College, part of the University of Toronto. In 1933, she left school with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Modern History in hand. She met her future husband while in high school; he also attended Victoria College, graduating in 1932 with a degree in economics and political science. On January 26, 1935, Pauline and Donald Walker McGibbon were married.

McGibbon's Career in Volunteering

Working out of the home was inappropriate for a wife in the 1930s, so Pauline set out on a path of volunteering, following her interests of arts, theatre and betterment of social services. She began with the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire, working her way up to president of the organization from 1963 to 1965. During that time and afterward, she was also a dedicated participant in several other projects:

First president of the Children's Film Library (1948)
First woman president of University of Toronto's Alumni Association (1952)
Chairman of the Board of Directors, National Theatre School (1955-1959)
President of Dominion Drama Festival (1957)
Vice-President of Canadian Association for Adult Education (1958)
Member of Senate of University of Toronto (1952 – 1961)
Member of the Canada Council (1968 - 1971)
First woman governor of Upper Canada College (1971 – 1974)

Appointed by the Prime Minister

The Prime Minister of Canada came calling - literally. Pierre Elliot Trudeau telephoned Pauline at her home while she was cooking dinner. A “self-assured and accomplished individual,” according to the Ontario Heritage Trust, Pauline was “well known in social and cultural circles”, a perfect candidate for the public tasks required of the provincial representative of the Queen. The Prime Minister appointed her to the Vice-Regal post of Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario in 1974. It was her first paying job, at age 64. A ground-breaker, she was the first woman in Canada and in the Commonwealth to hold such position.

As Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, Pauline attended events throughout Ontario. She received visitors, gave speeches, lead the swearing-in of the Executive Council, approved recommendations by the provincial Cabinet and hosted guests from around the world. In her position of power, she was able to further help her causes of culture and the arts. Normally a five-year term, Prime Minister Trudeau extended Pauline's post for an extra year. She completed her duties as Lieutenant-Governor in 1980.

The Order of Canada

Along with the numerous prestigious titles, Pauline also received many awards, including the Canadian Drama Award in the 1950s. She was selected to become an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1967 and was installed as Companion of the Order of Canada in 1980. The honour of Member of the Order of Ontario was given to her in 1988. McMaster, Windsor and Carleton Universities bestowed upon Pauline honourary degrees in celebration of her lifetime of grand accomplishments.

Pauline's career was not over when her Vice-Regal duties ended. She went on to become the first female director of several large companies - Imasco, Mercedes Benz and IBM. She was also a director on the Weston's board, and became the first woman president of the Canadian Conference of the Arts. She was Chair of the Ontario committee for selection of Rhodes Scholarships, a director of the Mount Sinai Institute, and Honourary Chair of the Sarnia Kiwanis Foundation. Not finished yet, she was named ind 1980 as the first Lifetime Member of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. Still accomplishing firsts, she was the first woman to become Chancellor of both the University of Guelph and the University of Toronto, noted Archives of Ontario.

McGibbon's Health Declined

A debilitating stroke took away Pauline's ability to speak in May 1995. After several years of declining health, she died at age 91 on December 14, 2001. Married for over six decades, her husband Don had passed away in 1996. The McKibbons had no children.

An almost impossible act to follow, Pauline Mills McKibbon lead a life of brilliant firsts that made way easier for the distinguished women to come in Canada and in the Commonwealth countries.

The copyright of the article Pauline McGibbon, Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario in Canadian History is owned by Susanna McLeod. Permission to republish Pauline McGibbon, Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Honourable Pauline McGibbon Portrait