Alberta appoints first-ever Muslim lieutenant governor

Salma Lakhani, a local business owner and community advocate has been elected to be the first Muslim lieutenant governor of Alberta, and Canada. Lakhani will serve as the 19th lieutenant governor of Alberta as she will replace the outgoing Lt. Gov. Lois Mitchell, who has held the position since June 2015.

Canada's governor general is responsible for appointing the new lieutenant governors and they each serve as the province's representative for Queen Elizabeth II, which grants Royal Assent to their respective provincial legislations.

"As Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, I know she will serve the people of her province and our country well, and continue to be a source of inspiration for all Canadians," said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Lakhani emigrated from Uganda after her family was expelled in 1972. She later moved to Edmonton and took on a position teaching young students who spoke english as a second language as well as working for organizations that help further women's rights and help out new immigrants.

According to the Government of Canada's website, "Ms. Lakhani was one of the first mentors in NorQuest College’s Youth in Transition program, providing valuable guidance for students with English as a second language. She received the NorQuest College Honorary Diploma in Community Services Leadership in 2019.

In addition to being a founding member of NorQuest College’s 1000 Women: A Million Possibilities movement and sitting on its advisory committee for the past decade, she has supported the Lois Hole Hospital for Women, Kids Kottage, Sorrentino’s Compassion House, and Aga Khan Foundation Canada. She has also served as a board director for the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights for a decade."

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