It is with a profound sense of pride that we announce that the Honourable Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, will serve as an Honorary Patron of Applaud – People in Public Service.
Her Honour is currently serving as the 30th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario and was sworn in on November 14, 2023. The first Francophone to hold the office, she was appointed following a long and distinguished career in education.
We had the pleasure of meeting Her Honour at the International Women’s Day event in partnership with Women in Government (WIG), Ontario Federal Council and TO Now Network of Women, and witnessed her inspiring remarks and commitment to the empowerment of women around the world.
Her first professional experiences in the Dominican Republic and Rwanda pointed her towards humanitarian work and teaching. In the late 1990s, a professional assignment allowed Madame Dumont and her family to spend several years living in Pretoria, South Africa, and in Paris, France.
Upon her return to Canada, Madame Dumont pursued a 32-year career at the Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario (CEPEO). From special education teacher to school principal, she became the first woman to assume the highest role at CEPEO: Director of Education and Secretary-Treasurer.
In 2020, she joined the newly established Université de l’Ontario français (UOF) in Toronto, as its Vice-President of Partnerships, Communities, and International Relations. She established UOF’s first partnerships: le Carrefour des savoirs et de l’innovation, and a strategy for bespoke training resources for businesses.
Madame Dumont has always promoted diversity as a vital strength in every community, women as indispensable contributors to decision-making tables, collaboration as the foundation of high-performing teams, and la francophonie as a source of pride in all aspects of society.
She was named Chevalier de l’Ordre des Palmes académiques by the French Republic for her contributions in bringing international attention to Ontario’s expertise in education. Madame Dumont is also a member of the Order of Ontario. In addition, she has been recognized with the Médaille de l’Ordre de la Pléiade de l’Ontario, the Médaille de l’Ordre de la ville d’Ottawa, and several other community awards.
Madame Dumont holds two Bachelor’s degrees, one in psychology from the Université d’Ottawa and another in orthopedagogy from the Université du Québec en Outaouais, as well as a Master of Education from the University of Ottawa.
We are honoured to receive this opportunity and look forward to welcoming Her Honour’s participation in recognizing and celebrating people in public service.
Her Honour is currently serving as the 30th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario and was sworn in on November 14, 2023. The first Francophone to hold the office, she was appointed following a long and distinguished career in education.
We had the pleasure of meeting Her Honour at the International Women’s Day event in partnership with Women in Government (WIG), Ontario Federal Council and TO Now Network of Women, and witnessed her inspiring remarks and commitment to the empowerment of women around the world.
Her first professional experiences in the Dominican Republic and Rwanda pointed her towards humanitarian work and teaching. In the late 1990s, a professional assignment allowed Madame Dumont and her family to spend several years living in Pretoria, South Africa, and in Paris, France.
Upon her return to Canada, Madame Dumont pursued a 32-year career at the Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario (CEPEO). From special education teacher to school principal, she became the first woman to assume the highest role at CEPEO: Director of Education and Secretary-Treasurer.
In 2020, she joined the newly established Université de l’Ontario français (UOF) in Toronto, as its Vice-President of Partnerships, Communities, and International Relations. She established UOF’s first partnerships: le Carrefour des savoirs et de l’innovation, and a strategy for bespoke training resources for businesses.
Madame Dumont has always promoted diversity as a vital strength in every community, women as indispensable contributors to decision-making tables, collaboration as the foundation of high-performing teams, and la francophonie as a source of pride in all aspects of society.
She was named Chevalier de l’Ordre des Palmes académiques by the French Republic for her contributions in bringing international attention to Ontario’s expertise in education. Madame Dumont is also a member of the Order of Ontario. In addition, she has been recognized with the Médaille de l’Ordre de la Pléiade de l’Ontario, the Médaille de l’Ordre de la ville d’Ottawa, and several other community awards.
Madame Dumont holds two Bachelor’s degrees, one in psychology from the Université d’Ottawa and another in orthopedagogy from the Université du Québec en Outaouais, as well as a Master of Education from the University of Ottawa.
We are honoured to receive this opportunity and look forward to welcoming Her Honour’s participation in recognizing and celebrating people in public service.
At this time, we would also like to recognize and thank the Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. Under her Patronage, the then Quarter Century Club had the privilege of working with Ms. Dowdeswell on many initiatives including ‘The Hidden Heroes’ panel discussion, where Ms. Dowdeswell personally thanked those members of the public service for their roles in navigating challenging obstacles and keeping our communities safe during the Covid-19 pandemic. Through articles and appearances, Ms. Dowdeswell was an ardent supporter of the work that public servants do.