Lt.-Gov. unveils admin leadership award

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This article was published 27/04/2024 (534 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba’s lieutenant governor unveiled a new annual award in honour of municipal administrators on Friday in Brandon.

Anita Neville opened the Manitoba Municipal Administrators’ first-ever leadership summit at the Victoria Inn by announcing the creation of the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Leadership in Municipal Administration.

In her opening remarks, Neville said municipalities are the level of government with the greatest impact on Canadians and praised those working for them for their hard work in providing necessary and fundamental services like access to clean water and sanitation.

As a former school trustee, Neville said she knew from experience that the issues municipal governments deal with are ones that touch people in their everyday lives.

“Beginning next year, this award will recognize extraordinary achievements and ethical conduct by hardworking professionals in municipal administration,” Neville said.

“It’s truly my hope that it will also serve as an inspiration to other municipal leaders by showcasing excellent, innovative, responsive municipal administration throughout our province.”

Speaking with the Sun before the event’s kickoff, Neville said it was her third visit to the Wheat City since she took over from Janice Filmon in October 2022.

During her 18 months in office, Neville has had the opportunity to work with two premiers: former Progressive Conservative leader Heather Stefanson and current NDP Leader Wab Kinew.

“Every government has its own style,” Neville said. “I’ve been around the block long enough to know that. There is a difference. It’s a large majority, it’s a very diverse cabinet and the premier has an agenda which he is aggressively pursuing, and I commend him for that.”

With Kinew serving as Canada’s first First Nations premier, Neville said there’s an excitement surrounding the premier.

“People are always asking me if I’ve met him, if I’ve worked with him and what do I think of him,” she said. “And I can only answer in the affirmative with everything. I have met him. I have great respect for him and we have a very nice working relationship.”

She said she agrees with former Senator and Truth and Reconciliation Commission chair Murray Sinclair that the election of a First Nations premier is the ultimate act of reconciliation.

One of the issues she said she wants to advance during her tenure is reconciliation, which is why she has been hosting a lecture series at Government House on Canada’s treaties with Indigenous peoples.

Since assuming the role of the King’s representative in Manitoba, Neville said what she has enjoyed most is meeting people both in Winnipeg and outside the perimeter.

“I was at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair, I was at Ag Days — I’ve never been to Ag Days before,” Neville said. “It was interesting, seeing the equipment, some of the innovative activities that are taking place. My father grew up in Brandon and I’m very happy to be here.”

On top of her prior role as a school trustee, Neville also served more than a decade in the House of Commons as the Liberal MP for Winnipeg South Centre.

Despite the role of lieutenant governor being non-partisan, she said the transition from elected official to appointed official wasn’t difficult, though she does understand the political implications for decisions that get made.

Neville is the first lieutenant governor to be appointed under the reign of King Charles III after Queen Elizabeth II died the month prior to Neville assuming the role. Last April, she had a chance to meet the King in person at Buckingham Palace in London.

“He was warm, generous, thoughtful,” Neville recalled. “I spent double the allotted time I had with him. He was interested in Manitoba … in both economic and Indigenous issues, particularly.”

She added that she thinks the King doesn’t always get a fair representation in the media and that he was well informed. Neville also said he was generous enough to meet her youngest daughter, who made the trip with her.

“I would say for me the role is a privilege,” Neville said. “This is not something I saw on my horizon, it came to me. It was not an easy decision to do it, but I’m very grateful and very honoured that I was offered this role.”

Speaking to the Sun after Neville’s remarks, MMA president and City of Selkirk chief administrative officer Duane Nicol said her recognition of administrators’ work meant a lot.

“We’re not often recognized for the leadership responsibilities that we have for developing and building good organizations,” Nicol said.

“It’s often the good work that administrators do that council gets recognition (for). Council has a vision, but someone has to drive that bus. I think this is an opportunity to encourage administrators to strive for innovation and for administrative excellence.”

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