Pauline Mills McGibbon

Pauline Mills McGibbon (21 October 1910 – 14 December 2001) served as the 22nd Lieutenant Governor of Ontario from 1974 to 1980. In addition to being the first woman to occupy that position, she was also the first woman to serve as a viceregal representative in Canadian history.

Once described as 'Ontario’s Eve' for all her 'first woman' achievements, the Honourable Pauline McGibbon dedicated her life to the betterment of her community, province and nation. A 1976 article indicated 'She has a warm, smiling face wreathed by a grey braid, her trademark... She is almost apologetic for being ‘old-fashioned,' but, because of her upbringing, she says she rarely feels really dressed, without gloves'. Former Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson once commented that McGibbon 'was perceptive, incisive, amusing and self-deprecating'.

Early life

Pauline Emily Mills was born 20 October 1910 in Sarnia, Ontario. She was the only child of Alfred William and Ethel Selina Mills, her father being a textiles and goods merchant. After George Street, and Lochiel Street Schools, and Sarnia Collegiate, she studied at Victoria College at the University of Toronto, graduating in 1933 with a Bachelor of Arts in Modern History.

Appointed by prime minister Pierre Trudeau, (The first female Lieutenant Governor in the Commonwealth was Dame Hilda Bynoe, Governor of Grenada 1968–1974.) She held the office until 1980. A particular focus of her mandate was the arts in Ontario. Of her annual $35 000 salary, she gave back the money other than for $200 a month which at her husband's request went into a retirement savings plan. and honorary colonel of 25 (Toronto) Service Battalion and No. 7 Cadet Corps of Saint Thomas. the subject of “Born and Razed”, a memoir about the abuses perpetrated by the owners and staff. The College was closed in 2007 when publication of allegations of abuse led to declined enrollment. The College lost a class action lawsuit brought against it citing those abuses in 2020.

Later life

She and Don had no children. The Ontario Arts Council manages the award.

Her name is also given to Pauline McGibbon Park, 180 North College Avenue, Sarnia.

She received the medal of service of the Order of Canada in recognition of her contributions to worthy causes. She was made a Dame of the Order of Saint Lazarus. In 1957 McGibbon received the Canadian Drama Award for outstanding service to theatre in Canada.

By March 1977, McGibbon held seven honorary degrees from Canadian universities, an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, a Dame of Grace of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, the Canadian Centennial Medal (1967), and the Award of Merit from the Canadian Public Relations Society. She had also been the first woman member of the Royal Canadian Military Institute.