Autism advocate and entrepreneur appointed new lieutenant-governor of British Columbia
Wendy Lisogar-Cocchia named to the position by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
An autism advocate and entrepreneur has been named B.C.'s new lieutenant-governor.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Wendy Lisogar-Cocchia is taking over the position from Janet Austin, who has been in the role since 2018.
The lieutenant governor's role is to serve as a representative of the monarchy within the province, similar to the federal governor general.
They take on various ceremonial rules, such as inducting people into the Order of British Columbia, and also play a role in governance, opening each session of the legislature, signing provincial bills to make them official laws and reading the annual speech from the throne outlining the government's priorities for the upcoming year.
They are typically appointed for five-year terms on the recommendation of the prime minister.
In his announcement, Trudeau said Lisogar-Cocchia "has long been a champion for the people of her community, her province, and our country."
According to her official biography, she is the founder of the Absolute Spa Group, Canada's largest independent spa chain and co-founder of the Pacific Autism Family Network, a support and research network.
She is also a member of the Order of B.C. and Order of Canada, was the first female trustee of the Vancouver Police Foundation, and has served as the chair of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade.