Russell Mirasty
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Russell Mirasty (born 1956 or 1957) is the 23rd and current
lieutenant governor of Saskatchewan The lieutenant governor of Saskatchewan () is the viceregal representative in Saskatchewan of the , who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada, as well as the other Common ...
. He was appointed by
Governor General Governor-general (plural ''governors-general''), or governor general (plural ''governors general''), is the title of an office-holder. In the context of governors-general and former British colonies, governors-general are appointed as viceroy ...
Julie Payette Julie Payette (; born October 20, 1963) is a Canadian engineer, scientist and former astronaut who served from 2017 to 2021 as Governor General of Canada, the 29th since Canadian Confederation. Payette holds engineering degrees from McGill ...
, on the constitutional advice of the
Prime Minister of Canada The prime minister of Canada (french: premier ministre du Canada, link=no) is the head of government of Canada. Under the Westminster system, the prime minister governs with the confidence of a majority the elected House of Commons; as su ...
,
Justin Trudeau Justin Pierre James Trudeau ( , ; born December 25, 1971) is a Canadian politician who is the 23rd and current prime minister of Canada. He has served as the prime minister of Canada since 2015 and as the leader of the Liberal Party since ...
, on July 17, 2019. Mirasty was sworn in on July 18,"Premier Scott Moe Announces Swearing In Date For New Lieutenant Governor", Government of Saskatchewan News Release, July 17, 2019.
/ref> filling the vacancy in the position left when W. Thomas Molloy died in office on July 2. As lieutenant governor, Mirasty is the viceregal representative of Charles III of Canada in Saskatchewan. He was the first Indigenous person appointed to this office.Former top Sask. cop Russell Mirasty named province's new Lt.-Gov., CBC, July 17, 2019.
/ref>


Personal life

Mirasty is a member of the
Lac La Ronge Indian Band The Lac La Ronge Indian Band ( cr, ᒥᐢᑕᐦᐃ ᓵᑲᐦᐃᑲᓂᕽ, mistahi-sâkahikanihk) is a Woodland Cree First Nation in northern Saskatchewan, it is the largest Cree band government in Canada and the largest First Nation in Saskatch ...
. His first language is
Cree The Cree ( cr, néhinaw, script=Latn, , etc.; french: link=no, Cri) are a North American Indigenous people. They live primarily in Canada, where they form one of the country's largest First Nations. In Canada, over 350,000 people are Cree o ...
. His appointment was strongly welcomed by Indigenous leaders in Saskatchewan." 'This is historic': Indigenous leaders applaud choice of Russell Mirasty as new Sask. Lt.-Gov.", CBC, July 17, 2019.
/ref> He and his wife Donna have two children. At the time of his appointment, he and his wife lived in La Ronge.


RCMP career

Mirasty served as a member of the
Royal Canadian Mounted Police The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP; french: Gendarmerie royale du Canada; french: GRC, label=none), commonly known in English as the Mounties (and colloquially in French as ) is the federal and national police service of Canada. As poli ...
(RCMP) for thirty-six years, from 1976 to 2013. He was one of only two Indigenous cadets in his troop at RCMP Academy, Depot Division. Following graduation, he served in seven of Canada's ten provinces. He also did a work exchange with the Northern Territory Police in Australia. Mirasty served as a volunteer ''aide-de-camp'' to previous lieutenant governors of Saskatchewan. He was appointed assistant commissioner and officer commanding, "F" Division in 2010, the first Indigenous RCMP officer to command a division.Prime Minister News Release: Russell Mirasty
/ref> After retiring from the RCMP, Mirasty volunteered with a number of community service organizations. He particularly focused on working with Saskatchewan's education system. In 2017, Mirasty was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.


Honours

Russell Mirasty's full medal entitlement is as follows.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mirasty, Russell Living people Year of birth missing (living people) Lieutenant Governors of Saskatchewan Cree people Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers 21st-century Canadian politicians 21st-century First Nations people 20th-century First Nations people