Joan Marie J. Aylward (born 1956) is a Canadian former politician serving as the 15th and current

lieutenant governor of Newfoundland and Labrador The lieutenant governor of Newfoundland and Labrador () is the representative in Newfoundland and Labrador of the monarch, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada. The li ...

. She previously sat in the

Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly The Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly () is the Unicameralism, unicameral deliberative assembly of the General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It meets in the Confederation Bu ...

from 1996 to 2003 as a member of the Liberals. She represented the electoral district of St. John's Centre. Born in 1956, she was educated at the General Hospital School of Nursing, completing her nursing degree at

Memorial University of Newfoundland Memorial University of Newfoundland, or MUN (), is a Public university, public research university in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, based in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John's, with satellite campuses in Corner Brook ...

. Aylward was an intensive care nurse at St. Clare's Mercy Hospital. From 1984 to 1990, she served on the faculty of the St. Clare's School of Nursing. Aylward served five years as president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Nurses Union. She served in the Newfoundland cabinet as Minister of Social Services, as Minister of Health, as Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs, as Minister of Finance and as president of Treasury Board. On October 12, 2023, Aylward was named by Prime Minister

Justin Trudeau Justin Pierre James Trudeau (born December 25, 1971) is a Canadian politician who served as the 23rd prime minister of Canada from 2015 to 2025. He led the Liberal Party from 2013 until his resignation in 2025 and was the member of Parliament ...

as the

Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador The lieutenant governor of Newfoundland and Labrador () is the representative in Newfoundland and Labrador of the monarch, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada. The li ...

, replacing

Judy Foote Judy May Foote ( Crowley; born June 23, 1952) is a former Canadian politician who served as the 14th lieutenant governor of Newfoundland and Labrador from 2018 to 2023. She was the first woman to hold the position. Prior to her appointment as ...

. She was sworn in on November 14, 2023.

Electoral record

Honours and decorations

As lieutenant governor, Aylward is a Member (ONL) and Chancellor of the

Order of Newfoundland and Labrador The Order of Newfoundland and Labrador is a civilian Award, honour for merit in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Instituted in 2001, when Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador, Lieutenant Governor Arthur Maxwell Hous ...

. As a lieutenant governor in Canada, Aylward is entitled to the style "

the Honourable ''The Honourable'' (Commonwealth English) or ''The Honorable'' (American English; American and British English spelling differences#-our, -or, see spelling differences) (abbreviation: ''Hon.'', ''Hon'ble'', or variations) is an honorific Style ...

" for life and "

Her Honour Her is the objective and possessive form of the English-language feminine pronoun she. Her, HER or H.E.R. may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Music Performers * H.E.R. (born 1997), American singer * HIM (Finnish band), once kno ...

the Honourable" while in office. ;Appointments * November 14, 2023: Member of the

(ONL) ** November 14, 2023present: Chancellor of the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador (while in office) * November 14, 2023: Dame of Justice of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem (Vice-Prior in Newfoundland and Labrador while in office) ;Medals * February 6, 2002:

Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal The Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal () or the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal created in 2002 to mark the 50th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's accession in 1952. The Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal was ...

(Canadian version) * May 6, 2024:

King Charles III Coronation Medal The King Charles III Coronation Medal () is a commemorative medal created to mark the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, which took place on 6 May 2023. The UK issued more than 400,000 coronation medals, awarded to individuals who ...

(Canadian version) ;Honorary military appointments * November 14, 2023Present: Honorary Colonel of the

Royal Newfoundland Regiment The Royal Newfoundland Regiment (R NFLD R) is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. It is part of the 5th Canadian Division's 37 Canadian Brigade Group. Predecessor units trace their origins to 1795, and since 1949 Royal ...

. * November 14, 2023Present:

Patron Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows on another. In the history of art, art patronage refers to the support that princes, popes, and other wealthy and influential people ...

of the

Canadian Corps of Commissionaires Commissionaires Canada is a Canadian security firm, originally established to provide employment to ex-servicemen. History Modeled after the British Corps of Commissionaires, the Canadian Corps was formed in 1925 with the opening of offices in M ...

(

Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region of Labrador, having a total size of . As of 2025 the populatio ...

Branch). * November 14, 2023Present: Honorary Chief of Police of the

Royal Newfoundland Constabulary The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC) is the state police#Canada, provincial police service for the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary is one of three provincial po ...

References

External links