By Chinta Puxley
(Winnipeg) — The Canadian Press - Thirty-eight years after Philip Lee took his oath of Canadian citizenship, he is set to begin presiding over citizenship ceremonies himself as Manitoba's first Chinese-Canadian Lieutenant-Governor.
Mr. Lee, who was born in Hong Kong in 1944 and moved to Winnipeg in 1962 to study chemistry, was sworn in as the province's 24th Lieutenant-Governor on Tuesday afternoon at the provincial legislature.
He chose to stay in Canada after his studies, building a life here with his high school sweetheart and raising three girls. He helped develop Winnipeg's Chinatown and received the Order of Canada in 1999.
Being named Lieutenant-Governor is “awe-inspiring and humbling,” Mr. Lee said.
“It is a special rendezvous with history today as I become Manitoba's first Chinese-Canadian Lieutenant-Governor,” he told dignitaries, judges and members of his family. “We live in a province that prides itself on diversity. Our country was built by the combined efforts of women and men from all around the world.”
Premier Gary Doer called Lee's appointment a “proud day for Manitoba.”
“He is a man of grace and gravitas,” Mr. Doer said. “He will do an outstanding job on behalf of all of our citizens in representing Her Majesty in the role of lieutenant-governor of this province.”
Federal Minister of Democratic Reform Steven Fletcher said Mr. Lee “personifies what it means to be Canadian.” Mr. Lee chose to become Canadian and has dedicated his life here to making the country a better place, he said.
“Manitobans are fortunate to have such a distinguished man serve as our lieutenant-governor.”
Adrienne Clarkson was also born in Hong Kong and became Canada's governor-general in 1999. Alberta also has a Lieutenant-Governor of Chinese heritage, Norman Kwong.
Mr. Lee, a retired chemist, replaces John Harvard, a former Liberal member of Parliament whose five-year term is at an end.
*The Globe and Mail
--Wizard's note: In the photo: Lieutenant-Governor Philip Lee and some guy
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