Edith Dumont

Edith Dumont OOnt (born 1964) is a Canadian educator who has served as the lieutenant governor of Ontario since November 14, 2023, the 30th since Confederation.

Her Honour the Honourable Edith Dumont OOnt
Dumont in 2023
30th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
Incumbent
Assumed office November 14, 2023
Monarch	Charles III
Governor General	Mary Simon
Premier	Doug Ford
Preceded by	Elizabeth Dowdeswell
Personal details
Born	1964 (age 60–61) Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec, Canada
Spouse	Tony Viscardi ​ (m. 1993)​
Children	3
Alma mater	University of Ottawa (BA, MEd) University of Montreal Université du Québec en Outaouais
Occupation	Educator
Website	www.lgontario.ca

Early life and education

Dumont was born in 1964 in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec.^[1][2] She was educated at the University of Ottawa, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in psychology in 1985 and a Master of Education (MEd) in 1997, the Université de Montréal, completing a specialization in psychology in 1986, and the Université du Québec en Outaouais, graduating with a Bachelor's degree in orthopedagogy in 1988.^[3][2]

Career

Dumont worked for the Conseil des écoles publiques de l'Est de l'Ontario for 30 years, becoming its director of education and secretary-treasurer.^[4] She was the first woman to lead the board. From April 2020 until her viceregal appointment, she served as vice-president of partnerships, communities and international relations at the Université de l'Ontario français in Toronto.^[3][5][6] She has served on the boards of the Regroupement national des directions générales de l’éducation, Office des télécommunications éducatives de langue française de l’Ontario and the Ottawa Network for Education.^[3]

Lieutenant Governor of Ontario

On August 3, 2023, Dumont's appointment by Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada (representing Charles III, King of Canada), on the advice of Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, as the 30th lieutenant governor of Ontario was announced.^[7][8] She is the first Franco-Ontarian lieutenant governor^[6][9] and the fourth woman to serve in the position, after Pauline Mills McGibbon, Hilary Weston, and Elizabeth Dowdeswell.

Dumont was sworn-in during a ceremony in the legislative chamber at the Ontario Legislative Building on November 14, 2023.^{[10][11][12][13]} She was received in audience by King Charles III at Buckingham Palace on November 20, 2024.^[14]

Personal life

Since 1993, Dumont has been married to Tony Viscardi, an aerospace engineer and former officer in the Canadian Armed Forces.^[15] They have three children: Éloïse, Antoine and Gabrielle.^[3]

Titles, styles and honours

Viceregal styles of Edith Dumont (2023–)
Reference style	Her Honour the Honourable
Spoken style	Your Honour

As a lieutenant governor in Canada, from November 14, 2023, Dumont is entitled to be styled "The Honourable" for life and "Her Honour" while in office.^[16][17]

Ribbon Bar of Edith Dumont

National honours

Jurisdiction	Date	Honour	Ribbon	Post-nominal letters
Ontario	November 14, 2023 – present	Chancellor of the Order of Ontario[a][18]
		Member of the Order of Ontario[15]		OOnt
Canada		Vice Prior of the Priory of Canada of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem[a][19]
		Dame of Justice of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem[19]		DStJ[b]
	May 6, 2024	King Charles III Coronation Medal (Canadian version)[20]

Foreign honours

Country	Date	Appointment	Ribbon	Post-nominal letters
France	2018	Chevalier of the Ordre des Palmes académiques[3][21]

Honorary appointments

• November 14, 2023 – present: Colonel of the Regiment, The Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment)^[a][22]
• November 14, 2023 – present: Honorary Commissioner, Ontario Provincial Police^[a][23]

Non-national honours and awards

• 2021: Médaille de l'Ordre de la Pléiade de l'Ontario by l'Organisation internationale de la Francophonie^[24]
• 2020: Prix Bernard Grandmaître by le conseil régional d'Ottawa-Carleton of l'Association canadienne-française de l’Ontario^[3]
• 2017: Order of Ottawa by the City of Ottawa^[15]