Janet Austin

Janet Edna Merivale Austin OBC (born 1956 or 1957)^[1] is a Canadian former nonprofit sector executive and public servant who was the 30th lieutenant governor of British Columbia, having served from 2018 to 2025.^[3] She was the viceregal representative of Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III in the province of British Columbia. Prior to her appointment as Lieutenant Governor, she spent 15 years as CEO of YWCA Metro Vancouver.^[4]

The Honourable Janet Austin OBC
Austin in 2014
30th Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia
In office April 24, 2018 – January 30, 2025
Monarchs	Elizabeth II Charles III
Governors General	Julie Payette Mary Simon
Premier	John Horgan David Eby
Preceded by	Judith Guichon
Succeeded by	Wendy Lisogar-Cocchia
Personal details
Born	1956 or 1957 (age 68–69)[1] Calgary, Alberta, Canada[2]
Spouse	Ashley Chester
Alma mater	University of Calgary

Austin meeting the Indian politician Prakash Javadekar in 2018

Austin was appointed by Governor General Julie Payette, on the advice of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.^[5]

Honours

Ribbon	Description	Notes	Refs.
	Order of British Columbia		[6]
	Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal	Canadian version	[7]
	Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal	Canadian version	[8]
	King Charles III Coronation Medal	Canadian version	[9]

Coat of arms of Janet Austin

Crest Issuant from a wreath of dwarf poinciana flowers proper, a demi-lion Or charged on its shoulder with three gouttes de poix and holding in its dexter paw a Latin cross erablé Gules; Escutcheon Azure on a chevron engrailed between three Latin crosses Or, three roses Gules barbed Vert seeded Or; Motto MENS CONSCIA RECTI (A Mind Conscious Of Rectitude) [10]