Sabine Soumare has officially joined the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
We are very pleased to share that Sabine Soumare has officially joined the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario as Chief of Staff and Private Secretary
Sabine is a bilingual senior executive with more than 15 years of experience in public service, government relations, and stakeholder diplomacy. Her career has been defined by a deep commitment to democratic institutions, equity, and reconciliation — and by a leadership style rooted in strategic thinking, inclusive team development, and meaningful engagement.
Prior to joining the Office, Sabine served as Executive Director of the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub at Toronto Metropolitan University, where she led a national team and built partnerships with hundreds of stakeholders, including Indigenous communities, governments, and international organizations. Her previous roles span communications, policy, and governance, including senior positions in Ontario’s public service and the francophone community.
In her new role, Sabine will support the Lieutenant Governor in her constitutional, ceremonial, and community responsibilities. Her experience in protocol-sensitive environments and her ability to build strong relationships across sectors will be invaluable as we continue to represent the Crown and serve the people of Ontario.
Please join us in welcoming Sabine to the Office.
Treaties Recognition Week
Treaties Recognition Week is a meaningful time to reflect on the relationships that shape our shared history and future
Treaties are not just documents from the past — they are ongoing commitments that call on all of us to listen, learn, and engage with care and respect.
This week, I encourage non-Indigenous people to take time to explore the histories and responsibilities connected to the land we live on. Attend a local event, read from Indigenous voices, or start a conversation in your community.
As part of this week, the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario is collaborating with the Mushkegowuk Council, the Archives of Ontario and Queen’s University Archives on a display of Treaty 9, The James Bay Treaty. Hosted in the Lieutenant Governor’s Suite, this initiative will spotlight the history of Treaty 9 and provide a space for Indigenous voices to be heard and honoured. The suite will be open at various times throughout the week for public tours and school groups
You can visit the Treaty by joining a public tour at the Legislative Assembly on the following days and times:
- Monday, November 3rd – Public viewing (1:00 – 3:00pm)
- Tuesday, November 4th – Public viewing (10:00 am -12:00pm, 1:00 – 3:00pm)
- Wednesday, November 5th – Public viewing (1:00 – 3:00pm)
- Thursday, November 6th – Public viewing (10:00 am -12:00pm, 1:00 – 3:00pm)
- Friday, November 7th – Public viewing (1:00 – 3:00pm)
It’s a space for reflection, learning, and connection — and I look forward to welcoming you there.
? To book a tour: www.ola.org/en/visit-learn
Warm regards,
The Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
Elizabeth Dowdeswell Award for Advancing Democracy Through Education
Let’s celebrate the educators who shape minds, inspire civic engagement and build the foundation of our democracy.
Teachers are not just instructors – they are catalysts for change, guiding the next generation to think critically, act compassionately and participate meaningfully in society.
We’re proud to spotlight the Elizabeth Dowdeswell Award for Advancing Democracy Through Education – a new award celebrating Ontario educators who champion democratic values through innovative teaching practices.
The nomination deadline is May 31, 2026.
To learn more: https://www.ontario.ca/page/honours-and-awards-education
Lieutenant Governor’s statement on the passing of the Honourable Hilary Weston
Toronto, August 3, 2025. The Honourable Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, has released the following statement on the death of the Honourable Hilary M. Weston, 26th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario:
I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of the Hon. Hilary M. Weston. On behalf of the people of Ontario, I send my condolences to her children Alannah and Galen, and to her extended family and loved ones.
Hilary Weston was a Lieutenant Governor who sought to highlight the exceptional compassion of Ontarians from all walks of life. One of her most notable legacy achievements was the creation of the Lieutenant Governor’s Community Volunteer Awards, which honour the otherwise unsung heroes dedicated to serving their communities.
The first Lieutenant Governor of the new millennium, Mrs. Weston continually dedicated herself to finding new ways of making the role more contemporary, more accessible, and more relevant to citizens of Ontario. This included marking major holidays and celebrations in communities across the province.
A long-time patron of the arts and culture, she initiated a series of exhibitions of contemporary Ontario art in the Lieutenant Governor’s Suite. In the years following the end of her tenure as Lieutenant Governor, Mrs. Weston spearheaded the most successful fundraising campaign in Canadian cultural history, which raised more than $250 million for the Royal Ontario Museum.
Mrs. Weston made a commitment to focus on celebrating volunteers, youth, and women. From 1997 to 2002, she visited many of the women’s shelters in the province, and many hospices for people in palliative care across Ontario. Her dedication to social issues continued well beyond her term in office; Mrs. Weston maintained a relationship with organizations she had visited as Lieutenant Governor, such as Abbeyfield House Society, the Hospice Association of Ontario and the Yonge Street Mission.
Throughout her journey, Mrs. Weston was regularly inspired by the generosity of spirit of everyday Ontarians and sought to foster that shared sense of humanity far and wide, in every one of her engagements, as the Crown’s representative in Ontario. Her legacy will remain alive in our collective memory, imbued with deep appreciation and gratitude.