Hilary Weston, the 26th Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, died on the weekend.
She was 83 years old.
Weston held the position of Lieutenant-Governor from 1997 to 2002.
In a statement, current Lieutenant-Governor Edith Dumont says Weston will have a lasting impact.
“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,” says Dumont.
She wanted to make the position more accessible to everyday Ontarians and visited community celebrations, women’s shelters and palliative care homes.
She maintained a focus on social issues even after she left the position and spearheaded a fundraiser for the Royal Ontario Museum that brought in more than $250 million, one of the largest fundraising campaigns in the country’s history, according to Dumont.
Dumont says her impact is still felt across the province.
“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.”
