Former Chancellors of the Order of PEI
Honourable Antoinette Perry, O.P.E.I. (2017-2024)
Antoinette Perry is a respected educator from Tignish, Prince Edward Island. Before her retirement from teaching in 2009, she enjoyed a distinguished 32-year career at Tignish Consolidated Elementary School where she taught music and French. She serves as an organist and church choir director at St. Simon and St. Jude Parish and as a co-coordinator of the Parish’s Summer Organ Recital Series.
Ms. Perry studied Music Education at the Université de Moncton before returning home in 1977 to teach. Her lifelong passion for music and teaching found expression in many ways, including her establishment of the West Prince Music Festival (affiliated with the Federation of Canadian Music Festivals) and her service on the executive committee of the Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.) Music Educators Association. As Vice Principal of Tignish Consolidated Elementary School, she worked to instill in her students and their families a sense of pride in their community. Ms. Perry has also served on the P.E.I. Education Commission.
Ms. Perry is a proud Acadian who enjoys celebrating her culture through her involvement in community and cultural organizations. She has served on the West Prince Arts Council and the Tignish Historical Preservation Society and, in 1979, she composed the theme song “Acadiens, c'est l'heure” for the celebrations of the 375th anniversary of the arrival of the first Acadians and the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Société Saint-Thomas-d'Aquin. She also directed the Bicentennial Choir for the first ever recording of Ave Maris Stella, the Acadian National Anthem, with the official French verses.
In 2011, she spearheaded her parish’s organ restoration project which, thanks to her community's generosity, saw the majestic instrument restored to its original state. In addition to her music interests, her hobbies include cooking, yoga, travel and discovering hidden treasures in P.E.I.
Her Honour Antoinette Perry was installed as Prince Edward Island's 42nd Lieutenant Governor in a special ceremony held on October 20, 2017, in her home community of Tignish.
Honourable H. Frank Lewis, O.P.E.I. (2011-2017)
H. Frank Lewis is a life-long resident of York, Prince Edward Island, where many of his ancestors settled, some as early as 1812. Mr. Lewis had a lengthy career in business including several successful entrepreneurial ventures, notably in tourism, and is most widely known as a broadcasting industry executive with a career that began in 1966. From the early days of his working life in Charlottetown, Mr. Lewis has been actively engaged with business and community organizations as a volunteer, leader and mentor. Many organizations have recognized him for his leadership, commitment and contributions. His awards include induction into the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Junior Achievement of Prince Edward Island Business Hall of Fame in 2010. In fulfilling his duties as Lieutenant Governor, Mr. Lewis continued to reach out to the business community and non-profit organizations across Prince Edward Island to acknowledge their contributions to a prosperous and caring society.
The Honourable H. Frank Lewis was sworn in as Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island and invested as a member of the Order of P.E.I., for which he served as Chancellor, in a special ceremony on August 15, 2011. He is the 41st Lieutenant Governor since the colony of PEI was established and the 28th since Confederation.
Mr. Lewis is married to Dorothy (Millar) and they have five children, 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Honourable Barbara A. Hagerman, O.P.E.I. (2006 - 2011)
The late Honourable Barbara A. Hagerman was the 40th Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Prince Edward Island since the creation of the colony in 1769 and the twenty-seventh since Confederation. The installation ceremony was held on July 31, 2006.
Ms. Hagerman was born in Hartland, New Brunswick on February 9, 1943. She received her early education in New Brunswick and graduated from Mount Allison University in 1965, where she specialized in voice and organ. Barbara Hagerman had a distinguished forty year performance and teaching career which included teaching in the Island school system, guest performances with the PEI Symphony, adjudicating Music Festivals in the Atlantic provinces, and appearing in recitals and on local television.
In addition to her music career, Ms. Hagerman volunteered in many areas of Island life, including the PEI Music Festival Association, figure skating, gymnastics, cubs and church, with a very special interest in helping seniors and children with special needs.
Ms. Hagerman served on the National Boards of the Federation of Canadian Music Festivals, the Canada Council, the Association of Canadian Choral Conductors and the Fathers of Confederation Buildings Trust. She was held in high regard by her professional colleagues and made a positive impression on people she met from all walks of life across Canada. She was host of a CBC Maritime-Radio School Broadcast, appeared on Vision-TV with her choir and conducted the Summerside Community Choir at a Canadian Choral Celebration at Carnegie Hall, New York City in 1997.
Her life story is included in the book “In Their Own Words” by Holly Higgins Jonas.
She and her husband Nelson had two children; a son Kurt lives in the Cayman Islands with his wife Rupal and their two children Kyle and Asha; their daughter Brynne lives in Chilliwack. Ms. Hagerman died on October 6, 2016.
Honourable J. Léonce Bernard, O.P.E.I. (2001-2006)
The late Honourable J. Léonce Bernard was the thirty-ninth Lieutenant Governor of the Province since the creation of the colony in 1769 and the twenty-sixth since Confederation. He was installed as Lieutenant Governor on May 28, 2001.
Mr. Bernard was born May 23, 1943, in Abram-Village, Prince Edward Island. He received his early education and graduated from Evangeline School and later completed bookkeeping and accounting courses while a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Before entering politics, Mr. Bernard was employed as office manager with McGowan Motors in Montague, PEI, and as General manager of the Evangeline Credit Union in Wellington, PEI. After leaving politics, he served as General Manager and Accountant with the Coopérative Le Village Pionnier Acadien ltée and once again as Manager of the Evangeline Credit Union.
Mr. Bernard was a strong supporter of the co-operative movement both provincially and nationally, having served as President of the Conseil de la coopération de l’Î.-P.-É., as well as a member, vice president and treasurer of the Conseil canadien de la coopération, Minister responsible for co-operatives, member of the Credit Union Deposit Insurance Coporation, and member of the Regional Community Development Cooperative Board.
He was active in community affairs, serving in executive positions of many organizations: Village of Wellington, Federation of P.E.I. Municipalities, United Way, French Language School Board, Wellington Fire Department and Firemen’s Club, Wellington Boys and Girls Club, Wellington and Area Minor Hockey and Evangeline Tourism Association. He was a member of the Wellington Royal Canadian Legion (Branch 17), the Club Richelieu Évangéline and the Immaculate Conception Church.
First elected to the Legislative Assembly as Member for Third Prince in a by-election in 1975, Mr. Bernard was re-elected in five subsequent general elections in 1978, 1979, 1982, 1986, and 1989.
He was in Opposition from 1979 to 1986. In the government of Premier Joseph Ghiz, he served as Minister of Industry and Chairman of the P.E.I. Development Agency from 1986 to 1989, and from 1989-1991 was Minister of Fisheries and Community Affairs.
Mr. Bernard was married to Florence Gallant of Cape Egmont. They had four children - Michel, Pierre, Francine and Charles - and two grandsons. Mr. Bernard died on March 26, 2013.
Honourable Gilbert R. Clements, O.P.E.I. (1995-2001)
The late Honourable Gilbert Ralph Clements was the thirty-eighth Lieutenant Governor of the Province since the creation of the colony in 1769 and the twenty-fifth since Confederation. He was installed as Lieutenant Governor on August 30, 1995.
Mr. Clements was born September 11, 1928, at Victoria Cross, Prince Edward island. He was educated at Montague Memorial School and Mount Allison University.
Before entering politics, Mr. Clements owned and operated a successful electrical contracting and appliance sales business and later owned and operated a real estate and insurance business.
He was active in community affairs serving in many organizations. He also served a number of years as a school trustee, town councillor, and a fireman. He was a member of the Hillcrest United Church and Saint Andrews Masonic Lodge #13 AF&AM, Montague.
Mr. Clements served as Chancellor of the Order of Prince Edward Island and was the first recipient to receive the Medal of Merit (insignia of the Order) in August, 1996. He was also the recipient of the Canada 125 Medal and the Queen’s Jubilee Medal. In October 1996, Mr. Clements was invested as a Knight of Justice in the Order of St. John at an investiture ceremony at the Notre Dame Basilica, Ottawa, and now serves as Vice Prior for the Province of Prince Edward Island. As Lieutenant Governor he also served as Patron to more than 30 organizations.
First elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1970 as the Member for the Fourth District of Kings, Mr. Clements was re-elected at six subsequent general elections in 1974, 1979, 1982, 1986, 1989 and 1993.
He served as Opposition Critic for Finance and Environment during the period 1979-1986 and held various Ministerial portfolios in the government of Premier Alex Campbell including Municipal Affairs, Tourism, Parks & Conservation and Community & Cultural Affairs. In the government of Premier Joseph Ghiz he served as Minister of the Environment and Minister of Finance.
Mr. Clements was Chair of the Canadian Council of Environment Ministers on two separate occasions. In 1976, he was recognized as the only elected official to receive the Travel Industry Association of Canada Crandall Award, given for the greatest contribution to preserving the environment in Canada. He attended Conferences on the Environment in England, U.S.S.R., Venezuela and U.S.A. (Alaska). In 1992, he was an official member of the Canadian Delegation to the “Earth Summit” in Rio de Janeiro.
Mr. Clements died November 27, 2012. He was married to Wilma Cheverie MacLure of Montague and had three children – Robert, David and Gail – and five grandchildren.