Myra Ava Freeman (born May 17, 1949) is a Canadian philanthropist, teacher, the 29th and first female Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia.

Biography

Freeman was born Myra Ava Holtzman in Saint John, New Brunswick, the daughter of Anne Golda (Freedman), a homemaker, and Harry Holtzman, a businessman. She graduated from Dalhousie University with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education. In 1971, she started teaching with the Halifax Regional School Board until her appointment.

She was appointed lieutenant governor in 2000 by Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, on the advice of Jean Chrétien. She served as lieutenant governor until September 7, 2006.

Freeman and her husband, Larry, have three children: Daniel M. Freeman, Jonathan Freeman and Debra Freeman.

In her childhood, Freeman was a member of the Girl Guides of Canada, participating in Guiding youth programs.

Honours

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{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto;"

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|Ribbon || Description || Notes

|-

|40px || Order of Canada (CM) ||

  • Member
  • 1 July 2008.

|-

|40px || Order of St John (D.StJ) ||

  • 2000.
  • Dame of Justice and Vice Prior

|-

|40px || Order of Nova Scotia (ONS) ||

  • 2001.
  • First Recipient and First Chancellor

|-

|40px || Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) ||

  • 12 September 2013.
  • Military Division

|-

|40px || Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal ||

  • 2002.
  • Canadian version of this medal

|-

|40px || Canadian Forces' Decoration (CD)

||

  • 12 years as an Honorary Captain in the Royal Canadian Navy.
  • 2015.

|-

|}

;Honorary degrees

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"

! style="width:20%;"| Location

! style="width:20%;"| Date

! style="width:40%;"| School

! style="width:20%;"| Degree

|-

| || 2004 || Mount Saint Vincent University || Doctor of Humane Letters (DHL)

|-

| || May 2005 || Cape Breton University || Doctor of Laws (LL.D)

|-

| || 2007 || Acadia University || Doctor of Civil Law (DCL)

|-

| || May 2007 || Saint Mary's University || Doctor of Civil Law (DCL)

|-

| || 2008 || St. Francis Xavier University || Doctor of Laws (LL.D)

|-

| || May 2011 || Dalhousie University || Doctor of Laws (LL.D)

|-

|}

Honorary military appointments

  • 2003: Honorary Captain of Royal Canadian Navy Commander of Maritime Forces Atlantic.

Arms

References

  • Past Lieutenant Governors of Nova Scotia. Government of Nova Scotia. Accessed 2010-12-22.