Jocelyne Roy-Vienneau will focus on literacy, family violence

New Brunswicks new Lt-Gov. Jocelyne Roy-Vienneau will use her term to focus on improving literacy and fighting against family violence.

Roy-Vienneau was sworn in as the provinces 31st lieutenant-governor on Thursday afternoon at a ceremony in the Legislative Assembly.

She told the guests that she intends to follow the example set by her predecessors to focus on important issues during her mandate.

I pledge to you today to continue to work for such causes as literacy and the fight against family violence. If I can use this role to make New Brunswick better, I believe it is my duty, she said.

She replacedGraydon Nicholas as the provinces lieutenant governor.

Roy-Vienneauwas the chief executive officer of theBathurstcampus of the New Brunswick Community College system and previously served as an assistant deputy minister of education.

She was the first woman to direct a francophone community college in New Brunswick, was the first woman to occupy a secular position as a vice president of a campus at the University ofMoncton and was one of the first women to graduate from the university's engineering program.

With her background in education, Roy-Vienneauunderscored the importance of education during her speech.

Reading, expanding our minds, trying new things is crucial. Knowledge is the primary source of value in our world today. I hope to encourage this message to young and old alike, she said.

Roy-Vienneau noted that she is only the third woman and fourth Acadian to serve in the lieutenant-governors position.

She also thanked Nicholas for his service over the last five years.

As lieutenant-governor, Mr. Nicholas taught us to be more caring, more tolerant, more giving and more human all goals which I also hope to pursue while in this vice regal role, she said.

Roy-Vienneau said it is time that New Brunswickers see themselves as strong, resourceful, enthusiastic, determined, creative, fun-loving, grateful, proud of our past, excited for our future.

There is a difference between the New Brunswick we have and the New Brunswick we want. It is time for us to be better, more connected, more engaged, more understanding, more open, she said.

It is time for us to stand up and to be noticed, to be more vocal, to be boastful, to be proud New Brunswick proud.

She said she wanted to challenge New Brunswickers to become active in their communities by volunteering and helping others.

"Whether it is to a community foundation, to a volunteer group, to a service club, or just to help a neighbour, I am asking New Brunswickers to commit," she said.

Roy-Vienneau was born in Newcastle and raised in a rural family in Robertville.