State funeral held for 'great lady' Lt.-Gov. Jocelyne Roy Vienneau

Lt.-Gov. Jocelyne Roy Vienneau was remembered as a pioneer for women in science, a pillar of her family and a "great lady" committed to the advancement of New Brunswick, during a state funeral today in her home community of Robertville.

Roy Vienneau died Aug. 2 at the Chaleur Regional Hospital in Bathurst after a battle with cancer. She was 63. 

A traditional Catholic funeral service was held at 11 a.m., led by Rev. Maurice Frenette. 

Among the many dignitaries on hand at Sainte-Thérèse d'Avila Church in the community northwest of Bathurst were Gov. Gen. Julie Payette, Premier Blaine Higgs, former lieutenant-governors Herménégilde Chiasson and Marilyn Trenholme Counsell, and former premiers Bernard Lord and Camille Theriault.

Payette recalled feeling an immediate kinship with Roy Vienneau from their first meeting, both being appointed representatives of the Crown and both francophones, with backgrounds in engineering and business. 

"We are here today to celebrate the accomplishments of a great lady of New Brunswick," said Payette, "who made a huge difference, working tirelessly always to further the economic development of her province, to promote and advance education in all forms, and the importance of citizen involvement in all spheres of society."

Premier Blaine Higgs said he, too, had a good relationship with Roy Vienneau, thanks to their shared engineering backgrounds.

He described her as a woman of profound values and many accomplishments, who demonstrated kindness and leadership.

"We have lost a strong and courageous New Brunswicker," Higgs said, while predicting Roy Vienneau would continue to inspire generations of young girls to pursue careers in scientific fields or public service.

Sid-Ahmed Selouani, vice-president of the University of Moncton's Shippagan campus, spoke of some of his former colleague's accomplishments.

Roy Vienneau was one of the first francophone women to become an engineer in the province. She helped create a lab to promote the development of a language industry, and was instrumental in the establishment of the Economic Information Observatory for Atlantic Canada.

She also worked for linguistic rights and started a fund in support of transition houses.

"Jocelyne, the pioneer, was very enthusiastic," said Selouani. "She was that rare kind of person who combined humanism and openness of spirit, competence and abnegation." 

Outside the church, Herménégilde Chiasson also noted Roy Vienneau was also the first Acadian woman to serve as lieutenant-governor.

Chiasson described her as a woman of causes and compassion, who promoted culture and education.

He praised the way she handled the unusual situation with last fall's provincial election results that left no party with a majority of seats.

The service included a pipe and drum ceremony and honour guard formed by members of the military and RCMP.

Books of condolences for members of the public to sign will be available at the New Brunswick Legislature and Government House in Fredericton between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. until Aug. 23.

All official events at Government House remain cancelled until further notice.