# Joan Marie Aylward

Joan Marie Aylward ONL is a former Canadian politician serving as the 15th and current lieutenant governor of Newfoundland and Labrador. She previously sat in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly from 1996 to 2003 as a member of the Liberals. She represented the electoral district of St. John's Centre.
She was educated at the General Hospital School of Nursing, completing her nursing degree at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Aylward was an intensive care nurse at St. Clare's Mercy Hospital. From 1984 to 1990, she served on the faculty of the St. Clare's School of Nursing. Aylward served five years as president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Nurses Union.
She served in the Newfoundland cabinet as Minister of Social Services, as Minister of Health, as Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs, as Minister of Finance and as president of Treasury Board.
On October 12, 2023, Aylward was named by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador, replacing Judy Foote. She was sworn in on November 14, 2023.

## Honor & Awards

| Description | Post-nominal letters | Notes |
| Order of Newfoundland and Labrador | ONL | |
| Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers | | |
| Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal | | Canadian version |
| King Charles III Coronation Medal | | Canadian version |

## Electoral record

2003 Newfoundland and Labrador general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Shawn Skinner | 3,349 | 55.19 | +15.61 |
| | Liberal | Joan Marie Aylward | 1,763 | 29.05 | -13.22 |
| | New Democratic | Carol Cantwell | 956 | 15.76 | -2.39 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 6,068 | 99.33 | – |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 41 | 0.67 | – |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,109 | 59.68 | -0.57 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 10,236 |
| | Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal | Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | Swing | +14.42 |
| Source: Elections Newfoundland and Labrador |||||||
1999 Newfoundland and Labrador general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Joan Marie Aylward | 2,609 | 42.27 | -0.78 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Paul Brown | 2,443 | 39.58 | +1.96 |
| | New Democratic | Valerie Long | 1,120 | 18.15 | -1.18 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 6,172 | 99.29 | – |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 44 | 0.71 | – |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,216 | 60.25 | -5.63 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 10,317 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | -1.37 |
| Source: Elections Newfoundland and Labrador |||||||
1996 Newfoundland and Labrador general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Joan Marie Aylward | 2,579 | 43.05 | -4.20 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Paul Brown | 2,254 | 37.62 | -1.32 |
| | New Democratic | Wayne Lucas | 1,158 | 19.33 | +5.52 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 5,991 | 99.42 | – |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 35 | 0.58 | – |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,026 | 65.88 | -0.11 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 9,147 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | -2.76 |
| Source: Elections Newfoundland and Labrador |||||||

## Honours and decorations

As lieutenant governor, Aylward is a ex officio Member (ONL) and Chancellor of the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador. As a lieutenant governor in Canada, Aylward is entitled to the style "the Honourable" for life and "Her Honour the Honourable" while in office.

### Appointments

* November 14, 2023: Member of the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador (ONL)
** November 14, 2023 – present: Chancellor of the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador (while in office)
* November 14, 2023: Dame of Justice of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem (D.StJ) (Vice-Prior in Newfoundland and Labrador while in office)

### Medals

* February 6, 2002: Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (Canadian version)
* May 6, 2024: King Charles III Coronation Medal (Canadian version)

### Honorary military appointments

* November 14, 2023 – Present: Honorary Colonel of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment.
* November 14, 2023 – Present: Patron of the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires (Newfoundland and Labrador Branch).
* November 14, 2023 – Present: Honorary Chief of Police of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary.