Patronage, in the sense of support and encouragement of worthy endeavours, is a legitimate function of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor. It derives from the concept of the Crown as the source of the highest honours and awards granted in our society.
The Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia grants patronage to support and encourage worthy endeavours. Her Honour is patron of many community, military and cultural associations, as well as public service organizations, lending them vital support and recognition for their outstanding contributions to society. When requested, Her Honour may also provide patronage to an event.
Organizations that are granted patronage by the Lieutenant Governor and/or the Vice-Regal Consort are chosen based on the following criteria:
- have aims and objectives aligned with the mandate of the Lieutenant Governor;
- are provincial or regional in scope;
- have active programs that are a direct benefit to the community at large
- are non-partisan; and
- are financially responsible.
All organizations must re-apply for patronage at the beginning of each new Lieutenant Governor’s term which is typically five years. Patronage does not guarantee the Lieutenant Governor’s involvement in, or attendance at, events being hosted by organizations. The Lieutenant Governor’s Patronage may not be used in direct connection with fundraising campaigns.
Current Patronages of the Lieutenant Governor:
4-H British Columbia
Air Cadet League of Canada – British Columbia Provincial Committee
Angel Flight of British Columbia
Annual Bufflehead Festival – Friends of Shoal Harbour
Archives Association of British Columbia
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
Association of Supply Chain Management – British Columbia
Ballet Victoria
BC Black History Awareness Society
Big Sisters of British Columbia Lower Mainland
British Columbia Association of Healthcare Auxiliaries
British Columbia Heritage Fairs Society
British Columbia Historical Federation
British Columbia Wildlife Federation
British Columbia Women’s Institute
Broadmead Care Society
Brock House Society
Canadian Association for Security and Intelligence Studies – Vancouver
Canadian Club of Vancouver
Canadian Club of Victoria
Canadian Corps of Commissionaires – Victoria, The Islands and Yukon
Canadian Council of the Blind – British Columbia and Yukon Division
Canadian Federation of University Women – BC Council
Canadian Red Cross – British Columbia and Yukon
Chair in Transgender Studies – University of Victoria
Chinatown Storytelling Centre
Cridge Centre for the Family
Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award – British Columbia and Yukon Division
Elders Council for Parks in British Columbia
Gail O’Riordan Climate and the Arts Legacy Fund
Girl Guides of Canada – British Columbia Council
Grasslands Conservation Council of British Columbia
Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival Association
Greater Victoria Police Chorus
Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra Society
Growing Young Farmers Society
Guild of Waggoneers and Artificers
Health and Home Care Society of British Columbia
Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire BC
Institute of Public Administration of Canada – Victoria and Vancouver Regional Groups
Jack Webster Foundation
Janusz Korczak Association of Canada
Junior Achievement of British Columbia
Last Post Fund – British Columbia Branch
Lester B Pearson College of the Pacific and United World Colleges
Looking Glass Foundation for Eating Disorders
Maritime Museum of British Columbia Society
McCreary Centre Society
Minerva British Columbia
Monarchist League of Canada – Victoria Branch
National Dialogue on Canada’s Futures
Nature Trust of British Columbia
Naval Officers Association of British Columbia
New Westminster Symphony Society
Ocean Ambassadors Canada
Okanagan Military Museum Society
Okanagan Military Tattoo
Okanagan Symphony Orchestra
Pacific Assistance Dogs Society (PADS)
Pacific Autism Family Network
Pacific Opera Victoria
Pacific Parkinson’s Research Institute
PRISMA – Pacific Region International Summer Music Academy Association
Rise Women’s Legal Centre
Rocky Point Bird Observatory
Royal British Columbia Museum
Royal Canadian Humane Association
Royal Canadian Legion – British Columbian and Yukon Command
Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue
Royal Commonwealth Society – Mainland of British Columbia Branch
Royal Commonwealth Society – Vancouver Island
Royal Heraldry Society of Canada – Vancouver Branch
Royal Heraldry Society of Canada – British Columbia and Yukon Branch
Royal Life Saving Society of Canada – British Columbia and Yukon
Royal United Service Institute of Vancouver Island
Ruby Lake Lagoon Nature Reserve Society
Sail and Life Training Society (SALTS)
Salvation Army – British Columbia Division
Science Fair Foundation of British Columbia
Scouts Canada
Seva Canada Society
St John Society, St John Ambulance and the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of
Jerusalem – British Columbia and Yukon
SUCCESS
Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary
The Inclusion Project
The Quadra Education Foundation
Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation
United Way of Greater Victoria
Vancouver Island Military Museum
Vancouver Opera
Victoria Chinatown Museum Society
Victoria Choral Society
Victoria Conservatory of Music
Victoria Foundation
Victoria Hospice Society
Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society
Victoria Women’s Transition House Society
West Coast Railway Association
Youth Futures Education Fund
Youth Parliament of British Columbia Alumni Society
Please note the Honourable Janet Austin is no longer accepting applications for new patronages during her mandate.