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 Iain introduced our evening’s guest..
The Honourable Patricia Bovey, Senator from 2016–2023, is a Winnipeg-based art historian, museologist, author, and arts advocate. She is Director Emerita of the Winnipeg Art Gallery and has held leadership roles including Director of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria (1980–1999), Director of the Winnipeg Art Gallery (1999–2004), and founding Director/Curator of the Buhler Gallery at St. Boniface Hospital (2007–2016). A published author and frequent lecturer on Canadian art and cultural governance, her works include Western Voices in Canadian Art (2023) and Don Proch: Masking and Mapping (2019 finalist, Manitoba Book Awards). She also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Winnipeg and the University of Victoria. As a Senator, she served as Acting Speaker and represented Canada at major international summits. Her legislative contributions include the Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate Bill (Royal Assent, 2024) and the Declaration on the Essential Role of Artists, unanimously adopted by the Senate. She initiated exhibitions and advocated for the arts' societal role. A dedicated community volunteer and former Chair of both the University of Manitoba and Emily Carr University boards, she has received multiple awards and honorary degrees for her service. The Hon. Patricia Bovey Speaks to the Charleswood Rotary Club - Reflections on Manitoba, the Arts, and Her Role in the Senate of Canada A Warm Welcome and Deep Roots in Manitoba The Honourable Patricia Bovey began her presentation by expressing heartfelt gratitude to Ian, Cathy, and the Charleswood Rotary Club for their invitation and warm hospitality. She emphasized her strong connection to Manitoba, having been born and educated in the province and having spent the majority of her career there, aside from two decades in Victoria. Bovey also highlighted her work with various Manitoba organizations, including serving on the University of Manitoba’s Board of Governors alongside club member Sharon. Reflecting on her tenure as Chair, she acknowledged the challenges and rewards of the role. Introducing a Special Guest Senator Bovey introduced her guest for the evening, longtime friend Susie Fraser from the UK, who was born in Manitoba and frequently returns to visit. In a fitting tie to her topic, Bovey noted that Fraser’s great-grandfather, George Allen, was a senator from Ontario and a signatory to the British North America Act in 1867. He later served as Speaker of the Senate from 1888 to 1891, a role that placed him fourth in Canada’s ceremonial order of precedence. Understanding the Role of a Manitoba Senator Bovey then transitioned to the heart of her presentation: what it means to serve as a Manitoba senator. She explained that Canada’s Senate is a “chamber of sober second thought,” serving as the upper house in a bicameral parliamentary system alongside the House of Commons and the Governor General. The Senate’s functions are threefold: legislative, representative, and investigative. Manitoba is allocated six Senate seats, and senators come from a wide range of backgrounds—academic, cultural, and professional. During her term, Bovey noted, the Senate grew more inclusive, with increasing numbers of women, Indigenous, Black, and immigrant senators. Structure and Groups in the Senate Senator Bovey detailed the structure within the Senate, noting the presence of four primary groups: - Independent Senators Group (ISG) – the largest
- Conservative Senators Group – the opposition
- Canadian Senators Group
- Progressive Senate Group – to which Bovey eventually moved
She also mentioned the Government Representative Office, led by Senator Marc Gold, which manages government legislation in the Senate. A Unique Path to Appointment Bovey described her journey to the Senate as part of a new, merit-based appointment process. Candidates were recommended by regional advisory committees and evaluated based on alignment with Senate values. She recalled her surprise at receiving a personal call from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who appointed her and encouraged her to focus on arts and culture through an independent lens. As Canada’s first art historian and museologist in the Senate, Bovey embraced this directive wholeheartedly. Serving Between History and Renovation Reflecting on the physical space of the Senate, Bovey described her experience working in both the traditional Centre Block and the temporary chamber located in Ottawa’s old railway station. She shared a personal anecdote, noting the poetic symmetry of her Senate desk being located where she first stepped off a train at age 15 after moving to Ottawa. Navigating the Complexities of Senate Life Bovey emphasized the steep learning curve she faced, navigating complex rules and procedures while balancing a constant commute between Ottawa and Manitoba. She cherished the chance to bring arts and Manitoban issues to the national stage and took pride in initiatives that resulted in legislation or influential Senate reports. Her move from the ISG to the smaller Progressive Senate Group was strategic, enabling her to better advocate for the arts and for Western Canadian perspectives. She reminded the audience of the strict mandatory retirement at age 75, describing with humor how final the process felt. Committee Work and Legislative Contributions Throughout her Senate career, Bovey served on numerous committees, including: - National Finance
- Rules, Procedures and Rights of Parliament
- Foreign Affairs and International Trade
- Official Languages (Executive Member)
- Social Affairs, Science and Technology (Deputy Chair)
- Transport and Communications (Deputy Chair)
- Special Committee on the Arctic (Deputy Chair)
- Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
- Heritage and Arts (Chair, Subcommittee)
She also recounted overseeing the conservation of WWI paintings displayed in the Centre Block Senate Chamber, reflecting her unique expertise in the arts. She reaffirmed her commitment to representing Manitoba and advocating for the arts at a national level. She expressed pride in her contributions to legislative change and national dialogue, grateful for the chance to serve both her province and her country in such a historic role. How Legislation Works in the Senate Senator Patricia Bovey offered a concise overview of the legislative process in the Senate, noting that each bill goes through three readings. The bill’s sponsor is responsible for introducing it for first reading, after which debate begins at second reading. The sponsor and the critic are each permitted 45 minutes to speak; all other senators are allowed 15 minutes and may speak only once per reading. Party leaders, however, may speak for as long as they wish. Once all interested senators have spoken at second reading, the bill proceeds to committee, where the primary work is conducted through witness testimony. Senator Bovey encouraged citizens to consider putting their names forward to serve as witnesses on issues they care about. She explained that the committee’s steering group determines the list of witnesses, and the final committee report includes only what those witnesses have said—senators' views are not included. Senators instead express their perspectives on the Senate floor. They may also propose amendments, which are voted on before the final bill. When the bill returns to the Senate following committee review, it undergoes third reading. The same speaking rules apply. If amendments are introduced and approved, the bill is sent back to the House of Commons, where it begins the process anew. If the House proposes further amendments, the Senate starts the process again as well. Once a bill has passed both houses, it proceeds to the Governor General for royal assent. Proclamations are often read back in the Senate, reinforcing the Senate's role as the chamber connected to the Governor General. The annual Throne Speech is always read in the Senate. Senator Bovey noted that King Charles is scheduled to deliver the next Throne Speech at the end of the month. Personal Reflections and Early Senate Experience Senator Bovey reflected on her swearing-in ceremony, a significant and emotional event. Her children traveled from the UK, one brother came from the United States and another from Canada, and several friends were in attendance. Each new senator selects a colleague to walk them into the chamber—Senator Bovey asked Murray Sinclair, who graciously accepted. She emphasized the weight of taking the oath of office, describing it as a deeply serious commitment to the people of Canada, and particularly Manitobans. She expressed her gratitude to George Furey, then-Speaker of the Senate and a fellow Atlantic Canadian, who later asked her to serve as Acting Speaker less than two years into her term. In that capacity, she represented the Senate at a G7 Speakers’ Meeting in Argentina, at a bill signing in Mexico, and at the Canadian Speakers’ Conference. She recalled the daunting nature of presiding over the Senate, especially during her first session in the Speaker’s Chair. Fluent bilingualism was essential, as was a thorough knowledge of every senator’s name—an intimidating task with 100 members. She joked about the occasional blank moments when names escaped her, but reminded herself that if she could manage protestors at a University of Manitoba board meeting targeting the Premier, she could certainly manage the Senate. Choosing East Block and Honouring Personal History Senator Bovey chose her office in East Block, the only part of Parliament Hill not destroyed in the 1916 fire, for personal reasons. One of her late husbands had been an archivist and historian who brought the Hudson’s Bay Archives from London to Winnipeg. Her second husband, also deceased, was a former Lieutenant Governor and Member of Parliament. Though she later learned he never actually had an office on Parliament Hill, she felt the space connected their shared histories. Her office displayed a curated collection of Manitoba art, part of her effort to showcase the province’s cultural significance. She published a small booklet on Manitoba art and distributed copies to all MPs and senators—new and returning—underscoring that Manitoba was far more than “just the keystone province.” First Speech and Senate Milestones Senator Bovey’s first Senate speech addressed the broad societal value of the arts—its impact on the economy, health, and crime prevention. She was later honoured with a signed copy of that speech. She is one of the few senators to have presided over the Senate in both the original and new chambers. The current chamber, housed in the refurbished former railway station, incorporates maple leaf-themed artwork and retains the Senate’s traditional red decor. Legislative Success and Personal Loss Senator Bovey’s private member’s bill, An Act Respecting the Declaration on the Essential Role of Artists and Creative Expression in Canada, passed unanimously in the Senate and was praised for its wide-ranging consultations and compelling witness testimony. She asked fellow Manitoban Jim Carr to sponsor the bill in the House of Commons. They shared a childhood connection to the arts—he to the Winnipeg Symphony, and she to the Winnipeg Art Gallery. Shortly before the bill could advance, Jim Carr passed away. Replacing a sponsor requires unanimous consent in the House, and one anonymous MP voted against it. Two weeks before her retirement, Senator Bovey learned that the Minister of Heritage had been the dissenting vote, objecting to the bill’s reference to “access for all.” He feared jurisdictional conflicts over accessibility regulations. She clarified that those laws already existed at the provincial level and lamented not having met him three years earlier when she began drafting the bill. Despite this setback, she has continued advocating for the bill outside the Senate, with support now emerging from Manitoba and British Columbia. Cultural Advocacy in Committee and Beyond Senator Bovey also initiated a major Foreign Affairs Committee study on cultural diplomacy, which she originally expected would take just two days. It turned into a year-long project with unanimous support and has since influenced policy at Global Affairs Canada and the Canada Council for the Arts. She expressed her hope that Manitoba’s distinctive artistic voices will benefit from the framework this report has established. She recalled with humour her unexpected dive into the topic of autonomous vehicles as part of the Transport and Communications Committee. Expecting to focus on the CBC’s importance to Western Canada, she was instead immersed in discussions about AI-driven trucking convoys. While she personally drove a 1999 Toyota—lovingly dubbed a “20th-century car”—her practical Manitoba mindset raised a crucial question: how do convoys function on ice roads where trucks must remain a kilometer apart? The answer, it turned out, hadn’t been considered. Championing the Arts in the Senate Throughout her Senate tenure, Senator Bovey spearheaded several art initiatives. One celebrated Canada’s Black artists, beginning with Western creators like Winnipeg's Yisa Akinbolaji and BC’s Chantal Gibson. She was proud that this first exhibition, mounted on a shoestring budget, received glowing international press coverage. Another initiative displayed artworks tied to Senate debates, including pieces addressing climate change by astronaut and artist Roberta Bondar and acclaimed photographer Edward Burtynsky. Bondar later donated her work to the Senate in recognition of its efforts. Senator Bovey also launched a program involving Canadian museums, encouraging them to loan works for Senate committee rooms. The Winnipeg Art Gallery responded first, lending its renowned Inuit art collection. Believing deeply in the value of children’s creativity, she also hosted an annual art night for the children of Senate staff and senators, decorating a corridor in her office with their work—known affectionately as “Gallery 144.” Closing Reflections on the Senate As her term ended, Senator Bovey reflected on the Senate’s essential role. She affirmed its value in improving legislation and highlighting under-addressed societal issues through thorough, non-partisan studies. She pointed to work on topics such as cultural diplomacy, the Arctic, and the plight of immigrant workers. She opposed the idea of an elected Senate, believing its strength lies in its stability and insulation from electoral pressures. However, she also felt strongly that Senate appointments should be term-limited—not linked to age. A fixed term of 10 to 15 years, she argued, would allow senators to contribute meaningfully without overstaying. Though her own term was six and a half years, she was content with what she accomplished and remains active on important issues, now freed from the formal rules of Senate procedure. Closing Remarks from President Cathy President Cathy warmly thanked guest speaker The Hon. Patricia Bovey, expressing her appreciation for the wonderful presentation. Before allowing her to return to her seat, Cathy made a heartfelt request, asking Patricia to promise—cross her heart—that she would return to speak to the club specifically about arts and culture. Cathy shared how much the cultural scene in Winnipeg means to her personally, noting that while it wasn’t the reason she initially came to the city, it was a key reason she chose to stay. She mentioned having already booked over 20 plays and concerts for the upcoming season. Just the day before, she attended a matinee performance at the symphony with Gwen Hoebig and recounted a touching moment when Karl Stobbe, tuning the orchestra after intermission, tapped a piano key and the audience burst into applause—a testament to the city’s deep appreciation for its artists. Stobbe, visibly moved, was brought to tears. Cathy then gathered her thoughts and, before turning the floor over to Sarge Lyle for the draw, asked if there was anything else to be raised for the good of Rotary. |
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