"On behalf of all Canadians, I want to pay tribute to a remarkable Canadian whose life was marked as much by her grace and compassion as it was by her many accomplishments. As the representative of Her Majesty The Queen in Ontario, Mrs. McGibbon became the first female appointed Lieutenant Governor in Canada and, indeed, the first woman to represent The Queen in the Commonwealth.

Throughout her life in the fields of education, the arts and later business, Mrs. McGibbon never lost the personal touch that so exemplified her term of office as Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. We will always recall with much fondness her compassion for the less fortunate, her desire to reach out to everyone with whom she came in contact, and her determination to make a difference in the lives of others.

Ontario and Canada have lost a true pioneer whose passion and commitment stand as a testament to the service of one person to others. We will miss her deeply but take comfort in knowing that the example she has set will serve to inspire us all in building an even more compassionate and caring society."