Salmabegum Lakhani[3]AOE (born 1951 or 1952) is the 19th lieutenant governor of Alberta. Her appointment as lieutenant governor became effective upon the swearing of the oath of allegiance and oath of office on August 26, 2020.
Lakhani was born in Kampala, Uganda, the daughter of Abdul and Malek Rajabali, into an Ismaili Muslim family. She attended an Aga Khan School during her childhood.[6]
In August 1972 while Lakhani was back home on summer holidays, the Ugandan President, Idi Amin, began a set of policies that included the expropriation of properties owned by Asian and European Ugandans.[6][8] Lakhani returned to the United Kingdom quickly after the announcement of these policies. However, as her family's assets had been expropriated, she was unable to pay her tuition and living expenses. The British government waived these fees for many Ugandans, including Lakhani and her future husband, Zaheer Lakhani, who studied at the University of Leeds.[7]
In June 1977, Lakhani's husband received a medical residency position from the University of Alberta in Edmonton. The Lakhanis were stateless, so the couple travelled on British travel documents and originally intended to stay for two years.[6][7]
In the 1990s, Zaheer helped establish cardiac services at a hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, while Salma volunteered at two of the city's schools and with local women's charity groups.[6]
Lakhani was appointed Lieutenant Governor by Governor General Julie Payette on the advice of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Upon becoming lieutenant governor, she also was inducted to the Alberta Order of Excellence and was made its chancellor. Lakhani is vice-prior of the St. John Council for Alberta and a dame of the Order of Saint John.[6]
In September 2022, during the leadership election of the governing United Conservative Party, Lakhani told the media she would have to seek legal advice before giving royal assent to a controversial Alberta Sovereignty Act proposed by UCP leadership candidate Danielle Smith.[10][11][12] Though Lakhani acknowledged that her role is viewed as mostly ceremonial, she emphasized her belief in "do[ing] the right thing for our people and for our Constitution".[11]
Arms
Coat of arms of Salma Lakhani
Notes
Lakhani was granted armorial bearings by the Canadian Heraldic Authority in May 2023. The elements of the achievement were chosen to reflect Lakhani's upbringing and career in Uganda and Canada.[13]
Adopted
May 15, 2023
Crest
"A pronghorn lodged guardant proper gorged of a ribbon sable pendent therefrom a heart gules"
Escutcheon
"Gyronny arrondi of four gules and or, a pellet charged with a wild rose proper"
_ribbon_-vector.svg){kind=small}
