Brenda Murphy

The Honourable
Brenda Murphy
ONB
Murphy in 2020
32nd Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick
In office
September 8, 2019 – January 22, 2025
Monarchs
Governors General
Premier
Preceded byJocelyne Roy-Vienneau
Succeeded byLouise Imbeault
Personal details
Born1958 or 1959 (age 67–68)
Domestic partner
Linda Boyle

Brenda L. Murphy (born 1959) is a Canadian activist and politician who served as the 32nd lieutenant governor of New Brunswick, from 2019 to 2025.

Career

She served as a municipal councillor in Grand Bay–Westfield and as the executive director of the Saint John Women's Empowerment Network in Saint John, best known for her advocacy on poverty and domestic violence issues. She also served on a federal advisory council on poverty, and on New Brunswick's advisory council on the status of women.

Lieutenant-governor

On September 8, 2019, she began serving as lieutenant governor of New Brunswick. She was both the province's first openly LGBT lieutenant governor and the first openly LGBT person to hold any viceregal office in Canada. She stepped down at the end of her term in 2025.

In April 2022, the Court of Queen's Bench of New Brunswick ruled that her appointment as lieutenant governor violated the bilingual status of the province under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, since Murphy is unilingual English-speaking. In May 2024, the Court of Appeal of New Brunswick overturned this judgment. However, in June 2026 the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick must be able to perform their functions in both English and French.

Ms Murphy learned to speak French while in office. On November 15, 2024, Louise Imbeault was named as Murphy's successor.

Honours and awards

Ribbon Bar of Brenda Murphy
Ribbon Description Post-nominal letters Date Notes
Dame of Justice of the Order of St. John D.St.J 2020
Member of the Order of New Brunswick O.N.B 2019 Member ex officio, by virtue as Chancellor of the Order during her lieutenant governorship
Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal 2022 New-Brunswick version
King Charles III Coronation Medal 2024 Canadian version

Personal life

Murphy lives in Grand Bay–Westfield. Her partner Linda Boyle accompanied her on official engagements, including a visit to King Charles III at Buckingham Palace in November 2022.

Arms

Coat of arms of Brenda Murphy
Crest
A butternut tree Or leaved Purpure fructed Argent issuant from a circlet Or the upper rim set with purple violets Proper.
Escutcheon
Per bend wavy Or and Purpure a bend wavy counterchanged between in chief an orca enarched Purpure embellished Argent and in base semé of mayflowers Argent seeded Or.
Supporters
Two snow geese Argent beaked and legged Or their exterior wings elevated and embellished standing on a cable ferry Purpure its railing Argent issuant from a bar wavy Argent charged with a barrulet wavy Purpure.
Motto
Every Voice Matters

References

  1. 1 2 Bobbi-Jean Mackinnon, "Brenda Murphy 'humbled' to be appointed New Brunswick's new lieutenant-governor". CBC News New Brunswick, September 5, 2019.
  2. 1 2 "Women's advocate Brenda Murphy named new lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick". CTV News Atlantic. Canadian Press. September 5, 2019. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  3. ↑ Alexander Quon, "Brenda Murphy officially sworn in as lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick". Global News, September 9, 2019.
  4. ↑ "Women’s advocate Brenda Murphy named new lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick". Toronto Star, September 5, 2019.
  5. ↑ Poitras, Jacques (April 14, 2022). "Appointment of unilingual N.B. lieutenant-governor violated charter, judge rules". CBC News. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  6. ↑ Poitras, Jacques (May 23, 2024). "N.B. Appeal Court says lieutenant-governor is not required to be bilingual". CBC News. Retrieved May 23, 2024. But the appeal court says the Charter doesn't specify a right to "speak" to the lieutenant-governor herself in English or French, only to communicate with her office.
  7. ↑ Lowrie, Morgan (June 12, 2026). "Supreme Court rules New Brunswick lieutenant-governor must be bilingual". CTV News. The Canadian Press. Retrieved June 15, 2026. In a 6-3 decision released Friday, the court said appointing a lieutenant-governor who can't communicate in both official languages violates the section of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms stating that English and French have equal status in New Brunswick.
  8. 1 2 Farley, Sam (November 15, 2024). "Louise Imbeault named next lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick". CBC News. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Canada Gazette, Part 1, Volume 154, Number 30" (PDF). Canadagazette.gc.ca. July 25, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  10. 1 2 3 4 L'hon. / The Hon. Brenda Murphy [@LtGov_NB] (May 6, 2024). "It was a great honour to receive a King Charles III Coronation Medal from Her Excellency The Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, during a virtual ceremony today. #CoronationMedal" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
  11. ↑ The Royal Family, Court Circular, 30 November 2022
  12. ↑ "Brenda Louise Murphy". Canadian Heraldic Authority. Retrieved August 15, 2023.