Edith Dumont

Family and Education

Edith Dumont was born in 1964, in the small, picturesque town of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec, southwest of Montreal. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology at the University of Ottawa in 1985, a psychology degree at the Université de Montréal in 1986, and a bachelor’s degree in orthopedagogy at the Université du Québec in Outaouais in 1988. In 1997, Dumont earned a master’s degree in education at the University of Ottawa.

Dumont is married to Tony Viscardi, an aerospace engineer and IT consultant. They have three children: Éloïse, Antoine and Gabrielle.

Career in Education

Edith Dumont’s interest in education took her to schools in the Dominican Republic and Rwanda. She taught and did humanitarian work, confirming for her the importance of building relationships and strengthening communities.

In the early 1990s, Dumont began a long career with what, in 1998, became the Conseil des écoles publiques de l'Est de l'Ontario (CEPEO). It is responsible for the elementary and secondary school education of French-language students in Trenton, Pembroke, Ottawa, Hawkesbury and Cornwall. Dumont began as a special education teacher. She was later promoted to principal and then superintendent. In March 2012, Dumont became the first woman to lead the board as its director of education. She also served as its secretary-treasurer. In all her positions with the board, she was a tireless advocate for quality French-language education that is accessible to all. During her tenure, the graduation rate among the board’s secondary school students was an impressive 95 per cent.

In the late 1990s, Dumont took time from the board to complete her master’s degree in education. She and her family lived in Paris, France, and Pretoria, South Africa. In 2018, France recognized her efforts in promoting partnerships, community and inclusiveness in French-language education by making her a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Palmes académiques.

Dumont was a sought-after speaker and panellist at conferences across Canada and in France, Morocco and Romania. She also served on the board of the Ottawa Network for Education. It helps students prepare for success at work or in post-secondary education by offering a breakfast program and volunteers to assist with language difficulties and the acquisition of work and academic skills. Dumont also served on the board of the Ontario French-Language Educational Communications Authority. It provides educational programs, services and products to assist those providing French-language education in Ontario.

In April 2020, Dumont left the Conseil des écoles publiques de l'Est de l'Ontario (CEPEO) to become the vice-president of Partnerships, Communities and International Relations at the Université de l'Ontario français (UOF). The UOF is a small but growing university that opened in Toronto in 2021. It offers French-language post-secondary programs to Canadian and international students. Among Dumont’s accomplishments was the creation of a program called the Crossroads of Knowledge and Innovation. It develops partnerships between the university and businesses that benefit students and entrepreneurs.

Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario

In August 2023, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that he had appointed Edith Dumont to serve as Ontario’s 30th and first francophone lieutenant-governor. He said, “Ms. Dumont is an educator and an accomplished community advocate. She has dedicated her career to supporting Francophone communities in Ontario, Canada, and around the world. I know she will continue to serve her fellow Ontarians with distinction as Ontario’s new Lieutenant Governor.”

Dumont was sworn in on 14 November 2023. She arrived at the Ontario legislature in a horse-drawn carriage, escorted by the Governor General's Horse Guards. After a ceremony that included prayers, songs and speeches, she swore allegiance to King Charles III. Premier Doug Ford said, “Her honour is a respected educator and community advocate having worked as a special education teacher, a school principal, and an executive. She's a champion for our francophone communities here in Ontario and right across Canada.” In her speech, Dumont declared the importance of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. She also pledged to ensure that the office remained a “relevant institution for advancing civic engagement, building inclusive communities and supporting the future of our democracy."

On 20 November 2024, Dumont travelled to London where she met with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace. She said of the meeting, “It was a great honour to meet His Majesty and convey Ontarians’ deep gratitude for his service. Our conversation was an inspiring reflection on Ontario’s vibrant and diverse communities, and it was clear that His Majesty holds a profound affection for our province.”

Constitutionally, Lieutenant-Governor Dumont represents His Majesty the King in Ontario. As such, she swore in the premier and cabinet after the election on 27 February 2025. On 15 April, she opened the 44th Ontario Parliament. She began the session by reading the Speech from the Throne, which outlined the government’s priorities. She has since signed many bills that the legislature has passed, thereby giving them royal assent and making them law.

Honours

Edith Dumont has been awarded the Order of Ottawa (2017), the Prix Bernard Grandmaître (2020) and the Médaille de l’Ordre de la Pléiade de l’Ontario (2021). She has been made a Dame of Justice of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem (2024) and was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal (2025).

(See also Lieutenant-Governors of Ontario.)