{{Short description|Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan from 2019 to 2025}} {{Use Canadian English|date=September 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = The Honourable | name = Russell Mirasty | honorific_suffix = {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|SOM|MSM|size=100%}} | image = | image_size = | caption = | order = 23rd | office = Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan | term_start = July 18, 2019 | term_end = January 31, 2025 | monarch = {{ubl| Elizabeth II | Charles III}} | governor_general = {{ubl | Julie Payette | Mary Simon}} | premier = Scott Moe | predecessor = W. Thomas Molloy | successor = Bernadette McIntyre | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth based on age as of date|62|2019|7|19}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Former head of RCMP in Saskatchewan named province's lieutenant-governor|url=https://larongenow.com/2019/07/19/former-head-of-rcmp-in-saskatchewan-named-provinces-lieutenant-governor-2/|date=July 19, 2019|newspaper=La Ronge Now|author=The Canadian Press|accessdate=July 27, 2019}}</ref> | birth_place = La Ronge, Saskatchewan, Canada | death_date = | death_place = | spouse = | children = | alma_mater = RCMP Academy, Depot Division | profession = Police officer (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) }} '''Russell Mirasty''' {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|SOM|MSM}} (born 1956 or 1957) was the 23rd lieutenant governor of Saskatchewan from 2019 to 2025. He was appointed by Governor General Julie Payette, on the constitutional advice of the prime minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, on July 17, 2019. Mirasty was sworn in on July 18,<ref name = news_release>[https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2019/july/17/swearing-in-date-for-lieutenant-governor "Premier Scott Moe Announces Swearing In Date For New Lieutenant Governor", Government of Saskatchewan News Release, July 17, 2019.]</ref> filling the vacancy in the position left when W. Thomas Molloy died in office on July 2.<ref>[https://www.ctvnews.ca/regina/article/lieutenant-governor-molloy-dies-following-battle-with-cancer/ "Lieutenant Governor Molloy dies following battle with cancer", CTV, July 2, 2019.]</ref>
Mirasty's term as lieutenant governor came to an official end on January 31, 2025, with the installation of his successor, Bernadette McIntyre.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Postey |first=Drew |date=2025-01-31 |title=Bernadette McIntyre installed as Sask.'s 24th Lieutenant Governor |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/regina/article/watch-live-bernadette-mcintyre-to-be-installed-as-sasks-24th-lieutenant-governor/ |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=CTVNews |language=en}}</ref>
As lieutenant governor, Mirasty was the viceregal representative of Charles III of Canada in Saskatchewan. He was the first Indigenous person appointed to this office.<ref name="CBC">[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/russell-mirasty-new-lieutenant-governor-1.5214813 Former top Sask. cop Russell Mirasty named province's new Lt.-Gov., CBC, July 17, 2019.]</ref>
==Personal life== Mirasty is a member of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band. His first language is Cree.<ref name = PM_news/><ref name = news_release/><ref name = CBC/> His appointment was strongly welcomed by Indigenous leaders in Saskatchewan.<ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/russell-mirasty-new-lieutenant-governor-1.5214813 " 'This is historic': Indigenous leaders applaud choice of Russell Mirasty as new Sask. Lt.-Gov.", CBC, July 17, 2019.]</ref>
He and his wife Donna have two children. At the time of his appointment, he and his wife lived in La Ronge.<ref name = PM_news/>
==RCMP career== Mirasty was a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) for thirty-six years, from 1976 to 2013. He was one of only two Indigenous cadets in his troop at RCMP Academy, Depot Division. Following graduation, he served in seven of Canada's ten provinces. He also did a work exchange with the Northern Territory Police in Australia. Mirasty was a volunteer ''aide-de-camp'' to previous lieutenant governors of Saskatchewan. He was appointed assistant commissioner and commanding officer, "F" Division in 2010, the first Indigenous RCMP officer to command a division.<ref name= PM_news>[https://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2019/07/17/russell-mirasty Prime Minister News Release: Russell Mirasty]</ref><ref name = news_release/><ref name = CBC/>
After retiring from the RCMP, Mirasty volunteered with a number of community service organizations. He particularly focused on working with Saskatchewan's education system. In 2017, Mirasty was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.<ref name = PM_news/>
==Honours== Russell Mirasty's full medal entitlement is as follows.
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{| style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none;" class="wikitable" |- style="background:silver; text-align:center" |Ribbon || Description || Notes |- |40px || Order of St John (K.StJ) || * 25 July 2020. * Knight of Justice. * Vice Prior of the Order in the Province of Saskatchewan. * <ref>{{cite web |title=MOST VENERABLE ORDER OF THE HOSPITAL OF ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM 25 July 2020 |url=https://gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2020/2020-07-25/html/gh-rg-eng.html |website=The Canada Gazette |access-date=7 September 2022 |language=en}}</ref> |- |40px || Saskatchewan Order of Merit (SOM) || * 2019. * <ref>{{cite web |title=Recipients of The Saskatchewan Order of Merit |url=https://pubsaskdev.blob.core.windows.net/pubsask-prod/111654/Recipients%252Bof%252BSaskatchewan%252BOrder%252Bof%252BMerit_21-03.pdf |website=Government of Saskatchewan |access-date=28 July 2022 |language=en}}</ref> |- |40px || Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) || * 9 November 2017. * Civil Division. * <ref>{{cite web |title=Assistant Commissioner Russell B. Mirasty's Meritorious Service Medal Citation |url=https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/136-53040 |website=The Governor General of Canada |access-date=28 July 2022 |language=en}}</ref> |- |40px || Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal || * 2002. * Canadian version of this medal. * <ref>{{cite web |title=Inspector Russ B. Mirasty's Golden Jubilee Medal Citation |url=https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/125-39357 |website=The Governor General of Canada |access-date=28 July 2022 |language=en}}</ref> |- |40px || Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal || * 2012. * Canadian version of this medal. * <ref>{{cite web |title=Assistant Commissioner Russell Mirasty's Diamond Jubilee Medal Citation |url=https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/126-1712 |website=The Governor General of Canada |access-date=28 July 2022 |language=en}}</ref> |- |40px || Royal Canadian Mounted Police Long Service Medal || * With 35 year Bar |- |40px || Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal || * 2022. * Saskatchewan version of this medal. * <ref>{{cite web |title=Platinum Jubilee Medal Investiture Ceremony |url=https://ltgov.sk.ca/february-27-2023-platinum-jubilee-medal/w2a3lh1s3u0nk1viyydth54am2zh95 |website=Lieutenant Governor Saskatchewan |access-date=1 November 2023 |language=en}}</ref> |- |40px || King Charles III Coronation Medal || * 2024. * Canadian version of this medal. * <ref>{{cite web|work=Governor General of Canada|date=6 May 2024|title=Governor General hosts inaugural presentation of King Charles III Coronation Medal|url=https://www.gg.ca/en/media/news/2024/king-charles-III-coronation-medal}}</ref> |- |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{s-start}} {{s-prec|can}} {{s-bef|before=Antoinette Perry|as=Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island}} {{s-ttl|title=Canadian order of precedence<br>{{small|''as Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan''}}}} {{s-aft|after=Salma Lakhani|as=Lieutenant Governor of Alberta}} {{succession box | title=Order of precedence in Saskatchewan | years={{As of|2022|lc=on}} | before=King Charles III, King of Canada | after=Scott Moe, Premier of Saskatchewan}} {{s-end}}
{{SKLG}} {{CanViceroy}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mirasty, Russell}} Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Lieutenant governors of Saskatchewan Category:Cree people Category:Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers Category:21st-century Canadian politicians Category:21st-century First Nations people Category:20th-century First Nations people