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Rita Margaret Johnston | |
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29th Premier of British Columbia | |
In office April 2, 1991 – November 5, 1991 | |
Monarch | Elizabeth II |
Lieutenant Governor | David Lam |
Preceded by | Bill Vander Zalm |
Succeeded by | Mike Harcourt |
Leader of the British Columbia Social Credit Party | |
In office April 2, 1991 – March 7, 1992 | |
Preceded by | Bill Vander Zalm |
Succeeded by | Jack Weisgerber |
Minister of Municipal Affairs of British Columbia | |
In office August 14, 1986 – November 1, 1989 | |
Premier | Bill Vander Zalm |
Preceded by | Jack Heinrich |
Succeeded by | Lyall Hanson |
Minister of State, Kootenay of British Columbia | |
In office October 22, 1987 – July 6, 1988 | |
Premier | Bill Vander Zalm |
Minister of Transportation and Highways of British Columbia | |
In office November 1, 1989 – April 2, 1991 | |
Premier | Bill Vander Zalm |
Preceded by | Neil Vant |
Succeeded by | Art Charbonneau |
3rd Deputy Premier of British Columbia | |
In office August 10, 1990 – April 2, 1991 | |
Premier | Bill Vander Zalm |
Preceded by | Grace McCarthy |
Succeeded by | Anita Hagen |
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for Surrey-Newton Surrey (1983-1986) | |
In office May 5, 1983 – October 17, 1991 Serving with William Earl Reid (1983-1986) | |
Preceded by | Bill Vander Zalm Ernest Hall |
Succeeded by | Penny Priddy |
Personal details | |
Born | Rita Margaret Leichert April 22, 1935 Melville, Saskatchewan |
Political party | Social Credit Party (1983-?) BC Conservative (c. 2009-present) |
Spouse |
George Johnston (m. 1951) |
Rita Margaret Johnston (born April 22, 1935; née Leichert) is a Canadian politician in British Columbia. Johnston became the first female premier in Canadian history when she succeeded Bill Vander Zalm in 1991 to become the 29th premier of British Columbia, serving for seven months.
The daughter of John Leichert and Annie Chyzzy, she was educated in Vancouver. In 1951, she married George Johnston.[1]
Much of her early life was spent running a trailer park in the city of Surrey, British Columbia.