His Honour's Biography
His Honour
The Honourable Arthur J. LeBlanc, ONS, KC,
Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia
Arthur Joseph LeBlanc was installed as the 33rd Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia on June 28, 2017.
His Honour was born in West Arichat, Nova Scotia in 1943 and attended primary and secondary schools in that region. He graduated from St. Francis Xavier University in 1964 with a Bachelor of Commerce Degree and he earned a Bachelor of Laws Degree from Dalhousie University in 1968. Following graduation, he was admitted to the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society in November 1968.
His Honour practiced law for over 30 years, initially as an associate of Vincent deP Burke and subsequently as senior partner of the law firm LeBlanc MacDonald and Pickup and this firm was succeeded by LeBlanc MacDonald. He maintained a solicitor’s practice and subsequently concentrated his practice in civil litigation. In 1983, His Honour was appointed as King’s Counsel in recognition of his distinguished law career.
While practicing law, His Honour served as a Director with several corporations and development authorities. He was also active with the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society and the Strait of Canso Barristers’ Society.
In 1998, he was appointed as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia (General Division) and served on the bench until he was installed as Lieutenant Governor.
His Honour is Chancellor of the Order of Nova Scotia, Vice-Prior and a Knight of Justice of the Order of St. John, the recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (2002), the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal (2022), and an Honorary Degree, Doctor of Letters, from Cape Breton University (2023).
His Honour is married to Her Honour Rosemarie Patricia (Patsy) LeBlanc (nee Lirette), who was born in Beresford, New Brunswick. Together, they have three grown sons, Pierre, André, and Robert. They have six grandchildren.
Over the course of his time in office, His Honour has focused his mandate on matters related to higher education, the performing arts, veteran recognition, Acadian history and heritage, and Crown-Indigenous relations.