Graydon NicholasCMONB (born 1946) is a Canadian attorney, judge, and politician who served as the appointed 30thLieutenant Governor of New Brunswick (2009-2014). He is the first Indigenous person to hold the office, the first to be appointed as a provincial court judge (in 1991), and the first in Atlantic Canada to obtain a law degree.
Returning to New Brunswick, Nicholas worked for the Union of New Brunswick Indians, serving as its chairman of the board (1976–1980) and president (1980–1988). Selected as chair of the Native Studies program at St. Thomas University, he has lectured part time.[2]
Nicholas was appointed as a provincial court judge in 1991, but not the first aboriginal to be selected for the position in Atlantic Canada (see, James Igloliorte, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL, 1980-81). He has worked for justice for First Nations and other peoples, particularly in the area of logging rights.[3] During this period, he also lectured in theology at the Vancouver School of Theology and the Native Ministries Consortium program.[2]
In September 2009, Nicholas was appointed as the next Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick on the advice of Prime MinisterStephen Harper, on the suggestion of PremierShawn Graham with support from the opposition. He was the first Aboriginal named to this position.[3] He served a five-year term. He succeeded Herménégilde Chiasson, the poet and philosopher, on September 30, 2009.[4]
