Her Honour installed into the Order of St. John as a Dame of Justice and appointed as Vice-Prior of Saskatchewan.

Lieutenant Governor Bernadette McIntyre being installed as Vice Prior of Saskatchewan on April 9th, 2025 in Government in Regina.

On Wednesday, April 9th, in Government House in Regina, Her Honour Bernadette McIntyre was invested into The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem as Vice-Prior in Saskatchewan and welcomed as a "Dame of Justice".

The Order is better known today in Canada as St. John Ambulance and each Canadian Lieutenant Governor holds the office of Vice-Prior in their province during their term. The Governor General serves as the Prior of Canada and His Majesty King Charles III is the sovereign head of the Order.

Lieutenant Governor McIntyre wearing the robes of a member of The Order of Saint John at her installation ceremony in Government House in Regina, Saskatchewan on April 9th, 2025.

You will notice that robes are worn and a sword used during the investiture ceremony. The Order of St. John is the oldest order of chivalry in the British realms, the oldest charitable organization in the world, and Canada's only order of chivalry.

The Order was founded around 1070 or so to serve the needs of pilgrims in Jerusalem and was known as the Hospitallers. Their work was centered around the care of the sick and the poor of all faiths – treating Christians, Muslims, and Jews alike. Over the centuries military activity took place parallel to nursing and the ties to chivalry and knighthood developed.

Members of the ancient Order of St. John with newly installed “Dame of Justice”, Lieutenant Governor Bernadette McIntyre on April 9th, 2025 in Regina, Saskatchewan.

The Order St. John in the Victorian era grew into the charitable service we are familiar with today. In 1883, the first St. John Ambulance branch to teach first aid courses was established in Quebec City.