Peter M. Liba
Encyclopedia
Peter Michael Liba, CM
, OM
(May 10, 1940 - June 21, 2007) was a Manitoba
journalist and office holder. From March 2, 1999, to June 30, 2004, he served as the 22nd Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
.
Liba was born in Winnipeg, and began his journalistic career working for the Portage La Prairie Daily Telegraph and the Neepawa Press. He joined the Winnipeg Tribune
in 1960, and became its city editor in 1967.
Liba was an executive assistant to the leadership of the Manitoba Liberal Party
between 1968 and 1973, working under Gildas Molgat
, Robert Bend
and Israel Asper. In 1974 he joined Asper's CanWest group of companies, eventually becoming president and CEO of CKND-TV in Manitoba and SaskWest TV in Saskatchewan
. He became executive vice-president of CanWest Global Communications Corp. in 1993, and was promoted to executive director of corporate affairs in 1997.
Liba has also served two terms as chairman of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters
, and was also president of the Western Association of Broadcasters and the Broadcasters Association of Manitoba. He has been president of his own company, Peli Ventures Inc., since 1975. He has also been involved in several social and philanthropic groups in the Winnipeg area.
Liba was appointed a member of the Order of Canada
in 1984. In 1998, he was inducted into the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
Liba's appointment as Manitoba's lieutenant-governor may have been, in part, a reflection of Canadian
prime minister
Jean Chrétien
's friendship with Israel Asper. The position is largely ceremonial, and Liba had very little influence over the governments of Gary Filmon
and Gary Doer
.
Liba was made the first member of the Order of Manitoba
in 1999, and received the Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee Medal in 2004. He stepped down as lieutenant-governor just before the federal election of 2004, and was replaced by outgoing Liberal MP
John Harvard.
Liba died on June 21, 2007 at his cottage at Lake of the Woods
.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, OM
Order of Manitoba
The Order of Manitoba is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Manitoba. Instituted in 1999 when Lieutenant Governor Peter M...
(May 10, 1940 - June 21, 2007) was a Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
journalist and office holder. From March 2, 1999, to June 30, 2004, he served as the 22nd Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
The Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba is the viceregal representative in Manitoba of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her oldest realm, the United...
.
Liba was born in Winnipeg, and began his journalistic career working for the Portage La Prairie Daily Telegraph and the Neepawa Press. He joined the Winnipeg Tribune
Winnipeg Tribune
The Winnipeg Tribune was a metropolitan daily newspaper serving Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada from January 28, 1890 to August 27, 1980. The paper was founded by R.L. Richardson and D.L. McIntyre who acquired the press and premises of the old Winnipeg Sun newspaper. It was often viewed as a liberal...
in 1960, and became its city editor in 1967.
Liba was an executive assistant to the leadership of the Manitoba Liberal Party
Manitoba Liberal Party
The Manitoba Liberal Party is a political party in Manitoba, Canada. Its roots can be traced to the late nineteenth-century, following the province's creation in 1870.-Origins and early development :...
between 1968 and 1973, working under Gildas Molgat
Gildas Molgat
Gildas L. Molgat, CD was a Canadian politician. He served as leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party from 1961 to 1969, and was subsequently appointed to the Canadian Senate, where he served as Speaker from 1994 until 2001. He died shortly thereafter.Molgat was born in Ste. Rose du Lac, Manitoba. ...
, Robert Bend
Robert Bend
Robert Bend was a Manitoba politician, and was briefly the leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party .-Early life:...
and Israel Asper. In 1974 he joined Asper's CanWest group of companies, eventually becoming president and CEO of CKND-TV in Manitoba and SaskWest TV in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
. He became executive vice-president of CanWest Global Communications Corp. in 1993, and was promoted to executive director of corporate affairs in 1997.
Liba has also served two terms as chairman of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters
Canadian Association of Broadcasters
The Canadian Association of Broadcasters was the national voice of Canada's private broadcasters, representing the vast majority of Canadian programming services, including private radio and television stations, specialty, pay and pay-per-view services....
, and was also president of the Western Association of Broadcasters and the Broadcasters Association of Manitoba. He has been president of his own company, Peli Ventures Inc., since 1975. He has also been involved in several social and philanthropic groups in the Winnipeg area.
Liba was appointed a member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
in 1984. In 1998, he was inducted into the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
Liba's appointment as Manitoba's lieutenant-governor may have been, in part, a reflection of Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
prime minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Jean Chrétien
Jean Chrétien
Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien , known commonly as Jean Chrétien is a former Canadian politician who was the 20th Prime Minister of Canada. He served in the position for over ten years, from November 4, 1993 to December 12, 2003....
's friendship with Israel Asper. The position is largely ceremonial, and Liba had very little influence over the governments of Gary Filmon
Gary Filmon
Gary Albert Filmon, PC, OC, OM is a Manitoba politician. He was the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba from 1983 to 2000, and served as the 19th Premier from 1988 to 1999.-Early life and municipal career:...
and Gary Doer
Gary Doer
Gary Albert Doer, OM is a Canadian diplomat and politician from Manitoba, Canada. Since October 19, 2009, he has served as Canada's Ambassador to the United States...
.
Liba was made the first member of the Order of Manitoba
Order of Manitoba
The Order of Manitoba is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Manitoba. Instituted in 1999 when Lieutenant Governor Peter M...
in 1999, and received the Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee Medal in 2004. He stepped down as lieutenant-governor just before the federal election of 2004, and was replaced by outgoing Liberal MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
John Harvard.
Liba died on June 21, 2007 at his cottage at Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods is a lake occupying parts of the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Manitoba and the U.S. state of Minnesota. It separates a small land area of Minnesota from the rest of the United States. The Northwest Angle and the town of Angle Township can only be reached from the rest of...
.
External links
- Order of Canada Citation
- Obituary from CBC Manitoba