Peter Michael Liba

Peter Michael Liba

Peter Michael Liba, broadcaster, philanthropist, lieutenant governor (b at Winnipeg, Man, 1940) A life-long Manitoban, Liba was raised and educated in Winnipeg. He started his professional career as a journalist in 1957 with The Daily Graphic in Portage la Prairie and The Neepawa Press. In 1959 he joined The Winnipeg Tribune, where he covered the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba before being appointed City Editor in 1967. Liba married Shirley Ann Collett in 1963 and the couple had three children.

Liba began a successful career with the CanWest Group of Companies, of which he was one of the founding shareholders. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer of CKND Television in Manitoba and SaskWest Television in Saskatchewan. In 1993, he was appointed Executive Vice-President of CanWest Global Communications Corp., with responsibilities in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Chile.

His business career was matched by involvement in numerous charitable and community organizations. He served as Director of St. Boniface General Hospital from 1987 to 1999 and as Chairman of the Board from 1992 until his vice-regal appointment. Liba was Founding Chairman of the Variety Club Telethon in Manitoba. He served as Chairman and Director of the Winnipeg Convention Centre and as Director of the Heart and Stroke Foundation - Manitoba Chapter. He is a member of the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews (Prairie Region), the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce and the Winnipeg's Refugee Assistance Committee. He also held elected office as a Trustee of the Transcona-Springfield School Board.

Liba was named Broadcaster of the Decade in 1994 by the Western Association of Broadcasters and was inducted into the Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame in 1998. In 1999 he received the Canadian Association of Broadcasters' highest honour, a Special Gold Ribbon Award commemorating his appointment as Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba and acknowledging his "outstanding contribution to the Canadian private broadcasting industry, his community and to Canada."

Liba was sworn in as Manitoba's 22nd Lieutenant Governor on March 2, 1999. Prior to this, he was appointed to the Order of Canada in 1984, and was awarded the Canada 125th Anniversary of Confederation Commemorative Medal in 1992. He was appointed as the first Member of the Order of Manitoba on its creation in 1999 and serves as Chancellor of the Order, Manitoba's highest honour. He was installed as a Knight of Justice of the Order of St John in 1999 and serves as Vice Prior for Manitoba. He received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Manitoba in 2001. Also in 2001, Liba received the Toastmasters International Communications and Leadership Award and the Golden Dragon Citizen of the Year Award from the Chinese community.

Liba's term as lieutenant governor ended in 2004, and he was replaced by John HARVARD on June 30, 2004.