by Peter Stoicheff. On June 30, 2014, Barnhart was named a Member of the Order of Canada. As mayor of the town of Saltcoats, Barnhart has served as the president of the organization of Municipalities of Saskatchewan from 2017 - 2021. During his 2021 re-election for the Municipalities of Saskatchewan presidency, Barnhart was found to be vacationing in Hawaii despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the border between the United States and Canada being closed to nonessential travel. Barnhart lost his re-election bid by an overwhelming margin, receiving 115 votes compared to the victor, Rodger Hayward's 351 votes. As Lieutenant-Governor As lieutenant-governor, Barnhart carries out such duties as reading throne speeches, swearing in premiers and cabinet ministers, opening legislative sessions, approving legislation and bestowing honours to Saskatchewan citizens. Upon being sworn in, Barnhart expressed his respect and admiration for his predecessors. As an academic, he expects to focus his efforts on education. He also plans on travelling a great deal to continue the office's accessibility to average Saskatchewanians provided by Haverstock. Barnhart hosted hundreds of visitors on the occasion of his first New Year's Levee at Government House in 2007, a traditional event that lieutenant-governors in Regina have hosted since 1884. Barnhart also initiated the "Lieutenant-Governor's Leadership Forum", which will accept eighteen grade 11 and 12 students each year from 2007 till 2011 to tour the province, meet successful leaders in various fields, and to develop the students' own leadership abilities. Additional roles Visitor to the University of Saskatchewan Visitor to the University of Regina Patronage Saskatchewan Brain Injury Association Canadians Clubs of Saskatchewan Canadian Parents for French Canadian Peony Society Show, Regina, 2008 Conexus Arts Centre, Regina Saskatchewan Craft Council Saskatchewan Elocution and Debate Association International Biology Olympiad, Saskatoon, 2007 Lung Association of Saskatchewan Luther College, Regina Monarchist League of Canada Saskatchewan Music Festivals Association Saskatchewan Poet Laureate Program Lyric Musical Theatre (formerly Regina Lyric Light Opera) Saskatchewan Youth Parliament Saskatchewan Architectural Heritage Society Arms See also Monarchy in Saskatchewan Government House (Saskatchewan) References External links Official website of the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan "Barnhart says he has big shoes to fill" by Sarah Macdonald, The Leader-Post, July 31, 2006, retrieved August 1, 2006, "Lieutenant-Governor of Saskatchewan" retrieved December 18, 2006, Office of the Lieutenant-Governor of Saskatchewan Barnhart Becomes Lieutenant-Governor (2006) Feature interview with the Sheaf newspaper (2007) 20th-century Canadian civil servants 21st-century Canadian historians Canadian male non-fiction writers