His Honour Steven Point may look on his years in Victoria with satisfaction, but heB次元官网网址檚 up front that he wonB次元官网网址檛 miss living in the stately Government House.

B次元官网网址淭his is fancy, but youB次元官网网址檙e also in a jail here,B次元官网网址� he said with a chuckle. B次元官网网址淭he gates are locked and thereB次元官网网址檚 security here all the time.B次元官网网址�

After five years as B.C.B次元官网网址檚 28th lieutenant governor, Point is eager to return to his home with his wife, Her Honour Gwendolyn Point.

Over his term as the QueenB次元官网网址檚 representative in British Columbia, heB次元官网网址檚 accumulated B次元官网网址渢oo muchB次元官网网址� mileage travelling to Chilliwack once or twice a month to visit family.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 nice to go home,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淥ur grandchildren are there, all our kids are there.B次元官网网址�

Once back, he hopes to resume his post as a provincial court judge B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淜nock on wood,B次元官网网址� he said, with another soft chuckle.

Among locals who got the chance to know him, Point has garnered a reputation for being warm, funny and down-to-earth B次元官网网址� and for being a great storyteller. He particularly had a knack for drawing in young people with tales from his own youth.

B次元官网网址淭alking to kids is not easy,B次元官网网址� he said at his office, before his departure ceremony Nov. 1 at the legislature. The best way to engage them is to talk about your own life and make sure you donB次元官网网址檛 come off as too important, he added.

B次元官网网址淭hey ask all sorts of questions. They want to know if you sleep in a golden bed. ItB次元官网网址檚 very funny.B次元官网网址�

In particular, he inspired aboriginal youth, as B.C.B次元官网网址檚 first aboriginal lieutenant governor.

B次元官网网址淲e get a lot of excitement when we get out to First Nations communities,B次元官网网址� Point said. B次元官网网址淚 think it gives a lot of pride to the kids.B次元官网网址�

The children also write him letters.

B次元官网网址淗is Honour personally responded to literally thousands of letters back of forth,B次元官网网址� said Michael OB次元官网网址機onnor, who got to know Point well as president of the Government House Foundation. B次元官网网址淗e takes the time to talk with everyone.B次元官网网址�

The role took a bit of getting used to, however.

B次元官网网址淚 think it was unexpected when he was asked (to take the job) and he had to think about it. I think he was a bit apprehensive at first (but) I watched him become more relaxed in his role,B次元官网网址� OB次元官网网址機onnor said. B次元官网网址淗e is very engaging with people of all walks of life B次元官网网址� and he makes everyone relax.B次元官网网址�

Victoria MLA Carole James has attended many events with Point.

One of her favourite memories of him happened just a few months ago, during a ceremony dedicated to a new totem pole outside Government House.

B次元官网网址淗e saw that some of the little kids were having trouble seeing,B次元官网网址� James said. B次元官网网址淗e said, B次元官网网址榯his event is about the future and supporting tradition, so I want to ask all the children to come on up to sit on the rocks B次元官网网址�B次元官网网址� It was like watching the pied piper.B次元官网网址�

When it came time to pull on the ropes to raise the totem pole, he invited the kids to join him in pulling.

B次元官网网址淔or me, that said it all,B次元官网网址� James said. B次元官网网址淗e brought a human side to what can be seen as a reserved, formal position.B次元官网网址�

Point also accomplished many good deeds for the province during his appointment.

Chief among them is his literacy program.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 worked out to be a great thing,B次元官网网址� Point said. The program started by bringing books out to communities, but as more partners came on board, it expanded to bring whole libraries to towns with no road access.

Settling on literacy was a bit of a process of elimination for Point.

As the QueenB次元官网网址檚 representative, B次元官网网址測ou canB次元官网网址檛 comment on poverty. You canB次元官网网址檛 comment on education,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he programs that you can be involved in have to be outside the political arena, so I decided to do literacy, which is a pretty neutral kind of thing.B次元官网网址�

While Point has not been free to speak his mind on political issues he has held political power.

ItB次元官网网址檚 a role Canadians donB次元官网网址檛 understand well, said Point.

On top of attending ceremonies and hosting dignitaries, the lieutenant governor holds real power, he said.

B次元官网网址淢ost people are unaware that the government cannot introduce its own money bills,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址�(The Premier) has to come to the Queen because itB次元官网网址檚 the QueenB次元官网网址檚 money.B次元官网网址�

Prorogation is a good example of that power. Two weeks ago, Ontario Lt.-Gov. David Onley faced criticism for agreeing to prorogue parliament at the request of outgoing Premier Dalton McGuinty.

Point wouldnB次元官网网址檛 comment on OnleyB次元官网网址檚 decision, but said, B次元官网网址淚f the lieutenant governor has to make a tough decision, he doesnB次元官网网址檛 have anybody to talk to B次元官网网址� not even the Queen.B次元官网网址�

He called it a heavy responsibility.

B次元官网网址淲hen you step into these shoes, the buck stops here.B次元官网网址�

rholmen@vicnews.com