Robert Hardwick was ordained and consecrated as the twelfth Bishop of Qu'Appelle on March 2, the feast of St. Chad. The service was held in Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, Regina, because the Anglican Cathedral was not available due to ongoing construction work.

In addition to eight current bishops and the Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Rupert's Land, the Primate of Anglican Church of Canada, two bishops from England, the bishop of British Columbia, former archbishop of Saskatoon, the Lutheran Bishop of Saskatchewan, and three former bishops of Qu'Appelle all took part in the laying-on of hands.

The former Primate, Archbishop Michael Peers, pointed out before the service that this was the only time in the history of the Anglican Church of Canada, where four former bishops of a diocese were present at the consecration of the new bishop of a diocese.  Archbishop Peers himself was bishop of Qu'Appelle, in addition to Bishop Eric Bays, Bishop Duncan Wallace and Bishop Gregory Kerr-Wilson (now Bishop of Calgary).

Numerous clergy from other denominations and representatives from federal and provincial governments and RCMP also attended.

The colourful service included music by the choir of St. Paul's Cathedral and the Big Sky Brass quartet, and smudging with sweetgrass by Diocesan Elders.

Bishop Jonathan Frost, of Southampton, England, had been Bishop Rob's bishop in England (and, as people at the banquet learned, his cricket coach).  In his sermon he quoted from St. Bede, who wrote that St. Chad was "... a holy man, modest in his ways, learned in the scriptures, zealous in carrying out their teaching..." and said that all those features also apply to Rob.

The Ven. Robert Hardwick has been elected twelfth Bishop of Qu'Appelle, on the first ballot of the Electoral Synod held in Regina today.

Archdeacon Hardwick received 24 clergy and 46 lay votes, which was a majority in each order. Biographical information on the bishop-elect can be found on the Choosing Our New Bishop section of this site.

45 clergy votes were cast, with 23 required to elect; 84 lay votes were cast, with 43 required to elect.

The other candidates on the ballot received the following votes:

Rev. Canon David Fletcher - 3, 12

Rev. Malcolm French - 3, 7

Rev. Norbert Haukenfrers - 2, 4

Rev. Dr. Trish McCarthy - 7, 9

Rev. Canon James Robinson - 6, 6