Thank you for your support and best wishes over the past couple of months. I feel very honoured to continue as the MLA for Dartmouth South-Portland Valley. I pledge to work as hard and effectively as possible on your behalf.
I want to extend my thanks and congratulations to the other candidates for the time, commitment and energy they put into the race. It was a clean campaign and all the campaign teams and candidates deserve credit for putting our citizens and the democratic process first.
The hundreds of volunteers working for all political parties in our community deserve recognition. They organized the campaigns, fundraised, put up signs, canvassed door-to-door and over the phone and Internet, worked in offices, attended rallies and events, prepared food, drove voters, oversaw the ballot counts, and many other tasks.
After the historic victory of the NDP on June 9, I was fortunate to be chosen by Premier Darrell Dexter to serve several departments as the Minister of Education, Labour and Workforce Development, and Volunteerism. I have volunteered in my community and province all my life. I deeply respect the work of volunteers and the organizations that support them.
We are always grateful for the volunteers and staff who provide essential programs and services all year long. Ground search and rescue, food banks, health charities, residents' associations, home and school, youth programs and many others provide our social infrastructure and safety net. In fact, our quality of life in Nova Scotia very much depends on these volunteers and staff working in thousands of community groups and provincial organizations across our province.
This summer I have paid special attention to the variety of fun and competitive events, festivals, and programs organized by volunteers and staff in the metro area. We have all enjoyed Canada Day, Natal Day, Tall Ships Nova Scotia Festival, Atlantic Jazz Festival, Canoe'09, street parties, and many other activities in which volunteers have provided most of the work. Tall Ships, for example, involved more than 1,200 volunteers! These events showcase our talents and bring citizens and visitors together to share magical experiences.
A sincere thank you to everyone who is helping to provide another wonderful summer in Nova Scotia!
To discuss this and other issues, contact Marilyn at the Dartmouth South-Portland Valley Constituency Office at 463-6673 or marilynmore.ca or www.marilynmore.ca.
