Special Advisor Appointed

Neil LeBlanc, Minister responsible for Acadian Affairs, today announced the appointment of Réal Samson of Church Point, Digby Co., as special advisor for Acadian Affairs. Mr. Samson is presently employed by the Tri-County School Board as program co- ordinator.

Mr. Samson holds a PhD in education from Dalhousie University in Halifax. For the past 25 years he has worked in the field of education mostly with the francophone and Acadian students of this province. He was a professor and then director of the Faculty of Education at Université Sainte-Anne, and later became the founding president of the first francophone community college in Nova Scotia -- the Collège de l'Acadie.

Mr. Samson has an excellent knowledge of most provincial Acadian and francophone organizations as well as those at the national level. Mr. LeBlanc is confident that Mr. Samson will be able to effectively meet the challenges of his new position.

"Réal has the experience, the knowledge and the abilities that, I am certain, will be of great benefit to the Acadian community of Nova Scotia," he said.

Born in Petit-de-Grat, Richmond Co., Mr. Samson has lived in the Municipality of Clare for the past 20 years.