Nominees Sought for Province's Highest Honour

A dancer, a fiddler and a chief justice are among the 24 Nova Scotians who have been awarded the province's highest honour, the Order of Nova Scotia, since 2001. And it's time for more Nova Scotians to join this list.

People throughout the province are reminded to nominate, or renominate, someone who may deserve more than a pat on the back for the things they do. The nomination deadline for the 2005 selection process is Friday, March 18. Nova Scotians are encouraged to renominate people they may have previously put forward.

"The Order of Nova Scotia is a program for Nova Scotians, about Nova Scotians," said Rodney MacDonald, Minister responsible for the Order of Nova Scotia Act. "There are people in every community who are volunteering to help the needy, working to develop the arts or building businesses that keep people employed right here at home. We want to hear about these Nova Scotians and recognize them with an honour they deserve."

Since the Order of Nova Scotia program began, hundreds of Nova Scotians have taken the time to submit nominations. Each year, five recipients are selected by the Order of Nova Scotia Advisory Council, which is made up of community representatives from across the province.

"We have our work cut out for us each year with the quality of nominations we receive," said Sharon Oliver, chair of the advisory council. "People throughout this province work every day to improve the communities in which they live. These individuals have a positive impact on those around them, and on the province as a whole, and they should be recognized in a special way."

Nova Scotians can be nominated for a number of reasons. They may work to protect human rights or preserve the cultural identity of their communities. They may be teachers, community leaders or inventors. Others might include peacekeepers, communicators or those who work to preserve the environment.

Nomination forms can be picked up at Access Nova Scotia Centres and public libraries throughout the province. They are also available at Province House, at the offices of all members of the legislative assembly, Nova Scotia members of parliament and senators, as well as municipal offices.

For more information contact the Protocol Office at 902-424-4463, e-mail the [email protected] or visit the website at http://www.gov.ns.ca/prot/order.htm . The website also includes information on past recipients and the Order of Nova Scotia program.