Nominees Sought for 2010 Order of Nova Scotia

Across the province, Nova Scotians are making outstanding contributions to their communities everyday.

To honour these individuals, Premier Darrell Dexter is encouraging people to nominate or re-nominate deserving Nova Scotians for the 2010 Order of Nova Scotia.

"There are people in the province who are doing positive work and making the province a better place for today's families," said Premier Dexter. "These people should be honoured and recognized by their peers, those they help, and by the province of Nova Scotia."

The Order of Nova Scotia is the province's highest honour it can bestow upon an individual. Recipients are selected by the Order of Nova Scotia Advisory Council.

Nova Scotians can be nominated for a variety of reasons. In 2009, longtime cabinet minister Michael Baker (posthumous), Parker Street Food and Furniture Bank founder Mel Boutlier, crusader for social justice Muriel Duckworth (deceased), holocaust survivor and educator Philip Riteman, and advocate for Mi'kmaq rights Viola Robinson, were invested into the Order of Nova Scotia.

In 2007, the Order of Nova Scotia Act was amended to include a recipient younger than 26, making a maximum of six people eligible to be invested each year. Sidney Crosby, a 2008 recipient, was the first person invested into the order in this category.

"There are young people who are doing great things in Nova Scotia. They are the leaders of tomorrow and role models today," said Sister Dorothy Moore, chair of the advisory council. "They should be nominated for the Order of Nova Scotia to ensure their contributions do not go unnoticed."

Nomination forms may be picked up at all Access Nova Scotia centres. They are also available from Province House, offices of members of the legislative assembly, Nova Scotia members of Parliament and the Senate, and municipal offices.

People who wish to re-nominate, need only fill out a new nomination form and submit a photocopy of the previous nomination package. The deadline for nominations is Friday, March 19.

For more information, contact the Protocol Office at 902-424-4463, e-mail orderofns@gov.ns.ca or see the website at www.gov.ns.ca/prot/order.htm .