Minister announces Rural Secretariat
regional council members, provincial council chair

With over 350 nominations to the Rural Secretariat regional councils, Kathy Dunderdale, minister responsible for the Rural Secretariat, said she is delighted with the interest shown by people throughout the province in participating on the councils. The minister announced the composition of the nine regional councils today.

�The response was overwhelming. I am thrilled so many people throughout the province submitted names for consideration,� said Minister Dunderdale. �It further reinforces my belief that the people of Newfoundland and Labrador are committed to this province and are willing to work together to see it succeed.�

�The councils, where possible, reflect a gender and age balance, have representation from larger and smaller communities in each region, and include members with a cross section of business, labour, social, cultural and environmental perspectives,� said the minister.

Minister Dunderdale said she plans to bring all nine councils together in October for a full orientation and as a follow-up to the Dialogue Day held in October 2004 in Port Blandford. At this time, the councils will also meet with Cabinet and senior officials, have the option of selecting their own chair persons, and nominate individuals to serve on the Provincial Council of the Rural Secretariat. The provincial council will meet twice a year with Cabinet and deputy ministers.

Minister Dunderdale also announced that Sheila Kelly-Blackmore has been appointed as the chair of the Provincial Council of the Rural Secretariat.

�As someone who lives and works in rural Newfoundland, Ms. Kelly-Blackmore will bring strong leadership and insight to the provincial council,� said Minister Dunderdale. �Ms. Kelly-Blackmore is also vice-chair of government�s Business Advisory Board. As we work toward improving the social and economic position of the province, it is important that we consider the challenges and the opportunities for our business community, so I am pleased Ms. Kelly-Blackmore will help us make that link.�

The regional councils will bring together 14 to 18 individuals in each region, four times a year, to identify long term challenges and opportunities and develop a shared vision for each region, to support collaborative and innovative thinking, and to identify policies and programs that foster regional development.

Each regional council will have a full time regional partnership planner working with them. Recruitment for these new permanent positions is being finalized and it is hoped to have staff in place later in September in the following locations: Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Roddickton, Corner Brook, Stephenville, Springdale, New-Wes-Valley, Bonavista, Burin, Placentia and Carbonear.

Members of the Rural Secretariat regional councils include:

Labrador

Sonya Belben, Forteau
Wayne Broomfield, Happy Valley-Goose Bay
Jenni Campbell, Happy Valley-Goose Bay
Jonathan Jesseau, Happy Valley-Goose Bay
Dennis Peck, Happy Valley-Goose Bay
Diane Gear, Labrador City
Patsy Ralph, Labrador City
Randy Earle, L'Anse Au Loup
Lori O'Brien, L'Anse Au Loup
Wayne Jenkins, Nain
Isabella Pain, Nain
Leander Baikie, North West River
Margaret Burden, Port Hope Simpson
Jim Farrell, Wabush

St. Anthony - Port au Choix

Linda Randell, Bide Arm
Ted Lewis, Croque
Hubert Randell, Englee
Cornelius C. Hoddinott, Hawke's Bay
Beverley May, Lower Cove
Barbara Genge, Main Brook
Richard May, Plum Point
Gloria Toope, Plum Point
Vachon Noel, Port Au Choix
Donald Tulk, Port Saunders
Ross Decker, Roddickton
Ray Norman, Roddickton
Marshall Dean, St. Anthony
Michael Moss, St. Anthony
John Simmonds, St. Anthony

Corner Brook - Rocky Harbour

Juanita Brake, Corner Brook
Gina Caines, Corner Brook
Don Downer, Corner Brook
Philip Hicks, Corner Brook
Carla Wells, Corner Brook
Darrel House, Cow Head
Bertha Brophy, Daniel's Harbour
Cyril Kirby, Deer Lake
Geraldine Hewitt, Jackson's Arm
Joan Cranston, Norris Point
Roger Keough, Parson's Pond
Colleen M. Kennedy Costello, Pasadena
Colleen Kennedy, Rocky Harbour
Dana Pittman, Rocky Harbour

Stephenville - Port aux Basques

Allister Hann, Burgeo
Eric Legge, Cartyville
Kelly Tompkins, Codroy Valley
Audrey Gracie, Kippens
Melinda Oliver-Moraze, La Grand�Terre
Margaret Gaudon, Port au Port
Jamie Warren, Port aux Basques
Ruth Forsey-Gale, Robinsons
Adeline Gale, St. Andrew�s
Michelle Skinner, St. George�s
Calvin White, St. George�s
Susan Fowlow, Stephenville
Laura Wareham, Stephenville
Robin Davis, Stephenville Crossing

Grand Falls - Windsor - Baie Verte - Harbour Breton

Charlie Ennis, Baie Verte
Steward May, Belleoram
Joe McGrath, Bishop's Falls
Jerry Dean, Botwood
Hubert Langdon, English Harbour West
Deborah Armstrong, Grand Falls-Windsor
Karen Beresford, Grand Falls-Windsor
Don Stewart, Harbour Breton
David Hayashida, King's Point
John Price, La Scie
Sheena Ward, Leading Tickles
Bernice Walker, Norris Arm
Linda Brett, Springdale
Kevin Pollard, Springdale
Tracey Perry, St. Alban's
Joan Strickland, St. Alban's

Gander - New-Wes-Valley

Derm Flynn, Appleton
Victor Cassell, Cottlesville
Tony R. Keats, Dover
Melanie Callahan, Gambo
Mike Harkaway, Gander
Gail Hoyles, Gander
Ross Robert Trimm, Gander Bay North
Douglas Churchill, Glovertown
Nadine Decker, Joe Batt's Arm
James Snow, Lewisporte
Steven Perry, New-Wes-Valley
Wanda Loder, Pike's Arm
Edythe Goodridge, Salvage
David Regular, Summerford
Ruby Ellis, Wesleyville

Clarenville - Bonavista

Fay Matthews, Arnold's Cove
Violet Parsons, Bloomfield
Bill Abbott, Bonavista
Don Mifflin, Bonavista
Leo Bonnell, Clarenville
Lisa Browne, Clarenville
Paul Tilley, Clarenville
Marilyn Coles-Hayley, Elliston
Merv Wiseman, North Harbour, Placentia Bay
Barry Pearce, Port Rexton
Darryl Johnson, Port Union
Maria Moran, St. Jones Within
Shelly Blackmore, Trinity Bay North
Edith Samson, Trinity Bay North

Burin Peninsula

Trina Appleby, Burin
Dr. Michael Graham, Burin
Gordon Piercey, Burin Bay Arm
Charles Wiscombe, Creston South
Brian K. Rose, Fortune
Corey Parsons, Fortune
Pam Ghent, Harbour Mille
Trevor Bungay, Marystown
Mary McCarthy, Marystown
Jeff Pittman, Marystown
Harold Murphy, Parker�s Cove
Isabel Norman, Rushoon
Irene Hurley, Spanish Room
Samuel Tobin, St. Lawrence

Avalon Peninsula

Pat Puddester, Bay Bulls
Paul Connors, Bell Island
Jay McGrath, Branch
Maureen Sullivan, Calvert
Betty Moore, Clarke's Beach
Kerry Murray, Conception Bay South
Rhonda Duggan, Grate's Cove
John Adams, Harbour Grace
Bride Power, Marysvale
Lesley Snelgrove, Mount Pearl
Marilyn Tucker, Paradise
Des Linehan, Placentia
Sheila Lee, Riverhead
Don G. Case, Salmon Cove
Dale Jarvis, St. John's
Anne Manuel, St. John's
Bruce Pearce, St. John's
Viola Pennell, Trepassey

Sheila Kelly-Blackmore
Ms. Kelly-Blackmore has been involved in business management, community and international development work for more than 30 years. Over the past 11 years as general manager of St. Jude Hotel in Clarenville, with a staff of 40+ employees, she has been recognized with a number of provincial tourism business excellence awards. Most recently, the property received national recognition from the Tourism Industry Association of Canada with the CTHRC Award of Excellence in Human Resources Management.

A past president of Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador, Ms. Kelly-Blackmore continues to serve on the provincial executive and board. She was personally recognized by the provincial tourism industry with the H. Clayton Sparkes "Accommodator of the Year Award." Her business management background is coupled with several years serving as a Community College Administrator in St. Anthony and the Yukon and international development work in Suriname and Sri Lanka.

Ms. Kelly-Blackmore resides in Sandy Cove, Bonavista Bay where she serves on the local town council. Ms. Kelly-Blackmore has been involved with numerous community volunteer organizations. Her years of volunteer international development work in Canada and overseas were honored with the James Robinson's Award from Canadian Crossroads International.

Media contact: Lynn Evans, Rural Secretariat, (709) 729-4570, 690-6290

For further information, visit the Rural Secretariat Web site at www.gov.nl.ca/rural

2005 08 25                      1:45 p.m.