Education Matters Online
Feature

Volume 1, Issue 1: April 7, 2003

The Party

The Election Celebration: Party for a Change event was designed to focus members' attention on the importance of the impending election and to be a social event where the OSSTF District membership and their significant others and friends could get together and socialize. Well over 100 members and guests were present.

The Political Action Committee arranged for a buffet which consisted of cold cuts and buns, pizza, veggies and dip, fruit and pastries. 

There was wonderful music provided by Darryl Stacey (CECI) on bass guitar, John Noubarian,  a renowned jazz musician, on the piano, Michael Wood on drums and Richard Frank (CECI) on saxophone. 

There were door prizes galore provided by the Active Retired Members Chapter 11, Bill Bentley's Restaurant, Ergo Productions, OTIP, Oxford Books, Quintessence Classics, the OSSTF General Store and Wine Not. Thank you to all of those prize donors and congratulations to the winners.

The Politicking

Another important aspect of this event was to provide an opportunity for the local Liberal and NDP candidates to set up displays and to meet voters in their ridings. Most of the local ridings were represented and all of the candidates present were introduced to the audience. Among the area candidates in attendance were three OSSTF members: Patti Dalton (Clarke Road), the NDP candidate for London West, Irene Mathyssen (Banting), the NDP candidate for London Fanshawe, and Brian Brown (ARM), the Liberal candidate for Oxford.

Other Liberal candidates present were Steve Peters (MPP for Elgin-Middlesex-London), Maria VanBommel (Lambton-Kent-Middlesex), John Wilkinson (Perth-Middlesex), Deb Matthews (London North Centre), and Chris Bentley (London West).

Other NDP candidates present were Shawn Rouse (Oxford), Jack Verhulst (Perth-Middlesex), and Dr. Rebecca Coulter (London Fanshawe).

The Special Guests

The highlight of the evening were the presentations by the two opposition Education critics: Gerard Kennedy, Liberal MPP for Parkdale-High Park, and Rosario Marchese, NDP MPP for Trinity-Spadina. Each gave a brief presentation outlining their party's education platform. Then, in a question and answer session moderated by Don Rowdon, OSSTF District 11 president, both answered questions from the audience about other education issues.

It is safe to say that the prevailing theme throughout the evening was to "Vote for Change" in order to "Turf the Tories" in the next election

Let us not take thought for our separate interests, but let us help one another.
(OSSTF Motto)

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