Mr. Speaker, last week I had the great pleasure to attend the 50th anniversary of the Glace Bay Citizens Service League. In November 1965, under the guidance of Hilda Wright, on the initiative of the United Church, a pilot project was undertaken in ecumenical social service, bringing together churches, service groups, and social agencies with the goal of improving the economic conditions and quality of life for the people of Glace Bay.
The league provides programs, like the clothing depot, furniture exchange, backpack programs, Meals on Wheels, nursery schools, babysitting courses, and seniors programs, all delivered by an army of more than 200 incredibly dedicated volunteers.
The league presented 50-year service pins to Marge Petite, Effie MacAulay, Jeanette Sternes, and the league's first and longest serving board chair, Shirley Chernin.
The talented and dedicated staff, led by executive director Susan Plath and board of directors chair Agatha MacMullin, are the first to point to the hundreds of volunteers who have given so much to the benefit of so many as the reason for the league's 50 years of success.
I ask the House to join me in congratulating the Glace Bay Citizens Service League on its 50th anniversary of giving.