Private Member's Statement
May 28, 2008: Hope Hunter
Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. At the end of June central Edmonton will see one of its champions retire. Hope Hunter, the long time executive director of the Boyle Street Co op, now known as Boyle Street Community Services, is moving on. I met Hope in 1993 when we both worked on Alice Hanson’s successful campaign as the MLA for Edmonton Highlands Beverly.
Mr. Speaker, you’ve got to be pretty good to impress me, and Hope Hunter impresses me mightily. She is tenacious, treats everyone with dignity, and values every life. She ran an inner city nonprofit in Alberta for almost 20 years. That in itself qualifies her for sainthood if not as a miracle worker. For those 20 years and more she has defended the civil rights of the homeless, given countless citizens shelter, fed the hungry, inspired the disadvantaged, and reminded the rest of us of our duty to help our neighbours in need. All the while she has mentored the people around her with wisdom, pragmatism, and humour.
Hope has also served on the National Council of Welfare, providing priceless insight and experience as concerned Canadians fight to narrow the growing gap between rich and poor. She is a woman of vision, literally being granted that honour in 1997 by Global Television. She is a world traveller with otherworldly wisdom.
I ask that my fellow MLAs join me in giving profound thanks to Hope Hunter for so many years of service to Edmontonians and to Albertans and wishing her many more and varied travels on the road of life. Thank you so much, Hope Hunter.
Other Sections
Youth Voice
@ The Leg
Photo Blog