NEW GLASGOW, N.S. — Two people who made lasting impacts in Pictou County and beyond will be invested into the Order of Nova Scotia this year.
Former New Glasgow mayor, Ann MacLean, and former New Glasgow town councillor, Francis Dorrington, will both be invested during a ceremony held on Nov. 26 at Province House in Halifax.
Lt.-Gov. Arthur J. LeBlanc, Chancellor of the Order of Nova Scotia, made the announcement today, Nov. 1.
"As the Queen's representative in this province and as Chancellor of the Order of Nova Scotia, it is my honour and great pleasure to welcome and invest the newest appointees to the Order," said LeBlanc. "These five outstanding Nova Scotians have worked hard to improve the lives of all our citizens through their exemplary dedication and commitment."
Also being invested are:
Elizabeth Cromwell (posthumous), Birchtown, Shelburne Co., Dr. Noni MacDonald, Halifax and David McKeage (posthumous), Halifax.
About Pictou County’s recipients:
Francis Dorrington
Growing up in a racially segregated Nova Scotia in the 1930’s and 40’s, Francis Dorrington wasn’t able to drink coke with his teammates in a restaurant after winning a basketball game. One of his first permanent jobs was working as a Via Rail Porter, one of the few rail jobs available to black men; he moved to Halifax and worked at the Camp Hill Veterans Hospital. It was upon moving back to New Glasgow with his wife, Frances, that he began actively serving his community. His public service career sets him apart as a trailblazer as he was the first African Nova Scotian elected to public office in New Glasgow, to serve on the Executive of the Nova Scotia School Board, and to serve as a Director of the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities.
He was a respected voice in municipal politics, serving as Town Councillor for 21 consecutive years. This included serving as Deputy Mayor for four terms, as well as Acting Mayor in 1987. His expertise was evident in revitalizing and renovating community infrastructures, such as New Glasgow Town Hall, New Glasgow town schools, and the Aberdeen Hospital.
In 1989, he was a key member of the group that established the New Glasgow Black Gala Homecoming Committee, an organization that saw him as their first Chairperson. When he was in positions of authority, he worked towards ensuring that the public services were more representative of the public they served. He has been an invaluable community mentor, and role model for generations of Nova Scotians.
Ann MacLean
Ann MacLean has made significant contributions to improving the lives of Nova Scotia’s vulnerable and marginalized communities. As a mental health therapist, social worker, addictions treatment supervisor and director, and Vice President of Community Health she worked tirelessly to provide community-based workshops, group homes and support services to those in need. In 1976 she was a founder of Metropolitan Mental Health Group Homes Association, providing residential services to help build skills and community support for those with mental health difficulties.
As a founding member of the Tearmann Society for Abused Women (1984), she framed domestic abuse as a community issue and worked to break cycles of violence. An early promoter of the determinants of health, she changed attitudes about mental health, addiction, and domestic violence.
Aside from these considerable contributions to Nova Scotia, she had an extensive career in municipal politics, including 34 years as a public servant. As the longest serving Mayor of New Glasgow and the first female mayor, Ann MacLean oversaw significant initiatives and investments including the establishment of watershed management and water treatment facility, the redevelopment of the Riverfront, including Glasgow Square Theatre, and downtown revitalization. Among her significant contributions to municipal politics, she was a key negotiator in the federal gas tax that ensured investments for municipal infrastructure.
She is the only Atlantic Canadian woman to be elected President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. As president she formalized the Standing Committee for Increasing Women’s Participation in Municipal Government. She continues to mentor women interested in running for elected office. She is the only living municipal leader in Canada to have a national award in her name by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
