Mill
Woods: Diversity, Cooperation,
Action
Remarks
by David Kilgour, M.P. for
Edmonton Southeast at the
First
Annual Mill Woods Day
Edmonton,
Alberta
September
21, 2002
Mayor
Smith, President Ron Kuban,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys
and Girls,
It is
a pleasure to commemorate
the First Annual Mill Woods
Day.
Thank you, Mayor Bill
Smith, for proclaiming it.
I often
tell visitors that if we were
a separate city, Mill woods
would be---with 80, 000 residents---the
third largest in the province
to the best of my knowledge.
No, Mayor Smith, I’m
not advocating secession!
Mill
Woods is an excellent reflection
of contemporary Canada---a
community of people from many
backgrounds who have learned
to live, work and grow together
in mutual respect.
This event itself illustrates
the harmony present in Mill
Woods.
We have drawn from the value of inclusiveness
to learn from each other and
accept one another. This is
in fact one of our greatest
strengths.
Canada can speak effectively
to the world because we have
the world---and its languages
and cultures---within our
country and within this community.
We have had some challenges since 1970,
but time and again we have
united to overcome them. The
achievements of Mill Woods’
community leagues include
the initiation of the Citizen
Patrol, the Anti-Poverty Round
Table, the Recreation Centre
and the Jackie Parker Park.
These are only some
examples of our endeavour
to maintain peace and security
as well as to make Mill Woods
an excellent place to live.
We must all keep working with
each other to ensure continued
success.
Before closing, a word about the proposed
new electoral boundaries and
name change for Edmonton Southeast.
The Electoral Boundaries
Commission has proposed that
Edmonton Southeast be renamed
Edmonton-Beaumont.
Given that the vast
majority of our proposed new
constituency are residents
of Mill Woods, I believe that
instead of Edmonton-Beaumont,
we should be Edmonton-Mill
Woods-Beaumont.
I plan to make this submission
to the Commission and encourage
you to do the same if you
agree.
On
behalf of the Government of
Canada, I’d like to thank
and congratulate The Mill
Woods President’s Council
and all the volunteers/participants
for organizing this wonderful
event. Thanks to all of you
for coming out, enjoying yourselves
and helping knit the Mill
Woods community closer and
tighter together.
Happy Mill Woods Day
everyone!!!
Thank You.
