Celebrating five years of success

Posted by admin on Oct 31, 2007 in News | 0 comments

On October 22, the Laurentian Leadership Centre held an elegant reception in celebration of its fifth anniversary. The doors were opened to program alumni, current supervisors, donors and other dignitaries associated with the centre.

As the guests arrived, current LLC students greeted them, and invited them to mingle and enjoy punch and gourmet hors d’oeuvres. After an interval of socializing, the guests were entertained by what Dr. Janet Epp Buckingham, Director of the LLC, referred to as the “Famous Five”: a small student choir comprised of Irene Cadrin, Amy Mochar, Chris Anquist, Adrian Reimer and Norm Van Eden Petersman.

Following the performance, Buckingham welcomed the visitors and introduced the guest of honour, President Jonathan Raymond, who then proceeded to applaud the work of the LLC.

Among those present was the Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety. The minister answered questions from students about life as a cabinet official. He warned that politics is not a recommendable field, but that students should follow their heart.

Another politician in attendance, Member of Parliament Ed Fast, was kept busy answering the inquiries of the curious students. The camaraderie was obvious as Fast fielded questions from students about life as an MP, as well as current and future policies of the Conservative Party.

Other MPs, reporters, businesspeople and Parliament staffers also attended the reception. “I am very pleased that so many members of Parliament took the time out of their busy schedules to come to the reception,” said Romalie Murphy, Community Life Coordinator for the LLC.

The evening was “an excellent function bringing together political leaders of today with the potential leaders of tomorrow,” said third-year student Matt Pasuik, who is currently interning with Fast.

Alumni seem to agree. Kristen VanderHoek, an LLC alumnus now interning with Parliamentary Secretary Russ Hiebert, commented, “As an alumni, receptions like this are a great chance to see what the current interns are doing and it’s a great chance to reconnect with other alums in the area.”

The current LLC students were impressed at the variety of people who attended this event. VanderHoek said, “This is the best picture of the LLC. It is not just the class or just the students or just the supervisors.” She added that, with the many people who attended the event, there were many opportunities to network at the reception.