The Nova Scotia Legislature

The directory lists alphabetically all members of the assembly between 1758 and 1983 and provides a brief biographical note oneach.

Nova Scotia elected its first representative government in 1758. It was over 200 years later that the first woman, Gladys Porter, would take her seat at Province House. On Their Shoulders: The Women Who Paved the Way in Nova Scotia Politics tells the stories of the first fifty women to serve as Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), detailing their journeys to office, the inequalities they overcame, the moments and achievements they are proud of, and the advice they give to today's young women. Co-authors Sarah Dobson and Grace Evans interviewed women who have served as an MLA in Nova Scotia, as well as the families of those who have since passed away. This book is a historic recollection of Nova Scotian politics with a gendered lens, filling an important gap in our history while inspiring young women to follow in their footsteps. The book began as an idea for a fundraiser, but became so much more. Alongside a successful crowdfunding campaign, the sales of this book will go towards the Women in Politics Scholarship at Dalhousie University. This scholarship will support the next generation of women-identifying students who aspire to a career in politics.

This book combines text and beautiful photographs to document and celebrate Province House in Halifax, the seat of the provincial legislature. Province House is the home of parliamentary democracy, freedom of the press and responsible government in Canada. This book offers a tour of the building — known for being one of the finest examples of the Palladian architectural style in North America — and its contents, and describes the many important events which have taken place within its distinguished walls. Nova Scotia's Province House contains many fascinating historical images drawn from Province House's own collection. The building's principal rooms, including the legislative chamber, the outstanding legislative library, and the Red Room (formerly the home of the legislature's upper house) are documented here with new colour photography by Len Wagg, award-winning Nova Scotian photographer and author.