Peggy Prowse Tribute - Member Statement

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : I rise today to recognize the passing of Peggy Prowse, a lifelong advocate and the first female candidate for the Nova Scotia New Democrats in the 1963 election. Peggy dedicated many years of her life to the New Democratic Party provincially and federally. She served on the executive of the provincial party as secretary and in true NDP style, and in her own signature scrappy and enthusiastic style, she ran the provincial office from the basement of her home.

In 1967, she was elected to the NDP National Council, where she became the first woman from the Atlantic Provinces, and the second woman overall, to serve as vice-president of the federal party. Peggy also served in many co-operative roles and was a leader in the co-operative movement. Even in her retirement, she continued to give time to volunteering, including leading tours of the Nova Scotia Natural History Museum.

Please join me in honouring Peggy Prowse for her fierce dedication to activism and democracy in Nova Scotia.