Honouring Marion Reid - Members Statement - Brad Trivers

On November 8, 2023 I was privileged to present a Member’s Statement honouring the life and legacy of Marion Reid, who passed away on June 22, 2023.

Marion Reid – Member’s Statement

Please find the transcript, video, and links to tabled documents below.

PDF of Hansard where Member’s Statement starts on Page 7 of 58 (page 1734 of Hansard): Hansard-8 November 2023 – Marion Reid Members Statement

Speaker: The hon. Member from Rustico-Emerald.

Honourable Marion Reid

B. Trivers: Thank you, Madam Speaker.

I rise today to honour the extraordinary lifeof the Honourable Marion Reid.

Growing up on a farm taught her coping skills, learning time management, the art ofcompromise and respect, manners, and self-confidence.

Her parents recognized her independentnature early on and encouraged Marion to ask questions. She was raised to believe that with hard work, she could do anything she set her mind to.

Marion Reid was remarkable and embraced all aspects of life, ranging from nurturing her children, family support, hard work, maintaining a positive attitude, responsibility for community, reverence for nature and for the land, and the significance of love, laughter, and celebration. She was passionate for life, learning, and for a better world and making a difference.

Despite unexpected hurdles and challenges,she believed that you needed to summon whatever resources you can find to gather the courage to get back up and go forward. Known for her positivity and belief that there was nothing that could not be worked out or another way to be found, Marion would say things like: “Things work out for the best for those who make the best of how things worked out.”

During her 21 years of teaching, she made time to read aloud to her students every day, sharing stories of bravery, endurance, beauty, goodness, and determination. She believed that the power of words can strongly influence the mind.

Marion would say: “Education covers a lot of ground, but it doesn’t cultivate any of it.”

Marion earned many awards and designations, served on many boards and committees, and belonged to many organizations. In fact, Madam Speaker, these are so numerous that I will table a compilation to this House as I don’t have time to read them all during this member’s statement. I’m sure you’ll appreciate that.

Some Hon. Members: [Laughter]

B. Trivers: Marion was so impressed with Angus MacLean’s integrity and vision that she became a member of his campaign committee in 1976. She made the address at his testimonial dinner marking his 25th anniversary as a Member of Parliament for PEI. She was first elected in the general election in April 1979 as a member for 1st Queens district, for 10 years.

She met with people from all walks of life and had all the time in the world for them. She had great empathy for all people, especially for those she knew were struggling with life’s hardships. Another one of her great quotes was:

“Don’t feel entitled for anything that you did not sweat and work for. Without some adversity, you will never know what you are capable of being. Adversity will either grind you down or polish you up.”

She and Leone Bagnall became the first women elected for the Conservative Party of PEI in 1979. I have a lot more written here to say, but I’m going to skip right to the end and just say that we have lost an extraordinary Islander, but her legacy lives on.

I’ll share one last piece of wisdom from Marion that she lived her life by:

“Where there is righteousness in the heart, there is beauty in character. Where there is beauty in the character, there is harmony in the home. When there is harmony in the home, there is order in the nation. When there is order in the nation, there is peace in the world.”

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Some Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Marion Reid Accomplishments (some)

Marion Reid graduated from Prince of Wales College with her First Class Teacher’s License where she also won the John H. Bell Prize for debating and the Lord Strathcona Prize for physical education.

During her twenty one years of teaching, she completed her Certificate 5 Teacher’s License and was awarded two scholarships for her academic excellence.

For seven years, she served as Secretary on the Board of Governors of the Prince Edward Island Teachers’ Federation. During her time as a board member she served on Status of Women; Negotiating Strategy Committee; Teachers’ Recruitment Team; Pension Committee and Curriculum Committee.

She was a very active community member serving as President of the Sterling Women’s Institute; a leader in 4-H work; the Catholic Women’s League; member of the Zonta Club of Charlottetown and a charter member of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Foundation.

Marion was Honorary Patron of: Laubach Literacy of Canada; the Prince Edward Island Royal Canadian Legion; Girl Guides of Canada; the Council of Boys Scouts of Canada.

Marion was the recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow Award; Toastmasters International Communications and Leadership Award; Rural Beautification W.R. Shaw Award; the Prince Edward Island Medal of Merit and the Canadian Red Cross Humanitarian Award.

Always carrying out her duties with great distinction and passion, she received the Order of Prince Edward Island in 1996 which is the highest honour awarded to an Islander.

In 1997, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from UPEI for her incredible career as an educator and faithful representative for Islanders. She later received a Distinguished Alumni Award for her outstanding contributions to the Island community and to public service.

She was a member of the PEI Famous Five comprised of five women in 1993 who held five of the most influential legislative positions in the province. This was the first and last time in Canadian history that five women held these positions during the same time.