Colleagues and friends pay tribute to Brownell

Residents from S, D and G and other parts of Ontario paid tribute to retiring MPP Jim Brownell at a dinner hosted by the local provincial Liberal association on Saturday night.

PHOTO CREDIT - Jim Brownell

Cornwall - May. 1, 2011 - Residents from S, D and G and other parts of Ontario paid tribute to retiring MPP Jim Brownell at a dinner hosted by the local provincial Liberal association on Saturday night.

More than 200 attendees gathered at the Best Western Plus Parkway Inn and Conference Centre to celebrate the MPP's legacy of achievement for his riding and the province.

The audience - which consisted of various MPPs and staff from Queen's Park - were treated to music from The Brigadoons and Quiet Moments, as well as numerous anecdotes about Brownell’s accomplishments as an MPP.

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty provided a personal tribute to Jim via video, while the Liberal Party of Ontario was represented in person by Ottawa-Vanier MPP and Minister of Community and Social Housing and Francophone Affairs Madeleine Meilleur.

The tribute also featured a slide presentation covering highlights from Brownell’s career. First elected to the provincial legislature in 2003, Brownell successfully advocated for action from the provincial government on issues ranging from the redevelopment of the Winchester District Memorial Hospital, Cornwall Community Hospital, and St. Joseph’s Continuing Care Centre to the creation of the Eastern Ontario Economic Development Fund.

He also provided the impetus for three province-wide initiatives - the forgiveness of municipal downtown redevelopment loans; the creation of a program through the Ontario Heritage Trust to commemorate the gravesites of former Premiers of Ontario; and the establishing of Family Day as a statutory holiday.

Brownell himself thanked the people of Stormont, Dundas and South Glengarry for the trust they have placed in him and the Liberal Party through two terms.

In addition to the accomplishments as MPP, Brownell mentioned the friendships he has made both in the riding and at Queen’s Park as highlights of his provincial political career.

He is looking forward to some well-deserved time with his family, some travel, and some new initiatives to benefit the people of the riding.