Name recognition
Bible Hill buildings renamed in honour of past agriculture icons
A former premier and a former Colchester North MLA were each immortalized Thursday by having provincial government buildings renamed in their honour.
The buildings, which once served as residences at the former Residential Centre in Bible Hill, have been refurbished and now serve as Department of Agriculture office buildings.
The Annapolis Building has been renamed the Roger Stuart Bacon Building in honour of Nova Scotia’s 21st premier, while the Northumberland Building has been renamed as the Edward F. Lorraine Building, in honour of an Upper Onslow beef farmer who served various political roles, including Colchester County councillor, warden, MLA and Agriculture Minister.
“This is going to mark a very important day in the history of agriculture in Nova Scotia,” current Agriculture Minister Keith Colwell said, during the renaming ceremony.
“It’s no stretch to say that agriculture is the backbone of the economy of this province,” he said. “Roger Bacon and Ed Lorraine played big roles in helping build the agriculture sector in Nova Scotia.”
Premier Stephen McNeil, who credited Lorraine with helping him get elected to that position, described the pair as “two great men who have had decades of impact on our community in the agriculture sector.”
Although the two stood on opposite sides of the political arena – Lorraine was a Liberal while Bacon was a Progressive Conservative – McNeil and others who spoke, said they each worked for the common good as opposed to letting partisan politics stand in their way.
“Both of them have understood the importance of rural Nova Scotia and the agricultural impact and it’s importance to Nova Scotia,” McNeil said.
And it was only fitting, he
added, that their names stand on buildings within eyesight of the Perennia Innovation Centre, “the hub for transformation in how we continue to transform agriculture in our province with science research and innovation.”
“I think it is such a great tribute to them and their legacy in our province,” McNeil said.
Bacon, 90, of Cumberland County, said following the ceremony that the dedication was “totally unexpected” but he expressed appreciation for those who put his name forward.
“It’s very humbling to me,” he said. “But I’m honoured to be honoured.”