Thirty-five years after she became the first woman elected to the province’s House of Assembly, Hazel McIsaac has received a special honour from the province’s first female premier.
Premier Kathy Dunderdale announced last Tuesday one of the government’s two new medium-size ferry vessels would be named after Ms. McIsaac. The other would be named after the late Grace Sparkes, the first woman to seek election to the province’s House of Assembly.
“I am so pleased we are naming these vessels after two extraordinary women – true trailblazers in Newfoundland and Labrador's political history – who helped to pave the way for women wishing to enter political life,” the premier said in a release.
“These women shared their energy, passion, vision and wisdom in the service of our province and their legacy will now be represented in a very tangible way in the naming of our two newest ferries.”
Kim McIsaac-Bennett, Ms. McIsaac’s daughter, told the Georgian her mother is in the later stages of Alzheimer's disease and isn’t cognizant of the honour.
“But if mom could come back even for a split second, which I know won't happen, she'd be so proud and appreciative of this,” Ms. McIsaac-Bennett said.
“I'm so proud of mom. It's nice to see her contributions and efforts validated in this way.” - Kim McIsaac-Bennett
She noted her own children – 17-year-old Byron and 13-year-old Sophie – are “just over the moon” about the tribute to their grandmother.
“They're so proud of her but this puts her in a new light, bringing her back to life for them as they've always been her treasures,” she said.
Ms. McIsaac-Bennett plans to be on the maiden voyage on the MV Hazel McIsaac.
“I'm so proud of mom. It's nice to see her contributions and efforts validated in this way,” she said.
Born in Robinsons in 1933, Ms. McIsaac was the first woman to become a member of the House of Assembly post-Confederation when she was elected to represent the District of St. George's for the Liberal Party on Sept. 16, 1975. She later launched a successful career in municipal politics in the Town of St. George's and was an active member of her community.
The MV Hazel McIsaac and MV Grace Sparkes are currently under construction at the Kiewit Offshore Services' Cow Head Facility near Marystown. The MV Hazel McIsaac is expected to be completed in April and will provide service to Long Island and Little Bay Islands in Green Bay.
