Brief Convention Account

I got home late last night from Pictou. Everyone seemed to have a good time at the convention. Adam Saab and I are working on the minutes, and we will try to get them out ASAP. We managed to get through every single resolution, as well as 7 or 8 emergency resolutions. The workshops seemed to work very well.

Everyone seemed to like the speakers. I think every speaker received a standing ovation. Andrew Nikiforuk's presentation was fascinating. I will definitely pick up his book on the Tar Sands.

The DeCoste Centre is a first class facility - very fancy. The workshops were held in small halls around the community. I attended the constitution workshop held at the Anglican Church hall and members of the church prepared us coffee, tea and muffins and scones. There were two workshops at the United Church hall and the UCW (United Church Women) prepared refreshments for those groups. It was really great. A nice mix of professional plenary hall and good old-fashioned church basement politics.

I think every B&B in Pictou was full. We brought a lot of business to this beautiful, welcoming community. A local bar put up a big banner that said "Welcome Green Party Delegates". Yes, a lot of drinking went on there after formal business was completed. A local restaurant also put up a sign welcoming Green Party delegates and advertising that they had fair trade coffee. Other businesses around Pictou also had smaller signs in their windows welcoming us to Pictou. Awesome!

The mayor of Pictou gave a great welcome and loaned us the Town of Pictou's gavel for the weekend. We only had to use the gavel once or twice.

There were 230 delegates registered a week before the convention and a number of people registered at the door. Everyone seemed to have a good time. That's judging by the number of standing ovations.