Carol MacPherson remembered at NDP meeting
by Bill Rea

In addition to being prominent in the local media, Carol MacPherson devoted a lot of her time and energies to the New Democratic Party (NDP).

Members of the York - Simcoe provincial riding association took a couple of minutes out to remember Ms. MacPherson Thursday night at the nomination meeting.

Ms. MacPherson, former editor of the Innisfil Scope, died earlier this year of cancer.

"We all miss Carol," commented newly nominated candidate Nancy Morrison in her acceptance address. She recalled she had talked to Ms. MacPherson about the problems she was facing getting funding for treatment of her autistic son, and it was Ms. MacPherson who introduced her to MPP Shelley Martel, NDP critic for health and long-term care, seniors and autism issues.

Party leader Howard Hampton was at the meeting and spoke fondly of Ms. MacPherson, as did former Barrie- Simcoe- Bradford MPP Paul Wessinger. Ms. MacPherson went to work in his constituency office in 1991, and in '92, she became his legislative assistant at Queen's Park. She stayed in Toronto for a time and worked for the NDP caucus.

Wessinger also remembered her as a person who overcame adversity, pointing out she was a single parent who started a successful newspaper.

He remembered Ms. MacPherson as "a person of great enthusiasm an energy, and the the ability to work with people."