Dianne C. Whalen (May 3, 1951 – October 3, 2010) was a

Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...

politician and provincial Cabinet Minister in

Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland and Labrador (; french: Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador; frequently abbreviated as NL) is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region ...

Early life

Whalen was born in

Come By Chance, Newfoundland and Labrador Come By Chance is a town on the isthmus of the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is in Division 1 on Placentia Bay. Located in this town is Newfoundland's only oil refinery, the Come By Chance Refinery operated by North A ...

, raised in

Port Blandford Port Blandford is a town in eastern Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is in Division No. 7 on Clode Sound. The population in 1940 was 539, and increased to 631 by 1956. Climate Port Blandford has a humid continental climate ...

and lived for 40 years in

Paradise In religion, paradise is a place of exceptional happiness and delight. Paradisiacal notions are often laden with pastoral imagery, and may be cosmogonical or eschatological or both, often compared to the miseries of human civilization: in paradis ...

where she served as mayor for 18 years.

Political career

Whalen was one of several star candidates that helped bring the Progressive Conservatives back to power in 2003 after 14 years in opposition. She was elected to represent the

district A district is a type of administrative division that, in some countries, is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or counties, several municipalities, subdivisions o ...

Conception Bay East and Bell Island Conception commonly refers to: * Concept, an abstract idea or a mental symbol * Conception (biology), the process of becoming pregnant, involving fertilization and implantation of the embryo in the uterus Conception may also refer to: Entertain ...

in the

Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly The Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly is the Unicameralism, unicameral deliberative assembly of the General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It meets in the Confederation Build ...

. Whalen was re-elected in 2007 and served as MHA and Minister until her death in 2010. Whalen was appointed to Danny Williams' first Cabinet in 2003 as the Minister of Government Services. She remained in the Government Services portfolio till 2007 when she was appointed Minister of Transportation and Works. On October 31, 2008, she became Minister of Municipal Affairs, Minister Responsible for Emergency Preparedness, and as Registrar General. In the fall of 2009 Whalen went off on sick leave after being hospitalized as a result of illness. With the re-opening of the House of Assembly in March 2010 Whalen resumed her duties as MHA and Minister. On October 3, 2010, Premier Williams announced that Whalen had died following a fight with cancer.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Whalen, Dianne 1951 births 2010 deaths Deaths from cancer in Newfoundland and Labrador Women MHAs in Newfoundland and Labrador Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador MHAs People from Paradise, Newfoundland and Labrador Mayors of places in Newfoundland and Labrador Women mayors of places in Newfoundland and Labrador 21st-century Canadian politicians 21st-century Canadian women politicians Newfoundland and Labrador municipal councillors