It’ll be a night of tribute to honour the service of a former politician in the Quad Counties.
Michel Samson represented the formerly-known Richmond riding, then Cape Breton-Richmond riding, for 19 years before not being re-elected in last May’s provincial election.
Rodger Cuzner, Cape Breton-Canso Member of Parliament, says it’s a chance to say thanks to someone who has served community members so well over a great career in the legislature.
Cuzner tells The Hawk Samson was made for the role.
“He was quite a guy; he was very passionate about whatever it is he does,” he says. “He’s a worker, he has a natural ability- the politics came so natural to him.”
Cuzner says Samson loves to mix it up and fight, but also accomplish goals.
He says politicians have challenging careers, and Samson handled it very well.
“When you embark on a career in politics or when you get involved initially and then all of a sudden you find yourself in the midst of a career, there are a lot of tough days,” he says. “He had an ability to deal with them and move on, and he didn’t take a lot of it personal.”
Cuzner says he and Samson worked on a number of worthwhile projects including supporting the ROC Society, Richmond Villa, (Dr. Kingston Memorial Community Health Centre), and paving a significant stretch of highway coming into St. Peter’s.
He says Samson can focus more time with family members now.
Samson started working for the Cox & Palmer legal firm in Halifax following his defeat in the last May’s provincial election, before being appointed to the board of directors for the Community Foundation of Nova Scotia in March.
The tribute dinner gets underway at La Picasse in Petit-de-Grat at 6 p.m.
Photo credits: Cox & Palmer