Celebrating Pearl Hunter

This event will take place on Friday, September 9, 2022, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Location: Macdonald Building, 6300 Coburg Rd., B3H 4R2. Note: Front-entrance faces the Quad at the end of University Ave.

Pearl Hunter was a dedicated, discrete and meticulous aide to many ministers on Parliament Hill.  She spent decades working for the Honourable Allan MacEachen in many portfolios, from the House of Commons to the Senate. Everyone knew Pearl Hunter from the commissionaires to Prime Ministers.  Pearl inspired many young political staff during her time in Ottawa.

Please join us for a gathering to name the MacEachen Institute meeting room for Pearl Hunter (1923-2017), the long-time Private Secretary and Special Assistant to the Honourable Allan J. MacEachen.

The afternoon will include refreshments and informal socializing; an address from His Honour, The Honourable Arthur LeBlanc, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia; and a panel discussion (details below). 

Please RSVP by September 2nd by emailing jocelyne.rankin@dal.ca

Panel Discussion: ‘Getting it done’: Perspectives from within political offices  

Current political staff will share their thoughts on the role and influence of assistants and special advisors in the office of political leaders, the skills required to be successful and the career opportunities it can offer. The panel will be chaired by Professor Louise Carbert, Department of Political Science, Dalhousie University. 

About the Speakers

Jessica Bradley

Jessica Bradley is Senior Policy Advisor to Halifax Mayor Mike Savage and has worked in a political capacity with him since 2016. She strongly believes in the Mayor’s social mandate and works to advance strategic priorities with a focus on pressing social issues including housing, poverty, food security, and climate change. She is a member of the Halifax Housing and Homelessness Partnership and has been a key member of the Halifax Mobile Food Market Leadership Team since 2018.

Jessica has a master’s degree in political science from Dalhousie University. She lives in Dartmouth with her husband and 14-month-old son.

Savannah DeWolfe

Savannah is the Director of Operations and Legal Affairs in the Office of the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the Hon. Sean Fraser (while on leave from her position as a litigation associate at the law firm of McInnes Cooper). She has managed provincial and federal political campaigns. She is a commissioner on the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission, and founder of a community legal clinic.

Savannah holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Ottawa, a Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management with a specialization in human rights and a minor in law, along with a Masters Degree in Political Management, both from Carleton University.

Julia Kenney

Julia grew up in Dartmouth, graduating from Dalhousie in 2015 with a BA in Political Science. Since graduating, she has held several political jobs, including Constituency Assistant to MLA Tim Halman, a senior role on the Tim Houston Leadership Campaign, and Research Officer in the PC Caucus Office. 

In January 2020, she moved to Ottawa where she worked as the Executive Coordinator of the Conservative Party of Canada. Following a role in the 2021 CPC War Room, she accepted a position in the office of Blake Richards, MP for Banff-Airdrie. Julia currently serves as a Special Advisor in the office of Premier Tim Houston.

Janice Maloney

Janice Maloney is the Executive Director of Kwilmu'kw Maw-klusuaqn (KMKNO), where she sits on the Rights Implementation and Consultation tables. She is originally from Indian Brook First Nation and now resides in, and is a member of, Millbrook First Nation. Janice grew up in Montreal, Quebec, and graduated from Concordia University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree, with a double-major in Political Science and Psychology, with a minor in Sociology. After her undergrad, Janice returned to Nova Scotia to attend law school at Dalhousie University, graduating in 1994. She recently completed her Master of Law in Constitutional Law from Osgoode Hall Law School

Janice has worked for Nova Scotia Legal Aid, private practice with Melnick, Doll and Condran, the Nova Scotia Native Women's Association and the Confederacy of Mainland Mi'kmaq, where she helped develop the Mi'kmaq Legal Support Network and Mi'kmaq Will Kits.

Janice is a practicing lawyer and member of the Nova Scotia Barristers Society and currently sits on the Credentials Committee.