Percy Paris
Encyclopedia
Percy A. Paris is a Canadian
politician and member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
in Halifax, Nova Scotia
, Canada. He represents the constituency of Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank
for the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party
.
Born in Windsor
, Nova Scotia, Paris was actively involved in sports in his youth. He played hockey
on the King's-Edgehill school team in 1965-1966. Paris's father was John Paris Jr.
Paris graduated from Saint Mary's University with a Bachelor of Arts
in English.
In 1985, Paris began teaching Black History at Dalhousie University
. He was also involved with the University's Transition Year Program. Paris was the Director of Dalhousie University’s Diversity Initiative and has also acted as Black Student Advisor.
An entrepreneur, Paris owned and operated a bar in Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia
, and started the Jet Journal, a local publication. He has also worked as a civic employee with Halifax City Hall
, and was a hockey scout with the International Hockey League and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
.
Paris was the recipient of a human rights award from the Human Rights Commission of Nova Scotia for his work bringing communities together through sport.
Paris has held positions on a number of boards including the Riverlake Residents' Association, the Black Business Initiative, National Access Awareness Week, Network for Entrepreneurs with Disabilities, the King’s-Edgehill
Alumni Association, Team Work Co-operative, Halifax Black Community Workshop, Dartmouth East Black Learning Centre and the Metro Committee for Persons with Disabilities.
Paris has coached a number of hockey, fastball
and softball
teams at the local level, as well as the provincial team at the Canadian nationals.
Paris is married with three children.
First elected in the 2006 election
, Paris defeated Progressive Conservative
incumbent Gary Hines with 46.39% of the vote. Paris was re-elected in the 2009 provincial election with 54.47 per cent of the vote.
He is the only African-Nova Scotian member of the provincial legislature.
In the last sitting of the legislature before the 2009 election, Paris served as the New Democratic Party Caucus critic
for Education and African-Nova Scotian Affairs. Following the 2009 election, in which the NDP formed government, he was named Minister of Economic and Rural Development, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage, and Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician and member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
Nova Scotia House of Assembly
The Nova Scotia Legislature, consisting of Her Majesty The Queen represented by the Lieutenant Governor and the House of Assembly, is the legislative branch of the provincial government of Nova Scotia, Canada...
in Halifax, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, Canada. He represents the constituency of Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank
Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank
Waverley—Fall River—Beaver Bank is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly....
for the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party
Nova Scotia New Democratic Party
The Nova Scotia New Democratic Party is a social-democratic provincial party in Nova Scotia, Canada. It is aligned with the federal New Democratic Party . Originally founded as the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation in 1932, it became the New Democratic Party in 1961. It became the governing...
.
Born in Windsor
Windsor, Nova Scotia
Windsor is a town located in Hants County, Mainland Nova Scotia at the junction of the Avon and St. Croix Rivers. It is the largest community in western Hants County with a 2001 population of 3,779 and was at one time the shire town of the county. The region encompassing present day Windsor was...
, Nova Scotia, Paris was actively involved in sports in his youth. He played hockey
Hockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
on the King's-Edgehill school team in 1965-1966. Paris's father was John Paris Jr.
Paris graduated from Saint Mary's University with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in English.
In 1985, Paris began teaching Black History at Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
. He was also involved with the University's Transition Year Program. Paris was the Director of Dalhousie University’s Diversity Initiative and has also acted as Black Student Advisor.
An entrepreneur, Paris owned and operated a bar in Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia
Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia
Lower Sackville is a suburban community located in the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada. It is part of the urban area of Halifax ....
, and started the Jet Journal, a local publication. He has also worked as a civic employee with Halifax City Hall
Halifax City Hall
Halifax City Hall is the seat of municipal government in Nova Scotia's Halifax Regional Municipality.Since municipal amalgamation took place on 1 April 1996, Halifax City Hall has hosted the regular meetings of the Halifax Regional Council, as well as various municipal offices.-History:The building...
, and was a hockey scout with the International Hockey League and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League...
.
Paris was the recipient of a human rights award from the Human Rights Commission of Nova Scotia for his work bringing communities together through sport.
Paris has held positions on a number of boards including the Riverlake Residents' Association, the Black Business Initiative, National Access Awareness Week, Network for Entrepreneurs with Disabilities, the King’s-Edgehill
King's-Edgehill School
King's-Edgehill School is a Canadian independent University Preparatory boarding and day School located in the town of Windsor, Nova Scotia.-History:...
Alumni Association, Team Work Co-operative, Halifax Black Community Workshop, Dartmouth East Black Learning Centre and the Metro Committee for Persons with Disabilities.
Paris has coached a number of hockey, fastball
Fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
and softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
teams at the local level, as well as the provincial team at the Canadian nationals.
Paris is married with three children.
First elected in the 2006 election
Nova Scotia general election, 2006
The 37th Nova Scotia general election was held on June 13, 2006 to elect members of the 60th House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada....
, Paris defeated Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia
The Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia, registered under the Nova Scotia Elections Act as the "Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia", is a moderate right-of-centre political party in Nova Scotia, Canada....
incumbent Gary Hines with 46.39% of the vote. Paris was re-elected in the 2009 provincial election with 54.47 per cent of the vote.
He is the only African-Nova Scotian member of the provincial legislature.
In the last sitting of the legislature before the 2009 election, Paris served as the New Democratic Party Caucus critic
Shadow Cabinet
The Shadow Cabinet is a senior group of opposition spokespeople in the Westminster system of government who together under the leadership of the Leader of the Opposition form an alternative cabinet to the government's, whose members shadow or mark each individual member of the government...
for Education and African-Nova Scotian Affairs. Following the 2009 election, in which the NDP formed government, he was named Minister of Economic and Rural Development, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage, and Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs.