Reflections: 55 Years in Public Service in Nova Scotia

“Fred MacKinnon has been hailed as the outstanding public servant of his generation in Nova Scotia. During a 55-year career in government, he was a key figure in the formulation and reform of social policy for the province. In particular, he was chiefly responsible for an emphasis on the important role of private agencies and volunteerism, the introduction of a modern system of social assistance, the extension of the child welfare service through the Children’s Aid Societies, the development of a human rights program that led to the Human Rights Commission, and the establishment of the Senior Citizens’ Secretariat. “Dr. MacKinnon graduated from Mount Allison University with first-class honours in mathematics and went on to graduate study in mathematics at Harvard and in social policy administration at the University of Chicago. Among many other awards and distinctions, he holds honorary doctorates from Dalhousie, Mount Allison and Saint Francis Xavier universities. On his retirement as Deputy Minister of Community Services, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.” — Guy MacLean, President Emeritus, Mount Allison University