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Finding a new home

Evangeline train from Upper Clements Park bought by agritourism operation

JASON MALLOY ANNAPOLIS VALLEY REGISTER

jason.malloy@saltwire.com @JasonMa47772994

The train that once transported people through Upper Clements Park is receiving a new lease on life near the Nova Scotia-New Brunswick border.

Trueman Blueberry Farms in Aulac, N.B., recently purchased the Evangeline Express Train and is in the process of servicing it with the hopes of having it ready for its peak season in early to mid-August.

“It had a lot of history, and good history, and … we want to provide the train with a second life,” owner Tom Trueman said June 27. “Hopefully, we can keep a small part of (the park) going even though it’s a few hours drive away.”

Eight generations of Trueman farmers have been involved in various agricultural pursuits on the Chignecto Isthmus since 1775. In 2017, it branched into agritourism with the opening of its farmstand retail store and the planting of its first sunflower maze. One of the business’ big draws is its homemade ice cream.

“We’re always looking for new attractions or new things to do that fit with the model of what we’re doing,” Trueman said.

So, when a friend shared a Kijiji ad for the diesel-powered train that holds 66 passengers, Trueman explored the idea despite having never visited Upper Clements Park.

“Lots of my staff have, and I

or become a Supreme Court judge or a university professor.’

One day, they went to CFB Greenwood, where thenprime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau was scheduled to make an appearance. Trudeau stepped out of a helicopter and noticed Ram wearing a sari.

“He walked directly over to her … and just said namaste to her. In the early 1970s, for the prime minister of the country to walk over to a woman in the crowd and say namaste, it was a really an incredible moment for my mother and hence became an incredible moment for our whole family.”

Ram, who died in 2014, instilled many life lessons in the girls.

“She really, really made sure that we knew that we had to be grateful for what we have, and we have to work hard to make it worth it,” she said.

“To make our country proud but to make everything that our parents had sacrificed worth it.”

Anand remembers thinking about politics while she was going through high school and university and decided it wouldn’t be a career for her. She went into academia and earned degrees at Queen’s, Oxford and Dalhousie.

She practised law and became a professor. In recent years, she started writing some opinion pieces, but the pull instilled by her mother resurfaced.

HOMETOWN CONNECTION

Anand initially said no when asked to run for public office. After a few more conversations, she agreed to seek the nomination and won.

Kings-Hants MP Kody Blois recalled meeting Anand for the first time in Ottawa in the summer of 2019. The Liberal Party had brought its candidates together in preparation for the federal election.

“It was like trying to find new friends in school,” Blois said.

Anand said she remembers asking Blois which riding he was running in during candidates’ college.

“I almost did a backflip and asked for a picture right away,” she recalled upon hearing Kings-Hants. “It just made me feel like (being at) home to talk to Kody.”

Anand defeated Conservative candidate Terrence Young by about 5,000 votes in the 2019 election to become the MP in Oakville, Ont. She was re-elected in 2021.

Anand, who has served as the public services and procurement minister, was entrusted with the National Defence portfolio in December, said it is hard to convince people that you care and want to help make Canada better.

“You’re kind of running with a lead weight around your foot because people look at you and say, ‘What does she want to gain personally out of this? And why would anyone do this?’”

She said she wants to have civil, professional conversations, hear the other side and rationally discuss policy while staying away from divisive politics. During the dark days of the pandemic, Anand said Young reached out to say she was doing a great job, which meant a lot to the procurement minister.

Following a recent announcement about the modernization of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), Anand had a call with the various critics from the opposition parties. They talked about modernization but also had time to share some personal stories. Anand found out Conservative MP Carolyn Findlay has family in Oakville and Anand is planning to meet them and have coffee.

“That’s the type of politics, and that’s the type of Canada I think we need to build.”

Scott Brison, who served Kings-Hants from 1997-2019, initially as a Progressive Conservative MP before crossing the floor to the Liberals, introduced Anand to the crowd at the fundraiser.

“Anita has brought a lot to Ottawa in a very short period of time. She’s sure-footed.

She is smart and she’s practical,” he said. “Anita, welcome home. … We are immensely proud of you.”

Now more than 45 years since meeting Trudeau, she is serving his son Justin Trudeau’s cabinet.

“I always felt like I would meet Pierre Elliott again and I never did, so when I first met his son, it was very moving for me,” Anand said. “It’s still quite moving for me when I am standing with him or working with the prime minister to think about how my mom would feel if she knew that I was doing this work.”

THE FIXER

Anand has been referred to in some media reports as the fixer. Brison thought it was quite the praise as he had been described as the janitor or the

plumber at times when he was serving in cabinet. But he noted Anand is a woman of great intellect, intelligence and a person of action, as noted by her work in securing vaccines, rapid tests and personal protective equipment (PPE) during the pandemic.

“It wasn’t easy, but we got it done,” Anand said. “It wasn’t just me. … We have fantastic public servants in the government of Canada who are working day in and day out to deliver for Canadians during a pandemic.”

After being re-elected in 2021, Trudeau made Anand the defence minister.

It is not an easy time to hold the portfolio. There’s been allegations of sexual misconduct in recent years and a war in Ukraine.

“Every day, I tell myself, do the very best you can do for your country, bring your skills to bear on your portfolio and work hard for Canadians,” Anand said.

The federal government received an independent external review of the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces on May 30. It was penned by Louise Arbour, a former Supreme Court justice.

“We’re working very hard on implementing those recommendations,” Anand said. “We are committed, as a defence team, to building a Canadian Armed Forces where everyone feels safe, protected and respected.”

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2022-06-30T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-06-30T07:00:00.0000000Z

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