Nova Scotia helped shape parliamentary democracy in Canada, now, to celebrate the 250^th anniversary of the country's first elected assembly, it is setting its sights on the World Wide Web.

 

Democracy 250 co-chairs, Dr. John Hamm and Russell MacLellan, joined students and teachers at Citadel High in Halifax today, Sept. 26, to launch the Democracy 250 web site, www.democracy250.ca, as a character actor playing former premier Joseph Howe nodded his approval.

 

The website contains a timeline of key dates in the evolution of parliamentary democracy in Canada and allows visitors to view historic documents such as the first act passed by Canada's first elected assembly in Halifax in 1758.

 

Dr. Hamm said as well as providing information on Democracy 250 and its objectives, the website is a wonderful teaching tool available to anyone in Canada or beyond who wants to understand the origins of democracy in this country and Nova Scotia's pioneering role in it.

 

"The website provides students, teachers, historians and anyone interested in history a chance to access historic documents not readily available," said Dr. Hamm.

 

The website, which is available in French and English, will add more key dates and documents as the celebrations draw nearer. It also contains a link to the popular online social network Facebook, and a page featuring Lord Halifax. Russell MacLellan said one of the key objectives of Democracy 250 is to encourage more young Canadians to share their views on democracy.

 

"Voter turnout in Canada has been on a steady decline in recent years," Mr. MacLellan said. "Statistics confirm this is mainly the result of low youth participation. Democracy 250 wants to understand why, and hopefully change things for the better."

 

Democracy 250, a non-partisan body including representation from Nova Scotia's three sitting parties, is responsible for planning next year's celebrations marking the 250^th anniversary of the birth of parliamentary democracy in Canada.