As our astute readers already know, federal Liberal leadership races aren't just for grown-ups. So it should come as no surprise to learn the party's junior wing is hosting a number of receptions for Paul Martin's would-be successors. Earlier today, the Young Liberal's British Columbia president Letlotlo "Coco" Lefoka notified members about upcoming scratch-and-sniff sessions with Ken Dryden and Gerard Kennedy. The following are copies of those invites.

From: Letlotlo Coco Lefoka
Sent: March 24, 2006 4:22 AM
To: YL
Subject: You are cordially invited to join the YLCBC as we host the Hon. Ken Dryden in a series of receptions across BC

You are cordially invited to join the YLCBC as we host The Hon. Ken Dryden in a series of receptions across British Columbia

Young Liberal Reception in Vancouver, Monday, March 27th
Young Liberal Luncheon in Victoria, Tuesday, March 28th
Reception in Kamloops, Tuesday, March 28th

Young Liberal Reception in Vancouver
Date: Monday, March 27th, 2006
Time: 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Venue: Library Square Pub
300 West Georgia., Vancouver

Young Liberal Reception in Victoria
Date: Tuesday March 28th, 2006
Time: 1:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.
Venue: Temple Restaurant, 525 Fort Street Victoria
R.S.V.P. to Adam Trombley, 858.4192, uvicliberals@yahoo.ca.

Reception in Kamloops
Date: Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Time: 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Venue: Hoodoos Bar & Grill at Sun Rivers Golf Resort Community, 1000 Club House Drive, Kamloops, BC

These receptions are another in a series of similar gatherings in British Columbia featuring prominent Liberals from across Canada. We think it is important to have an open dialogue about the future of our Party and who should lead it. This is neither intended nor should be interpreted as an endorsement or support of any particular candidate for the upcoming leadership race in the Liberal Party of Canada but rather a chance to meet and help form the debate to ensure BC and youth issues are front and centre

Background

Ken Dryden was first elected to the House of Commons as the Member of Parliament for York Centre in 2004 and was re-elected in 2006. Ken is the Health Critic. During the last session of Parliament, he served as Minister of Social Development.

Ken is the author of four best-selling books: The Game, Home Game, The Moved and the Shaken, and In School. In 1984, he was appointed Ontario's first Youth Commissioner. Before entering federal politics, Ken served as President of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Ken has been involved with several community and charitable groups with a particular focus on children, youth and education. In 1996, he created the Ken Dryden Scholarship, awarded to young people currently or formerly in the case of the Canadian child welfare system who demonstrate great achievement and promise. Each scholarship covers up to $3,000 of the cost of tuition and fees related to completing an undergraduate degree in a Canadian university or college.

Ken is well-known for his achievements as goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens hockey team from 1971 to 1979, during which time the team went on to win six Stanley cups. Ken is a proud member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame and the International Scholar-Athlete Hall of Fame.

Ken holds a degree in history from Cornell University and a degree in Law from McGill University. He has also received honorary doctoral degrees from the universities of Ottawa, Windsor, York, McMaster, St. Mary's, Niagara and British Columbia

Ken and his wife, Lynda, have two grown children, Sarah and Michael.

Letlotlo Coco Lefoka
President
Young Liberals of Canada in British Columbia

460 - 580 Hornby Street
Vancouver,
British Columbia
V6C 3B6

***

From: Letlotlo Coco Lefoka
Sent: March 23, 2006 6:49 PM
To: YL
Subject: Your invited to Young Liberal Reception with the Hon. Gerrard Kennedy Saturday

You are cordially invited to a Young Liberal reception with

The Hon. Gerard Kennedy

Time: 1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Date: Saturday March 25th

Place: Lupo Cafe, 1016 West Georgia St., Vancouver , BC

Please join us as we discuss the future of the Liberal Party of Canada and the Young Liberals of Canada in British Columbia.

This reception is another in a series of similar gatherings in British Columbia featuring prominent Liberals from across Canada.

Background:

Gerard Kennedy believes in leading by appealing to the better side of people's nature.

First elected to the Ontario Legislature in a 1996 by-election and coming second in the Liberal leadership selection the same year, Gerard has quickly become one of the Legislature's most effective voices. His "roll up your sleeves and pitch-in" style, hard-hitting critiques, and published studies have forced the Tory government to back down on numerous issues affecting patients, seniors, consumers, and students in his riding and across the province. First serving as Liberal Housing and Consumer Relations Co-Critic, then named Health Critic in a time of cutbacks and hospital closing, Gerard proposed several solutions the government was eventually forced to adopt.

Re-elected in the 1999 election, Gerard continues to demand that the Eves-Harris government give honest and fair treatment to Ontarians as a forceful advocate of quality public education. As Education Critic since 1999, he has visited dozens of schools across the province and used this perspective to help develop an innovative Peace Plan in 2000 that helped bring extracurricular activities back to the province's high school students, an annual MPP Back to School Challenge, and the current Liberal education platform "Excellence for All".

Gerard's involvement in Parkdale-High Park dates back to the Daily Bread Food Bank's original location in The Junction, where hundreds of people from nearby neighbourhoods volunteered.

As executive director of the Food Bank from 1986 to 1996, Gerard worked with church groups, social service organizations, and corporate CEOs. Without a dime of government money, he was responsible for distributing $30 million worth of food annually, reaching over 150,000 people every month. The Toronto Star called him "Newsmaker of the Year" in 1993 and two years later the Financial Post magazine awarded him an "honourable mention" as its CEO of the Year.

Gerard's broad community interest in Toronto is reflected in his leadership roles in the Social Planning Council of Metropolitan Toronto, Metro's Expo 2000, and the Toronto theatre group Mixed Company. In 2002 he was chosen as one of our city's "Torontonians of Distinction".

Gerard, 42, was educated at Trent University and the University of Alberta in political science and economics. Gerard, his wife Jeanette, and their children, daughter Théria and son John-Julien live in west Toronto.

For more information

Sun article about Gerard: http://torontosun.com/News/Columnists/Blizzard_Christina/2006/03/22/1499294.html

Letlotlo Coco Lefoka
President
Young Liberals of Canada in British Columbia

460 - 580 Hornby Street
Vancouver,
British Columbia
V6C 3B6