By Olivia Bradbury, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Topsail–Paradise member Paul Dinn was busy serving up grub and handing out smiles at his first ever ‘Meet the MHA’ breakfast event at the Topsail United Church hall last month.
Members of the parish’s Men’s Club helped prepare and serve the fare.
As the area’s MHA, Dinn has attended quite a few events at the Church over the years, but this was the first time he has served breakfast, an event organized by the local PC District Association.
“I come down and try to help out whenever I can,” Dinn said. “It’s such a wonderful group down here.”
Dinn said the Topsail-Paradise PC District Association likes to give back to the community where possible. The night before the breakfast, Dinn and members of the association went to Tim Horton’s Paradise to decorate Smile Cookies, with the proceeds from cookie sales going to local charities and groups. Dinn said some of the proceeds from the United Church breakfast would go back to the church and the association’s programming, but the rest would be donated to the community.
“I try to get to as many events as I can so no one can say to me, ‘Well, I can’t get ahold of Paul Dinn,’” the MHA said. The breakfast was just the first of a number of events Dinn had planned to attend that day.
“There are many groups in Topsail-Paradise who do great work,” said Dinn. “And I always said there’s no government around that would be able to fit the bill for all these volunteer groups and what they do. I mean that’s how I got into what I am (doing). I was an active volunteer. I still am.”
Dinn said as the area’s MHA, it’s important to be available.
“As MHA, we’re sort of last resort for people who are out there with issues or concerns,” he explained. “We’re sort of last resort for them, and you’ve got to be available.”
He added that when it comes to private or confidential issues, people might not be comfortable calling officials or staff members, so it is important to him as MHA to be as available to the public as possible. “You may not help everyone, and you may not get them the answer they want, but at least you’re approachable and people can come up to you,” he said.
Asked for his thoughts on the timing of the next provincial election, Dinn said he could not guess that. Whenever it is, he said, it won’t change what he has been doing since he was first elected.
“The big part about it is: have you done your job?” said Dinn.
