Hon. Alvin Curling speaks at Robert F. Hall secondary

The Hon. Alvin Curling will speak at Caledon East's Robert F. Hall Catholic secondary school, Feb. 15 at two morning sessions.

The first black Speaker of the House in Ontario and former Canadian Ambassador to the Dominican Republic will address students from 8:35 to 9:35 and again from 9:40 to 10:45.

The Honourable Alvin Curling was first elected in 1985 to the provincial riding of Scarborough North, now Scarborough-Rouge River, amassing the highest total vote in Canadian history. He was re-elected in September 1987, September 1990, June 1995, June 1999 and again October 2, 2003.

November 19, 2003, he was elected Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, the province's first provincial government in 1985-1990, the Honourable Alvin Curling served as Minister of Housing and responsibility for literacy. He also served as the parliamentary assistant to the premier and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs. He has served on numerous advisory boards and committees including as chair of the advisory board to the Caribana Cultural Committee; member of the board of directors of the World Hunger Project; president of World Literacy of Canada, and member of the advisory board to the Chinese Cultural Centre.

His keen interest in the Caribbean and commitment to their causes has been recognized. He was honoured by the government of Jamaica with the Order of Distinction, in the rank of Commander and most recently awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree, Doctor of Letters from the University of Technology in Jamaica.