1. Diana Whalen graduated with a BA and MBA from Dalhousie University.
12 Facts About Diana Whalen
1. 2.
Diana Whalen was elected to Halifax Regional Council in the 2000 municipal election, representing District 16 Prince's Lodge-Clayton Park West.
3.
In 2003 Diana Whalen successfully ran for the Nova Scotia Liberal Party nomination in the riding of Halifax Clayton Park.
4.
Diana Whalen was elected in the 2003 provincial election and was re-elected in the 2006,2009 and 2013 provincial elections.
5.
Diana Whalen championed the fight to preserve the Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes Wilderness Area, which culminated in April 2009 when the provincial government granted protection from development for 1,214 hectares of wilderness in the area beside Bayers Lake Business Park.
6.
Diana Whalen worked with constituents in her riding to lobby both the Halifax Regional Municipality and the provincial government for improved recreational infrastructure.
7.
On January 18,2007, Diana Whalen confirmed after much speculation that she would run for the leadership of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party.
8.
Diana Whalen lost on the second ballot of the leadership to Stephen McNeil by 68 votes, despite the support of the two other candidates in the race, Kenzie MacKinnon and Mike Smith.
9.
On October 22,2013 Diana Whalen was appointed to the Executive Council of Nova Scotia by McNeil, as Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance.
10.
Diana Whalen has been an advocate for a provincial February holiday since 2005 when she first introduced the Joseph Howe Day Act in the legislature.
11.
On March 24,2017, Diana Whalen announced she will not run in the 2017 Nova Scotia general election.
12.
In 2009, Diana Whalen was honoured by the Cornwallis Progress Club with a Women of Distinction Award in the category of Public Affairs and Communications for her work in the community.