Nancy Greene-Raine named Canadian Senator

Nancy Greene-Raine has been named a senator by Canadian prime minister Harper. She is a former Olympic skiier and gold medalist (1968 Olympics). With her husband Al Raine, she is also a main promoter of the ski resort industry in BC. Their company, NGR Inc., were the main proponents behind the Sun Peaks ski resort expansion at Skwelkwekwelt, as well as the proposed (but defeated) resort at Cayooosh Creek/Sutikalh. As this excerpt from CBC News notes, her appointment to the senate coincides with next year's 2010 Winter Olympics.

Wallin, Duffy among 18 named to fill Senate seats

CBC News Monday, December 22, 2008

Former broadcaster Pamela Wallin, Olympic icon Nancy Greene Raine and CTV broadcaster Mike Duffy were among 18 Canadians named to the Senate on Monday by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Duffy, appointed to the single vacant P.E.I. seat, has been a fixture on Parliament Hill for decades as part of his daily political talk-show, while his former colleague Wallin worked for CTV and CBC.

Wallin, who fills the only open Saskatchewan seat, was at one time consul general to New York, after being appointed in 2002 by the Liberal government.

Greene Raine won medals in alpine skiing at the 1968 Winter Olympics, breaking the European stranglehold on the sport. She takes one of three vacant B.C. seats just before her province hosts the 2010 Olympics.

The deluge of appointments sets a record for the most Senate seats filled in a single day and is part of Harper's efforts to ensure a Tory toehold in the upper chamber.

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