By Cecilia Nasmith
A day after former Northumberland-Peterborough South MP Kim Rudd announced she would not run again in the next election, local lawyer Alison Lester has been acclaimed as the riding's Liberal candidate.
Lester practices in Cobourg with the Northumberland firm of Irvine, Lester & Low, working primarily in the areas of real estate, estate planning and will preparation, general corporate work, and trademark prosecution. Prior to her work in Cobourg, Lester was an associate at Gilbert's LLP, a Toronto intellectual property litigation firm.
Lester has represented clients before the Federal Court of Canada and the Ontario Superior Court. She has also advocated on behalf of clients at the Ontario Municipal Board and the Health Professions Appeal and Review Board.
She is a 2005 graduate from McGill University law school with an LL.B. and a Bachelor of Civil Law, and was called to the Ontario Bar the following year. Prior to attending law school, she earned a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English literature from the University of Toronto.
Lester said in the press release that she was raised to consider community service fundamental.
“Watching my parents volunteer and participate in various groups and organizations shaped me,” she stated.
“A big draw in returning to my hometown after having worked in Toronto was the opportunity to continue that tradition, using my passion and advocacy skills to help local organizations achieve their goals.
“At this stage in my life, I feel that I have even more to offer. I would be honoured to bring these skills to the House of Commons to advocate on behalf of our riding.”
Cobourg-born and -raised, Lester praised Northumberland-Peterborough South as a wonderful place to live, work and raise a family.
“I am a mother, a wife, a volunteer, a lawyer and a small-business owner,” she said.
“I look forward to meeting as many people across our riding as possible in the coming weeks and months, and listening to their thoughts and ideas.
“I also want to thank Kim Rudd for all her support, and I know I have big shoes to fill.”
Lester's volunteer resume includes a past chairmanship of Westben Festival Arts Theatre in Trent Hills, and she has also been involved with the Northumberland Help and Legal Centre and the Peterborough AIDS Resource Network. She currently sits on the Northumberland Hills Hospital Foundation's Planned Giving Committee and sings in the community chamber choir Safe Harbour.
