“Fred MacKinnon has been hailed as the outstanding public servant of his generation in Nova Scotia. During a 55-year career in government, he was a key figure in the formulation and reform of social policy for the province. In particular, he was chiefly responsible for an emphasis on the important role of private agencies and volunteerism, the introduction of a modern system of social assistance, the extension of the child welfare service through the Children’s Aid Societies, the development of a human rights program that led to the Human Rights Commission, and the establishment of the Senior Citizens’ Secretariat.