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Speaking to an adult eduâ€" cation forum last Sunday at St. Matthews Lutheran Church in downtown Kitchâ€" ener, one of Ontario‘s busiest government newsmakers marvelled that it‘s been nearâ€" ly 23 years since she was first elected to the provincial legisâ€" lature. Today, not only as an MPP, but wearing the additional highâ€"profile hats of cabinet minister and deputy premier, the girlâ€"nextâ€"door who was raised in Exeter and never forgot the values instilled by parents and family, says that she survives and thrives because of her deepâ€"rooted Christian faith. But the daughter of hardâ€" working Dutch immigrants who became a dedicated wife, mother, teacher, and board of education trustee, chose the path of provincial politics because "I felt I had to help change that perception." "We must acknowledge a spiritual power outside ourâ€" selves," she told about 50 lisâ€" teners who came to hear her share a personal view on how faith can make a difference in the workplace. While many MPP, cabinet minister, deputy premier â€" Elizabeth Witmer does it all by taking her faith to work n 1980, as Elizabeth IV‘fitmer was wrestling with "the hardest decision of my life" â€" that of entering the political arena â€" some wellâ€"meaning friends and family tried to dissuade her, fearing shed become a victim of the negative stereotyping that so often accompanies power and public responsiâ€" bility. By Pavune PincH For The Chronicle people are content to keep their religious principles priâ€" vate, Witmer sees faith as simultaneously universal and personal, a constant resource that helps defuse tensions, heal misunderstandings, and nurture reconciliation with those of differing viewpoints or political philosophies. It has had "a tremendous impact on my political life." In 1990, when she first joined the Progressive Conâ€" servative caucus, which meant daily hours of comâ€" muting between Kâ€"W and Toronto, Witmer learned firstâ€" hand how hard political life can be on families. More than half the married caucus LIFESTYLE members that year were either separated or in the process of separating. She was more determined than ever not to let her family sufâ€" fer, not to become an absenâ€" tee spouse or an absentee parent to Scott (then 13) and Sarah (aged eight). "No matâ€" ter what you do in professionâ€" al life, it‘s family life that matâ€" ters," she asserted. "My first decisions were for marriage Instead of living most of the week in Toronto, Witmer chose to be home in Waterloo at every possible moment while her children were growâ€" ing up, a faithâ€"based decision abundantly rewarded when And even when one‘s faith is tested against the perennial dilemma of compromise, Witmer firmly believes in drawing on its values and principles io do the greatest good one can, regardless of the situation. "If people of faith were not part of the decisionâ€"making, the outâ€" comes would be very differâ€" ent," she stressed, adding that often "I fight behind closed doors" for ethical issues, "even if the public never knows about it." Witmer is all too familiar with personal losses that can test one‘s faith to the breakâ€" ingâ€"point. Last year, when she was a popular candidate for the Ontario PC party leaderâ€" ship, she lost her father, fatherâ€"inâ€"law and an uncle, all within the space of a few weeks. Presence and prayer No matter how much talâ€" ent and personality one brings to it, however, political life can still be very isolating. "Sometimes it is very difficult to know who you can trust," she admitted, "but you can always trust Jesus." And it‘s her trust in the Jesus she learned about in childhood â€" deepened by a daily disciâ€" pline of Bible study, devotionâ€" al reading, prayer and reflecâ€" tion â€" that sustains her in the midst of criticism over government policies that don‘t always go down well with constituents. she recently heard daughter Sarah (now a University of Guelph student) affirm that "my mom has always been there for me." Continued on page 12 Everyone is invited to Parkwood, located at 75 Carâ€" dinal Cres. S. in Waterloo, for the conclusion of the ceremony and refreshments. A Burns Supper will be held Jan. 25 at Bingeman‘s Recreation Facility, 1380 Victoria St. N., Kitchener. Parâ€" ticipants will toast the haggis, enjoy a traditional dinâ€" ner, hear a guest speaker, and dance to live music for Scottish country and social dancing. Tickets are $35 in advance. For more information, call David at 576â€"4262, email damurison@rogers.com, or visit www.rscds.kitchener.on.ca. The topic of the meeting will be Landscape Design: Tips and Trends. The evening will get underway at 7:30 p.m., and conclude with refreshments. There is no cost for admission and everyone is welcome. A brief ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. at the site, located on University Avenue at New Hampshire Street, agross from RIM Park. â€" The Waterloo Horticultural Society will hold an information session featuring guest speaker Gary Hebel of York Nurseries, Jan. 24 at the Adult Recreâ€" ation Centre. The Adult Recreation Centre is located at 185 King St. S. in Waterloo. The discussion will be led by Dr. Francesco Anello, a medical doctor, who integrates healing principles in his practice. The session will be held at HopeSpring at 43 Allen St. W in Waterloo from 7â€"8:30 p.m. with no cost for participants. Call 742â€"HOPE (4673) for more information or to register. A groundbreaking ceremony for the new Parkwood Mennonite Home will take place Jan. 26. â€" HopeSpring Cancer support centre is hosting a prostate cancer discussion group Jan. 22. Horticultural society hosts information session Groundbreaking ceremony held for new Parkwood home HopeSpring offers prostate cancer discussion group Burns Supper features traditional Scottish fare P in Waterloo mayzbpa ts r u a a Ask for details WATERLOO NORTH Northfield at the Parkway % FINANCING wwrw. waterioomazda.com