Nahanni Fontaine humbled after winning Manitoba NDP nomination in St. Johns

An emotionalNahanni Fontainestepped up to the podiumin front of a room of New Democrats Saturday after winning the partynomination in theSt. Johns constituency.

"It's absolutely one of the most humbling experiences ...other than giving birth to mychildren," Fontainesaid."Utterly surreal."

On Jan. 29,GordMackintosh, the party's former representative for the Winnipeg constituency, announced he would not be seeking re-election. Fontaine announced her candidacy days later on Feb. 2.

• Manitoba Justice Minister Gord Mackintosh won't seek re-election

NDP supporters filled the Royal Canadian Legion at 1748 Main St.Saturday for the nomination vote.

Fontaine beat Tyler Pearce, who works with the Canadian Mental Health Association, and Aaron McDowell, Winnipeg city Coun. Ross Eadie's assistant. Pearcefinished in third place after the first round of ballots were counted, winnowing the field down to just Fontaine and McDowell.

A second round of voting occurred and Fontaine came out on top. She thanked her supporters and said she is committed to winning the constituency and the election.

"I mean what I say when I say that leadership isn't about one person,"Fontaine said."This is about all of us and the work that we can accomplish together."

Fontainesaid she is now taking a leave from her postionwith the Manitoba government as special advisor on aboriginal women's issues. She is an advocateon the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls.

Nahanni Fontaine humbled after winning Manitoba NDP nomination in St. Johns

9 years ago

Duration 1:02

An emotional Nahanni Fontaine stepped up to the podium in front of a room of New Democrats Saturday after winning the party nomination in the St. Johns constituency.

Fontaine said despite the fact that Mackintosh and the NDP are generally well-liked in the constituency, she won't take the opportunity for granted.

"My commitment is that I am going to work 150 per centas I do withevery issue I work on," Fontaine said."St. Johns NDP will defeat the Liberals and the Tories."

Fontainetold the crowd of supportersher family was among the first wave of indigenous people to move from Sagkeeng First Nation to the North End in Winnipeg in the1950s.

With thenomination in St. Johns, the New Democrats now havea full slate of 57 candidates, including24 women, sevenindigenous representatives and10visible minorities.

Follow CBC's Kaj Hasselriis on Twitter (@KajHasselriis)to see more tweets from the nomination event.