There was only new face added to the provincial cabinet during Thursday's shuffle, but it was a familiar one for many in this region.
Grand Bank District MHA Darin King, a native of Fortune, was selected by Premier Danny Williams to replace Joan Burke as the province's Minister of Education.
Mrs. Burke was tasked to serve as minister of the recently created Department of Child, Youth and Family Services.
Minister King said the premier notified him late Wednesday he would like him to move to the portfolio.
"For me, personally, it's a great day, to have the confidence of the premier to get invited into his cabinet. There are a limited number of seats, as you know, and it's certainly an honour for me to get the invitation."
As a new minister, Mr. King comes to the portfolio with a solid background in the education field, first as a teacher in the classroom, then at the local school board level before serving as chief executive officer for Eastern School District prior to being elected an MHA.
"I certainly consider myself quite familiar with the challenges in education, and it's an opportunity now to try to have an impact and to make a difference at a much higher level.
"There are great opportunities there, and I'm certainly looking forward to working with staff that we have at the department and other colleagues to try to advance upon the many positive initiatives that Minister Burke has made during her tenure there."
Burin-Placentia West MHA Clyde Jackman, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, was pleased with the premier's decision.
"Darin and I have been working very closely since he got elected this term, and I've promoted it before, that I think we have to look at the Burin Peninsula as a region onto itself. Two of us have been working towards that and now having him as a partner around the Cabinet table bodes well for the entire Burin Peninsula."
Mr. King concurred.
"I think that that can be nothing but positive effects for the Burin Peninsula. It gives both of us a chance now to advocate for the causes that we're trying to move forward down here together.
"I think the fact we now have two ministers just strengthens our position here, and gives us a greater opportunity to influence some significant decisions that can have a positive impact on the Burin Peninsula."
For full story see this week's issue of The Southern Gazette.
