Julie Bettney (born September 7, 1951) is a Canadian educator and former politician. She represented the

district A district is a type of administrative division that in some countries is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or county, counties, several municipality, municip ...

of Mount Pearl South in the

Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly The Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly () is the Unicameralism, unicameral deliberative assembly of the General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It meets in the Confederation Bu ...

from 1996 to 2003 as a member of the

Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. For example, while the political systems ...

. She was born in Port au Port and was educated in Stephenville, in Grand Falls and at

Memorial University Memorial University of Newfoundland, or MUN (), is a Public university, public research university in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, based in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John's, with satellite campuses in Corner Brook ...

, where she received a

Bachelor of Physical Education A Bachelor of Physical Education (BPE or BPhEd) is a bachelor degree granted by some universities. In many Canadian universities it has been replaced by a Bachelor of Kinesiology. The degree can include topics such as sport science, coaching, and ...

. Bettney worked in

Labrador Labrador () is a geographic and cultural region within the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is the primarily continental portion of the province and constitutes 71% of the province's area but is home to only 6% of its populatio ...

as a physical education teacher from 1970 to 1971 and then as a

special education Special education (also known as special-needs education, aided education, alternative provision, exceptional student education, special ed., SDC, and SPED) is the practice of educating students in a way that accommodates their individual di ...

teacher from 1973 to 1974. In 1979, she moved to

Mount Pearl Mount Pearl is the fourth-largest municipality and second-largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The city is located southwest of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John's, on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the isla ...

. From 1980 to 1984, she was a program director for recreation integration for people with disabilities. From 1985 to 1996, Bettney was a training development officer with the Newfoundland Public Service Commission. She was elected to Mount Pearl city council in 1985 and served as mayor of Mount Pearl from 1993 to 1996. Bettney was elected to the Newfoundland assembly in 1996, defeating incumbent

Neil Windsor Hunter Neil Windsor (July 8, 1945 – March 28, 2021) was a Canadian engineer and politician. He represented the electoral district of Mount Pearl in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly The Newfoundland and Labrador House of Asse ...

, and was re-elected in 1999. She served in the provincial cabinet as Minister of Works, Services and Transportation, as Minister of Health and Community Services and as Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation. She retired from politics in 2003. In 2006, she founded a dragon boat team, the Avalon Dragons, for

breast cancer Breast cancer is a cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a Breast lump, lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, Milk-rejection sign, milk rejection, fluid coming from the nipp ...

survivors. Bettney Place in Mount Pearl was named in her honour.

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