OTTAWA—The largest caucus of New Democrat MPs in history gathered for the first time on Tuesday, where Jack Layton highlighted the diversity of the political rookies who now outnumber the party veterans.

“Rarely in my life have I seen such a mix of experience, energy and diversity,” Layton said during a speech as his 102 caucus colleagues sat in the sweltering heat of a packed room on Parliament Hill.

“We have here, standing shoulder to shoulder, the experienced leaders of today, with decades of experience, and the Canadian leaders of tomorrow and of many years to come,” Layton said at the first face-to-face meeting since the May 2 election.

As they waited for their leader to arrive Tuesday, some MPs snapped souvenir shots of themselves and each other with mobile phones.

The historic vote vaulted the NDP from fourth place to official opposition status, and Layton was clearly pleased as he waved and smiled at the six rows of risers seating his MPs — nearly triple the number he had when caucus last met — before beginning his speech.

Only one-third of the caucus has any experience as MPs, but Layton highlighted their depth of experience in other areas.

“I’m excited about the team we have,” said Layton, who is expected to name his shadow cabinet next week, which he has suggested will reflect the large number of women in caucus. “Members who have served in all levels of government, small business owners, community leaders, members of Canada’s arts community (and) First Nations and Innu leaders.”

“My only complaint is there (are) not enough grumpy old white guys. I feel quite isolated, marginalized by all these young, energetic, attractive, intelligent people,” said a laughing NDP MP Pat Martin (Winnipeg Centre), who was first elected in 1997. “I’m still studying all these new people. We’ll have to make sure we don’t insult anyone by assuming that they are staff or parliamentary pages. If I ask somebody to go get me water, it would be horrible.”

The hallway outside the room was buzzing following the speech as newly elected and returning MPs made their way to the historic railway room for a welcoming reception, where they picked up name tags from an orange-draped table before heading in for snacks and exchanges of greetings and advice.

The ornate room will be the new home of the NDP caucus, which typically houses the official Opposition for its weekly meetings, across the hall from the reading room where the Conservative caucus gathers for theirs.

They took that room from the Liberals, who will now meet in a building down the street after their humiliating election result, and they will spend much of Wednesday in the room working out priorities for the coming parliamentary session.

“It’s a larger ship. We need bigger rooms, we need more chairs,” Layton later told reporters.

Some rookies were shielded from the media — particularly the younger ones as they and their handlers gave excuses about needing to get to the other room — but others stopped for the cameras.

Newly elected NDP MP Tyrone Benskin (Jeanne-Le Ber) did not show any signs of intimidation when a reporter suggested he may be busy if Conservative Prime Minister Stephan Harper announces plans to cut funding to the arts.

“Maybe, but I’ll give him a run for his money,” said Benskin, who was artistic director of the Black Theatre Workshop in Montreal and national vice-president of ACTRA.

“Lots of folks from caucus who have been here for a while have been very welcoming and offered their office space until we get assigned offices and that sort of thing,” said newly elected NDP MP Matthew Kellway (Beaches-East York).

A reporter who had been asking Kellway questions then had to ask him his name, as there are many new faces to memorize.

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Longtime NDP MP Peter Stoffer (Sackville-Eastern Shore), who is as known for his mingling at local watering holes as he his for his advocacy on behalf of Canadian veterans, said it might be some time before he brings the rookies out for a pub crawl.

“I think we’re going to give them June just to relax a bit and figure out everything that’s going on here, because let’s face it. When I was first here I was pretty intimidated and I was 41,” said Stoffer, noting one of his colleagues is just 19 years old. “Once they get their office down and once they get their staff and once they get a question or two or a statement in the House and once they feel free to talk to you guys, then I’ll take them out for an evening of entertainment, but that will probably be in the fall.”

With files from Bruce Campion-Smith