Wally Downer
Wally Downer | |
|---|---|
| Ontario MPP | |
| In office 1937–1975 | |
| Preceded by | Wilfred Davy Smith |
| Succeeded by | George McCague |
| Constituency | Dufferin—Simcoe |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 1, 1904 Penetanguishene, Ontario |
| Died | August 3, 1994 (aged 90) Collingwood, Ontario |
| Political party | Progressive Conservative |
| Spouse | Phyllis Palmer |
| Children | 3 |
| Occupation | Anglican priest |
Alfred Wallace Downer (May 1, 1904[1] – August 3, 1994[2]) was a Canadian politician and longtime member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
Background[edit]
Downer was born near Penetanguishene in Simcoe County, Ontario.[1] He was educated at Cookstown Continuation School, Alliston High School, the University of Toronto and Wycliffe College. After completing his schooling, he was ordained an Anglican priest. He was a vicar and then a canon in the Anglican Church of Canada and a member of the Conservative Party.
Politics[edit]
He ran unsuccessfully in the provincial riding of Wellington Northeast in 1929 and then was first elected to the legislature as the member for Dufferin—Simcoe in the 1937 election.[1] He served as Member of Provincial Parliament until 1975,[3] winning a provincial record of ten consecutive elections.[1]
While an elected MPP, he also served in the military during World War II, serving as chaplain of the Queen's York Rangers in North Africa and Europe.[1] From 1955 until 1959, he served as Speaker of the legislative assembly.[3] He also served as a liquor control commissioner beginning in 1960.[1]
Downer was a candidate in the 1961 PC leadership convention, but was eliminated on the third ballot.[1]
Downer had expected to run in the 1975 election and had expected to win his party's nomination by acclamation but was upset by another candidate,[1] George McCague, at the Progressive Conservative nomination meeting.[4]
In 1994, Downer died at the age of 90.[2] in Collingwood, Ontario.[5]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h Dale, Clare A (1992). Whose servant I am" : speakers of the assemblies of the province of Upper Canada, Canada and Ontario, 1792-1992. Toronto: Ontario Legislative Library. pp. 257–60.
- ^ a b Politics and Public Affairs 1994. University of Toronto Press. 2000. p. 258. ISBN 0802048285.
- ^ a b Alfred Downer's parliamentary history, Ontario Legislature
- ^ "Former MPP George McCague dead at 84". Orangeville Citizen. July 16, 2014. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014.
- ^ "'Playful parson' served 38 years". The Windsor Star. August 8, 1994. p. A2.
