Basil Stewart
Encyclopedia
Basil Stewart is a Canadian
politician
who has served as the mayor
of Summerside, Prince Edward Island
since 1985. He also currently serves as the president of the Canadian Federation of Municipalities.
In 1993, Stewart ran in a federal election as the Progressive Conservative
candidate for the riding of Egmont
. He was defeated by then-incumbent Liberal
MP Joe McGuire
, who won with a plurarity of approximately 3,700 votes.
game to the city. He was also a major force behind the construction of the Consolidated Credit Union Place
.
His interests include hockey
, swimming, and music
(he plays guitar
, harmonica
, fiddle
, and mandolin
.).
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who has served as the mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Summerside, Prince Edward Island
Summerside, Prince Edward Island
Summerside is a Canadian city in Prince County, Prince Edward Island. It is the second largest city in the province and the principal municipality for the western part of the island.- History :...
since 1985. He also currently serves as the president of the Canadian Federation of Municipalities.
Before mayorship
Before his election as mayor, Stewart was a police officer for the Summerside Police Department from 1971 to 1984, when he retired from the force.Mayorship
After his retirement from the police force, Stewart entered municipal politics, being elected mayor of the Town of Summerside in 1985. He was re-elected in 1988 and 1991. In 1994, he became the first mayor of the now City of Summerside (Summerside formerly being a town). He was re-elected in the municipal elections held in 1997, 2000, 2003, 2006 and 2010.In 1993, Stewart ran in a federal election as the Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
candidate for the riding of Egmont
Egmont (electoral district)
Egmont is a federal electoral district in Prince Edward Island, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1968. Its population in 2001 was 35,208.-Demographics:Ethnic groups: 98.0% White, 1.4% Native Canadian...
. He was defeated by then-incumbent Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
MP Joe McGuire
Joe McGuire
Joseph Blair "Joe" McGuire, PC, MP is a retired Canadian politician. He was a Member of Parliament representing the Liberals in the House of Commons for the riding of Egmont in Prince Edward Island. He was first elected in 1988, and re-elected in 1993, 1997, 2000, 2004, and the recent 2006 election...
, who won with a plurarity of approximately 3,700 votes.
Goals and objectives
Stewart has many goals and objectives to make Summerside a better to place to work, live, and raise a family. Stewart has been instrumental in drawing large tournaments and events, such as the Canadian PeeWee Baseball Championship, the Canadian Women's Softball Championship, and an exhibition NHLNational Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
game to the city. He was also a major force behind the construction of the Consolidated Credit Union Place
Consolidated Credit Union Place
Consolidated Credit Union Place is a multi purpose facility that opened in two stages in April 2006 in the City of Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada. It contains an aquatics centre, meeting and convention rooms and fitness centre and in 2 NHL size ice surface arenas, bowling lanes and...
.
Committees
Stewart is not only the mayor of Summerside, but is also on many committees. He is presently the President of the Federation of the Canadian Municipalities, and a member of the Federation of Prince Edward Island Municipalities, and National Board of Directors to Sustainable Municipal Infrastructure. In the past, he was also served as Chair of Atlantic Caucus in 1998 and Chair of National Economic Development Committee from 1998-2000.Lawsuit: Mayor and Council of Summerside versus David Griffin
Mayor Stewart and city council of Summerside filed a law suit against Deputy Police Chief David Griffin in 1997. The case is still in the courts as of October 2010 appealing the payment of interest on the damages owed to Griffin based on a judgement in March 2006 by Supreme Court Justice Wayne Cheverie who ruled in favour of Griffin in his malicious prosecution suit against the city.Family and interests
Stewart lives in Summerside with his wife Gail Inman-Stewart. He has two children — Mary-Jane (Steve Dyer) and Major (Holly Peters). Stewart also has four granddaughters — Mya Stewart and Amber, Emma and Madison Dyer. He has 3 grandsons- Brett and Isaac Stewart, and Lincoln Dyer.His interests include hockey
Hockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
, swimming, and music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
(he plays guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
, fiddle
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
, and mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
.).