Gary Coons
Encyclopedia
Gary Earl Coons is the Member of the Legislative Assembly
(MLA) for the North Coast riding of British Columbia
, Canada
.
Coons is a former math teacher, having worked in the Prince Rupert
area for 25 years. He was a teacher at Charles Hays Secondary School
. He was also more recently the president of the Prince Rupert District Teachers Union, a local of the British Columbia Teachers' Federation
.
While playing on a Western Ontario hockey team, Coons claimed a university league record for penalty minutes.
, Manitoba
. Soon after he was born his family moved to Lachine, Quebec
, which was, at that time, a city outside of Montreal.
In 1967, he moved to Burlington, Ontario
where he began his lifelong love affair with hockey, playing junior "B" with the Burlington Mohawks. He graduated from Nelson High School which he attended from grades 11 to 13.
After graduating, Coons attended the University of Western Ontario
in London, Ontario
where he received his BA in Mathematics and his Bachelor of Education, with specializations in Math and Physical Education.
Throughout his school years, Coons continued playing hockey, playing junior "A" hockey with the St.Thomas Elgins from 1970-71 before moving up to the Mustangs university team.
In 1976, after completing his education, Coons moved to Prince George
where he worked for a juvenile detention center with kids in need.
Coons left Prince George when he was hired as a special education teacher at Prince Rupert's Booth Memorial Junior Secondary school in 1977. He worked as a teacher for three years before he resigned, in 1980, to co-ordinate the 1981 Northern BC Winter Games, which were held in Prince Rupert.
Once the games were completed, Coons tried his hand in the commercial fishing industry, working on a gill-netter for a short time.
In 1981, Coons married Lois Elliot, another teacher in Prince Rupert. She currently teaches at Pineridge school. Together, they have two children, Hannah and Breton.
In 1982, Coons returned to teaching at Booth Memorial Junior Secondary, this time as a math teacher.
In 1986, Coons became the head instructor at Kaien Alternate school, this continued until 1992, when he went on a teaching exchange to Australia
.
In 1993, Coons was back in Prince Rupert, teaching, this time at Charles Hays Secondary School. He taught the subjects of math and physical education.
His love of sports led Coons to coach recreational activities on a community level, including baseball, soccer and hockey.
Throughout this time, Coons was active in the British Columbia Teachers' Federation
. His commitment to social justice and activism led him to sit on committees and to participate in many roles in the BCTF
from 1983-2005.
His first experience with a major political movement was in 1983, when the Solidarity Coalition rallied against twenty-seven Bills the provincial legislature had introduced. Coons joined more than 50,000 unionists and other demonstrators in protesting the Bills, which attacked human rights, labour, education, and social programs in British Columbia.
Coons served as president of the Prince Rupert District Teachers' Union from 2001-2004.
During his time as president of the union, Coons participated in political actions; this led him to put his name forward as a nominee for the NDP for the 2005 election
. He won the nomination, and, eventually, the seat.
Member of the Legislative Assembly
A Member of the Legislative Assembly or a Member of the Legislature , is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national jurisdiction....
(MLA) for the North Coast riding of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
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...
.
Coons is a former math teacher, having worked in the Prince Rupert
Prince Rupert, British Columbia
Prince Rupert is a port city in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is the land, air, and water transportation hub of British Columbia's North Coast, and home to some 12,815 people .-History:...
area for 25 years. He was a teacher at Charles Hays Secondary School
Charles Hays Secondary School
Charles Hays Secondary School is a public secondary school located in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada. The school serves a student population of approximately 700 students in grades 9 to 12...
. He was also more recently the president of the Prince Rupert District Teachers Union, a local of the British Columbia Teachers' Federation
British Columbia Teachers' Federation
The British Columbia Teachers' Federation is the labour union that represents all public school teachers in the province of British Columbia, Canada.-Governance Structure:...
.
While playing on a Western Ontario hockey team, Coons claimed a university league record for penalty minutes.
Personal history
Coons was born in WinnipegWinnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
. Soon after he was born his family moved to Lachine, Quebec
Lachine, Quebec
Lachine was a city on the Island of Montreal in southwestern Quebec, Canada. It is now a borough within the city of Montreal.-History:...
, which was, at that time, a city outside of Montreal.
In 1967, he moved to Burlington, Ontario
Burlington, Ontario
Burlington , is a city located in Halton Region at the western end of Lake Ontario. Burlington is part of the Greater Toronto Area, and is also included in the Hamilton Census Metropolitan Area. Physically, Burlington lies between the north shore of Lake Ontario and the Niagara Escarpment...
where he began his lifelong love affair with hockey, playing junior "B" with the Burlington Mohawks. He graduated from Nelson High School which he attended from grades 11 to 13.
After graduating, Coons attended the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
in London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
where he received his BA in Mathematics and his Bachelor of Education, with specializations in Math and Physical Education.
Throughout his school years, Coons continued playing hockey, playing junior "A" hockey with the St.Thomas Elgins from 1970-71 before moving up to the Mustangs university team.
In 1976, after completing his education, Coons moved to Prince George
Prince George, British Columbia
Prince George, with a population of 71,030 , is the largest city in northern British Columbia, Canada, and is known as "BC's Northern Capital"...
where he worked for a juvenile detention center with kids in need.
Coons left Prince George when he was hired as a special education teacher at Prince Rupert's Booth Memorial Junior Secondary school in 1977. He worked as a teacher for three years before he resigned, in 1980, to co-ordinate the 1981 Northern BC Winter Games, which were held in Prince Rupert.
Once the games were completed, Coons tried his hand in the commercial fishing industry, working on a gill-netter for a short time.
In 1981, Coons married Lois Elliot, another teacher in Prince Rupert. She currently teaches at Pineridge school. Together, they have two children, Hannah and Breton.
In 1982, Coons returned to teaching at Booth Memorial Junior Secondary, this time as a math teacher.
In 1986, Coons became the head instructor at Kaien Alternate school, this continued until 1992, when he went on a teaching exchange to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
In 1993, Coons was back in Prince Rupert, teaching, this time at Charles Hays Secondary School. He taught the subjects of math and physical education.
His love of sports led Coons to coach recreational activities on a community level, including baseball, soccer and hockey.
Throughout this time, Coons was active in the British Columbia Teachers' Federation
British Columbia Teachers' Federation
The British Columbia Teachers' Federation is the labour union that represents all public school teachers in the province of British Columbia, Canada.-Governance Structure:...
. His commitment to social justice and activism led him to sit on committees and to participate in many roles in the BCTF
British Columbia Teachers' Federation
The British Columbia Teachers' Federation is the labour union that represents all public school teachers in the province of British Columbia, Canada.-Governance Structure:...
from 1983-2005.
His first experience with a major political movement was in 1983, when the Solidarity Coalition rallied against twenty-seven Bills the provincial legislature had introduced. Coons joined more than 50,000 unionists and other demonstrators in protesting the Bills, which attacked human rights, labour, education, and social programs in British Columbia.
Coons served as president of the Prince Rupert District Teachers' Union from 2001-2004.
During his time as president of the union, Coons participated in political actions; this led him to put his name forward as a nominee for the NDP for the 2005 election
British Columbia general election, 2005
The 38th British Columbia general election was held on May 17, 2005, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia , Canada. The BC Liberal Party formed the government of the province prior to this general election under the leadership of Premier Gordon Campbell...
. He won the nomination, and, eventually, the seat.