George Springate
Encyclopedia
George P.G. Springate, CM
(born May 12, 1938) is a Canadian
police officer, politician, football player, professor, and Citizenship Judge
.
Born in Montreal, Quebec, the son of Walter L. Springate and Eleonor Woodhouse, he received a Bachelor of Arts
from Sir George Williams University. He also received a Bachelor of Civil Law
degree in 1968 and a Bachelor of Common Law degree in 1969 from McGill University
. From 1958 to 1969, he was a police officer with the Montreal Police
. From 1966 to 1968, he was a member of the McGill Redmen
football team.
In 1970
, he was part of the Grey Cup
winning Montreal Alouettes
.
In 1970
, he was elected to the National Assembly of Quebec
as a Liberal for the riding of Sainte-Anne
. He was re-elected in 1973
and again in 1976
for the riding of Westmount
. During the Bill 22 crisis, he controversially compared Québec
to both the Soviet Union
and Nazi Germany
. He did not run in 1981
.
In 1989, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada
.
He was a teacher in criminal and civil law at John Abbott College
. He was one of the founding members of the "Police Technology" program at John Abbott College. He has since retired from teaching in 2008. He is a columnist for The Chronicle, a local Montreal newspaper.
In 2000 and again in 2006, he was appointed a Citizenship Judge
. In 2008 he was appointed Canada's Senior Citizenship Judge for a five-year term.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(born May 12, 1938) is a Canadian
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...
police officer, politician, football player, professor, and Citizenship Judge
Citizenship judge
A citizenship judge is an official or judge of the Canadian government who reviews applications for Canadian citizenship.Citizenship judges are appointed by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration....
.
Born in Montreal, Quebec, the son of Walter L. Springate and Eleonor Woodhouse, he received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Sir George Williams University. He also received a Bachelor of Civil Law
Bachelor of Civil Law
Bachelor of Civil Law is the name of various degrees in law conferred by English-language universities. Historically, it originated as a postgraduate degree in the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, but many universities now offer the BCL as an undergraduate degree...
degree in 1968 and a Bachelor of Common Law degree in 1969 from McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
. From 1958 to 1969, he was a police officer with the Montreal Police
Service de police de la Ville de Montréal
The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal is the police force for the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. With about 4,400 officers and 1,600 civilian staff, it is the second largest municipal police agency in Canada after the Toronto Police Service and second largest in the province behind the...
. From 1966 to 1968, he was a member of the McGill Redmen
McGill Redmen
The McGill Redmen CIS football team is one of the oldest in all of Canada, having begun organized competition in 1898. The team has appeared in three Vanier Cup national championships, in 1969, 1973 and 1987, with the Redmen finally winning the title in the 1987 game...
football team.
In 1970
1970 CFL season
The 1970 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 17th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 13th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1970:...
, he was part of the Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
winning Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
.
In 1970
Quebec general election, 1970
The Quebec general election of 1970 was held on April 29, 1970 to elect members of the National Assembly of Quebec, Canada. The former Legislative Assembly had been renamed the "National Assembly" in 1968...
, he was elected to the National Assembly of Quebec
National Assembly of Quebec
The National Assembly of Quebec is the legislative body of the Province of Quebec. The Lieutenant Governor and the National Assembly compose the Parliament of Quebec, which operates in a fashion similar to those of other British-style parliamentary systems.The National Assembly was formerly the...
as a Liberal for the riding of Sainte-Anne
Sainte-Anne (provincial electoral district)
Sainte-Anne was a provincial electoral district in the province of Quebec, Canada. Located in the Greater Montreal Area, it was formed in 1890 from parts of Montreal-Centre. In 1994, it became part of Saint-Henri—Sainte-Anne after a merger with Saint-Henri. From 1890 to 1912 it was also known as...
. He was re-elected in 1973
Quebec general election, 1973
The Quebec general election of 1973 was held on October 29, 1973 to elect members to National Assembly of Quebec, Canada. The incumbent Quebec Liberal Party, led by Robert Bourassa, won re-election, defeating the Parti Québécois, led by René Lévesque, and the Union Nationale .The Liberals won a...
and again in 1976
Quebec general election, 1976
The Quebec general election of 1976 was held on November 15, 1976 to elect members to National Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada. It was one of the most significant elections in Quebec history, rivalled only by the 1960 general election, and caused major repercussions in the rest of Canada...
for the riding of Westmount
Westmount (provincial electoral district)
Westmount was a provincial electoral district located in the province of Quebec, Canada. Located in the Montreal region, Westmount was formed in 1912. In 1994, it became part of Westmount—Saint-Louis. From 1939 to 1966, it was part of Westmount-Saint-Georges...
. During the Bill 22 crisis, he controversially compared Québec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
to both the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and Nazi Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. He did not run in 1981
Quebec general election, 1981
The Quebec general election of 1981 was held on April 13, 1981, to elect members of the National Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada. The incumbent Parti Québécois, led by René Lévesque, won re-election, defeating the Quebec Liberal Party, led by Claude Ryan.The PQ won re-election despite...
.
In 1989, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
.
He was a teacher in criminal and civil law at John Abbott College
John Abbott College
John Abbott College is an English-language general and professional educational college located in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada, near the western tip of the Island of Montreal. The enabling legislation is the General and Vocational Colleges Act -History:The college was accredited in...
. He was one of the founding members of the "Police Technology" program at John Abbott College. He has since retired from teaching in 2008. He is a columnist for The Chronicle, a local Montreal newspaper.
In 2000 and again in 2006, he was appointed a Citizenship Judge
Citizenship judge
A citizenship judge is an official or judge of the Canadian government who reviews applications for Canadian citizenship.Citizenship judges are appointed by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration....
. In 2008 he was appointed Canada's Senior Citizenship Judge for a five-year term.