Gordon Chown
Encyclopedia
Gordon Campbell Chown was a Progressive Conservative party
member of the Canadian House of Commons
. He was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba and became a barrister and lawyer by career.
He served overseas in the army during World War Two and attained the rank of Captain. He served as President of the Young Conservatives of Manitoba (1951), and as an Alderman of Winnipeg (1952 to 1955).
He was first elected in the Winnipeg South
riding in the 1957 general election
, and re-elected in the landslide 1958 election
, and in the minority 1962 federal election
, but was defeated in the following year's election. Chown served in the 23rd
to 25th Canadian Parliament
s. During his last term in the House of Commons, he served as Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committee of the Whole
.
After leaving federal politics, Chown moved to Toronto
. He helped to found the York County Legal Aid
Plan. In 1972 he was appointed as a provincial judge, and acted in this capacity in Toronto and Hamilton until his retirement in 1992.
On 29 December 1959, he married Catherine Oliver Barton, and adopted her three children. He was a lifelong member of the Anglican Church of Canada; a Life Member of the Royal Canadian Military Institute, Toronto; and of the University of Manitoba Alumni Association. As a past member of the Royal Lake of the Woods Yacht Club and Winnipeg Winter Club, he was an avid sailor and figure skater.
He died at Brantford, Ontario on 31 July 2002.
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....
member of the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
. He was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba and became a barrister and lawyer by career.
He served overseas in the army during World War Two and attained the rank of Captain. He served as President of the Young Conservatives of Manitoba (1951), and as an Alderman of Winnipeg (1952 to 1955).
He was first elected in the Winnipeg South
Winnipeg South
Winnipeg South is a Canadian federal electoral district in Manitoba, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1917 to 1979, and since 1988. It covers the south of the city of Winnipeg...
riding in the 1957 general election
Canadian federal election, 1957
The Canadian federal election of 1957 was held June 10, 1957, to select the 265 members of the House of Commons of Canada. In one of the great upsets in Canadian political history, the Progressive Conservative Party , led by John Diefenbaker, brought an end to 22 years of Liberal rule, as the...
, and re-elected in the landslide 1958 election
Canadian federal election, 1958
The Canadian federal election of 1958 was the 24th general election in Canada's history. It was held to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 24th Parliament of Canada on March 31, 1958, just nine months after the 23rd election...
, and in the minority 1962 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1962
The Canadian federal election of 1962 was held on June 18, 1962 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 25th Parliament of Canada...
, but was defeated in the following year's election. Chown served in the 23rd
23rd Canadian Parliament
The 23rd Canadian Parliament was in session from October 14, 1957 until February 1, 1958. The membership was set by the 1957 federal election on June 10, 1957, and it changed only somewhat due to resignations and by-elections until it was dissolved prior to the 1958 election.It holds the...
to 25th Canadian Parliament
25th Canadian Parliament
The 25th Canadian Parliament was in session from September 27, 1962 until February 6, 1963. The membership was set by the 1962 federal election on June 18, 1962, and it changed only somewhat due to resignations and by-elections until it was dissolved prior to the 1963 election.It was controlled by...
s. During his last term in the House of Commons, he served as Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committee of the Whole
Committee of the Whole
A Committee of the Whole is a device in which a legislative body or other deliberative assembly is considered one large committee. All members of the legislative body are members of such a committee...
.
After leaving federal politics, Chown moved to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. He helped to found the York County Legal Aid
Legal aid
Legal aid is the provision of assistance to people otherwise unable to afford legal representation and access to the court system. Legal aid is regarded as central in providing access to justice by ensuring equality before the law, the right to counsel and the right to a fair trial.A number of...
Plan. In 1972 he was appointed as a provincial judge, and acted in this capacity in Toronto and Hamilton until his retirement in 1992.
On 29 December 1959, he married Catherine Oliver Barton, and adopted her three children. He was a lifelong member of the Anglican Church of Canada; a Life Member of the Royal Canadian Military Institute, Toronto; and of the University of Manitoba Alumni Association. As a past member of the Royal Lake of the Woods Yacht Club and Winnipeg Winter Club, he was an avid sailor and figure skater.
He died at Brantford, Ontario on 31 July 2002.