James H. Aitchison
Encyclopedia
James Hermiston Aitchison (b. 1908 in Innerleithen
, Scotland
— d. 12 July 1994 in Halifax, Nova Scotia
, Canada) was a Canadian academic and politician and leader of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party
.
He was the son of James Charles Aitchison and Elizabeth Fleming. He came to Canada at an early age and was raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He received his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education from the University of Saskatchewan
. He would go on to earn a Bachelor of Science in economics from the University of London
and a Ph. D. from the University of Toronto
.
During World War Two, he served in the Canadian Army as a Major from 1942-1946. After his service James taught high school and eventually lectured at Brandon College, Manitoba; University of Toronto; McMaster University
; and Victoria College
, Victoria, British Columbia
. From 1949 to 1973 he taught Political Science at Dalhousie University
in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He served for a period as Chairman of the Department, and remained Professor Emeritus within the department until his retirement in 1983.
During his time at Dalhousie University he served as the first President of the Dalhousie Faculty Association, as well as President of the Canadian Association of University Teachers, Chairman of the Social Sciences Research Council of Canada; Vice-President of the Canadian Political Science Association as well as Vice President of the Institute for Public Administration of Canada. He also served as a council member for many years on the Atlantic Council of Canada.
(CCF) joined with the Canadian Labour Congress
to form the New Democratic Party. Aitchison became the provincial party's leader in 1963. He led the party through the 1963
and 1967
provincial elections. His critics accused him of being part of the Halifax elite that was believed to have taken the party from its traditional roots and leadership in industrial Cape Breton
. He declined to re-offer in 1968 and was replaced by Cape Bretoner, Jeremy Akerman
. However, Aitchison continued to be active within the party until the early 1970s, when he ceased involvement.
He ran twice as a candidate for the Nova Scotia Legislature, in the 1963 and 1967 provincial general elections. Both he and the party failed to win any seats during these elections, leaving the NDP without representation in the Legislature. Aitchison also ran for the Canadian House of Commons
in the federal elections of 1962
and 1965
, but again failed to win a seat. Under his leadership, the Nova Scotia NDP achieved its worst electoral results. In the two provincial elections he led the party, it recorded its lowest percentage of the popular vote in the modern era. The 1963 campaign reached a twenty-five-year low (if including its predecessor, the CCF), when the party received just about four percent of the popular vote.
Aitchison married Oriole Faram and had one daughter. He died at age 86, in Halifax, Nova Scotia .
Innerleithen
Innerleithen is a small town in the committee area of Tweeddale, in the Scottish Borders.-Etymology:The name "Innerleithen" comes from the Scottish Gaelic meaning "confluence of the Leithen", because it is here that the river joins the Tweed. The prefix "Inner-/Inver-" is common in many Scottish...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
— d. 12 July 1994 in Halifax, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, Canada) was a Canadian academic and politician and leader of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party
Nova Scotia New Democratic Party
The Nova Scotia New Democratic Party is a social-democratic provincial party in Nova Scotia, Canada. It is aligned with the federal New Democratic Party . Originally founded as the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation in 1932, it became the New Democratic Party in 1961. It became the governing...
.
He was the son of James Charles Aitchison and Elizabeth Fleming. He came to Canada at an early age and was raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He received his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education from the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
. He would go on to earn a Bachelor of Science in economics from the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
and a Ph. D. from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
.
During World War Two, he served in the Canadian Army as a Major from 1942-1946. After his service James taught high school and eventually lectured at Brandon College, Manitoba; University of Toronto; McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
; and Victoria College
Victoria College
Victoria College is or was the name of several institutions of secondary or higher education, including:* [Victoria College, Chulipuram], Sri Lanka* Victoria College, Alexandria, Egypt* Victoria College in Victoria, Texas...
, Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
. From 1949 to 1973 he taught Political Science at Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He served for a period as Chairman of the Department, and remained Professor Emeritus within the department until his retirement in 1983.
During his time at Dalhousie University he served as the first President of the Dalhousie Faculty Association, as well as President of the Canadian Association of University Teachers, Chairman of the Social Sciences Research Council of Canada; Vice-President of the Canadian Political Science Association as well as Vice President of the Institute for Public Administration of Canada. He also served as a council member for many years on the Atlantic Council of Canada.
Political career
In 1961 the Co-operative Commonwealth FederationCo-operative Commonwealth Federation
The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation was a Canadian political party founded in 1932 in Calgary, Alberta, by a number of socialist, farm, co-operative and labour groups, and the League for Social Reconstruction...
(CCF) joined with the Canadian Labour Congress
Canadian Labour Congress
The Canadian Labour Congress, or CLC is a national trade union centre, the central labour body in English Canada to which most Canadian labour unions are affiliated.- Formation :...
to form the New Democratic Party. Aitchison became the provincial party's leader in 1963. He led the party through the 1963
Nova Scotia general election, 1963
The 25th Nova Scotia general election was held on 8 October 1963 to elect members of the 48th House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservatives.* party was then the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation...
and 1967
Nova Scotia general election, 1967
The 26th Nova Scotia general election was held on 30 May 1967 to elect members of the 49th House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservative Party....
provincial elections. His critics accused him of being part of the Halifax elite that was believed to have taken the party from its traditional roots and leadership in industrial Cape Breton
Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island is an island on the Atlantic coast of North America. It likely corresponds to the word Breton, the French demonym for Brittany....
. He declined to re-offer in 1968 and was replaced by Cape Bretoner, Jeremy Akerman
Jeremy Akerman
Jeremy Bernard Akerman is a former Canadian politician, writer and actor and a former leader of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party.-Biography:...
. However, Aitchison continued to be active within the party until the early 1970s, when he ceased involvement.
He ran twice as a candidate for the Nova Scotia Legislature, in the 1963 and 1967 provincial general elections. Both he and the party failed to win any seats during these elections, leaving the NDP without representation in the Legislature. Aitchison also ran for 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...
in the federal elections of 1962
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...
and 1965
Canadian federal election, 1965
The Canadian federal election of 1965 was held on November 8 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 27th Parliament of Canada. The Liberal Party of Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson was re-elected with a larger number of seats in the House...
, but again failed to win a seat. Under his leadership, the Nova Scotia NDP achieved its worst electoral results. In the two provincial elections he led the party, it recorded its lowest percentage of the popular vote in the modern era. The 1963 campaign reached a twenty-five-year low (if including its predecessor, the CCF), when the party received just about four percent of the popular vote.
Aitchison married Oriole Faram and had one daughter. He died at age 86, in Halifax, Nova Scotia .
Academic bibliography
- 1940 - Canada at War (Toronto: Canadian Institute of International AffairsCanadian institute of international affairsThe Canadian Institute of International Affairs was a Canadian, non-partisan, nationwide forum for the discussion and analysis of international affairs. The CIIA had 13 branches across Canada and a membership of 1,300. It hosted conferences, seminars and a speaker series...
). - 1953 - The Development of Local Government in Upper Canada (Thesis (Ph. D) University of Toronto).
- 1963 - The Political Process in Canada: Essays in Honour of R. MacGregor Dawson (Toronto: University of Toronto Press).