Jeremy Akerman
Encyclopedia
Jeremy Bernard Akerman is a former Canadian politician, writer and actor and a former leader of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party
.
, United Kingdom
. He was attracted to politics at an early age, being drawn to the British Labour Party. However, his education was anything but that conventionally received by a politician, attending Cardiff College of Art where he studied to become a draftsman. After graduation in 1964 Akerman was invited by the Canadian government to come and work as an archaeologist on the Fortress Louisbourg Restoration Project, at Louisbourg, Cape Breton
, Nova Scotia
. While in Cape Breton he wrote a report on the Cape Breton fishery that was so controversial it cost him his job. He then worked to organize the fishermen in the Louisbourg area into an organization that eventually affiliated with the United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union. He then joined a radio station in Sydney, Nova Scotia
as a reporter and radio talk show host but was fired for unionizing the staff.
During the Canadian federal election of 1965
, Akerman and other workers from the Louisbourg site, volunteered on the campaign of Ed Johnston, who was the NDP candidate for the federal riding of Cape Breton South
. It is at this point that he met Paul MacEwan
, a local school teacher and activist, who would become one of his closest colleagues and confidants.
In the provincial election of May 30, 1967
, Akerman ran for the first time as an NDP candidate, in the constituency of Cape Breton West
, and won 13 per cent of the vote. In the following year, he ran as the party's candidate in the federal election
in Cape Breton—East Richmond
, and won 7,750 votes. He placed third, but in Glace Bay, Akerman won three wards out of six. He decided to run in the Glace Bay provincial constituency in the next provincial election.
Later in 1968, the NDP held a convention at Sydney, at which Akerman sought the party's provincial leadership. He was opposed by law professor Keith Jobson of Halifax, who was backed by outgoing leader James H. Aitchison
, and won the contest by four votes becoming party leader at the age of 26.
The next provincial election was held October 13, 1970. Akerman was elected in Glace Bay with a majority of 1,527 votes. Sydney school teacher Paul MacEwan
was also elected, so the party held two seats in the Legislature until 1974. In the vote held April 2, 1974, Akerman and MacEwan were both re-elected, along with a third candidate, James 'Buddy' MacEachern
, who ran in Cape Breton Centre
, a riding sandwiched between Akerman's seat and MacEwan's. And in the following provincial election
, held September 19, 1978, these three were re-elected, and Len Arsenault won in the constituency of Cape Breton North
, thus bringing the NDP presence in the Nova Scotia Legislature up to four seats.
During his years as head of the NDP in Nova Scotia, Akerman had met increased resistance to his efforts from the Halifax branch of the party which was critical of the party's inability to win seats on the mainland. Through gaining a majority of seats on the party's provincial executive, the Halifax group came to dominate the party, even although they were unable win a seat in the Legislature. Akerman also faced strains on his health and personal life, due to the stress of the workload he carried; he missed the 1977 session of the House because of an illness and his marriage ended in divorce. By 1980, reportedly tired after 12 years at the helm of the party, he announced his retirement. At the time he was the longest-serving NDP leader anywhere in Canada.
Soon afterwards, Akerman received a contract from the provincial government to become Executive Director of Intergovernmental Affairs. In order to accept a job in the civil service he severed his ties with the NDP. He worked in this position or other provincial government posts for the next eleven years. Following this, he served for a time as editor of the Metro Telecaster, then pursued a career in acting. He has appeared in at least 24 movies.
During his time as NDP leader in Nova Scotia, Akerman earned a high level of respect from all political parties and was considered one of the ablest debaters in the House.
Akerman attempted a return to politics in a March 6, 2001 byelection in the provincial constituency of Halifax Fairview
. This time running as candidate for the Nova Scotia Liberal Party, Akerman finished second behind NDP candidate Graham Steele
.
In 2011, he played a small role as a judge in Thom Fitzgerald
's film Cloudburst
.
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...
.
Biography
Akerman was born AlvechurchAlvechurch
Alvechurch is a large village and civil parish of Bromsgrove district, in the northeast of the county of Worcestershire, England. Lying in the valley of the River Arrow, the nearest city is Birmingham, 17 km / 11 miles to the north, with the closest towns being Redditch, 8 km / 5 miles...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. He was attracted to politics at an early age, being drawn to the British Labour Party. However, his education was anything but that conventionally received by a politician, attending Cardiff College of Art where he studied to become a draftsman. After graduation in 1964 Akerman was invited by the Canadian government to come and work as an archaeologist on the Fortress Louisbourg Restoration Project, at Louisbourg, Cape Breton
Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia
Cape Breton Regional Municipality often shortened to simply CBRM, is a regional municipality in Nova Scotia's Cape Breton County.According to the 2006 Census of Canada, the population within the Cape Breton Regional Municipality is 102,250...
, 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...
. While in Cape Breton he wrote a report on the Cape Breton fishery that was so controversial it cost him his job. He then worked to organize the fishermen in the Louisbourg area into an organization that eventually affiliated with the United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union. He then joined a radio station in Sydney, Nova Scotia
Sydney, Nova Scotia
Sydney is a Canadian urban community in the province of Nova Scotia. It is situated on the east coast of Cape Breton Island and is administratively part of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality....
as a reporter and radio talk show host but was fired for unionizing the staff.
During the Canadian federal election of 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...
, Akerman and other workers from the Louisbourg site, volunteered on the campaign of Ed Johnston, who was the NDP candidate for the federal riding of Cape Breton South
Cape Breton South (federal electoral district)
Cape Breton South was a federal electoral district in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1904 to 1911 and from 1925 to 1968.-History:This riding was created in 1903 from Cape Breton riding...
. It is at this point that he met Paul MacEwan
Paul MacEwan
Paul MacEwan is a former politician in Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada, and long-time member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.-Biography:...
, a local school teacher and activist, who would become one of his closest colleagues and confidants.
In the provincial election of May 30, 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....
, Akerman ran for the first time as an NDP candidate, in the constituency of Cape Breton West
Cape Breton West
Cape Breton West is a provincial electoral district in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly....
, and won 13 per cent of the vote. In the following year, he ran as the party's candidate in the federal election
Canadian federal election, 1968
The Canadian federal election of 1968 was held on June 25, 1968, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 28th Parliament of Canada...
in Cape Breton—East Richmond
Cape Breton—East Richmond
Cape Breton—East Richmond was a federal electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1968 to 1997....
, and won 7,750 votes. He placed third, but in Glace Bay, Akerman won three wards out of six. He decided to run in the Glace Bay provincial constituency in the next provincial election.
Later in 1968, the NDP held a convention at Sydney, at which Akerman sought the party's provincial leadership. He was opposed by law professor Keith Jobson of Halifax, who was backed by outgoing leader James H. Aitchison
James H. Aitchison
James Hermiston Aitchison was a Canadian academic and politician and leader of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party....
, and won the contest by four votes becoming party leader at the age of 26.
The next provincial election was held October 13, 1970. Akerman was elected in Glace Bay with a majority of 1,527 votes. Sydney school teacher Paul MacEwan
Paul MacEwan
Paul MacEwan is a former politician in Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada, and long-time member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.-Biography:...
was also elected, so the party held two seats in the Legislature until 1974. In the vote held April 2, 1974, Akerman and MacEwan were both re-elected, along with a third candidate, James 'Buddy' MacEachern
James 'Buddy' MacEachern
James "Buddy" MacEachern was a Nova Scotia fisherman and politician. In the 1974 provincial election he was elected to the Nova Scotia Legislative Assembly as the NDP member for Cape Breton Centre. When party leader Jeremy Akerman resigned, MacEachern became the party's interim leader by the caucus...
, who ran in Cape Breton Centre
Cape Breton Centre
Cape Breton Centre is a provincial electoral district in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly....
, a riding sandwiched between Akerman's seat and MacEwan's. And in the following provincial election
Nova Scotia general election, 1978
The 29th Nova Scotia general election was held on September 19, 1978 to elect members of the 52nd House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservative party....
, held September 19, 1978, these three were re-elected, and Len Arsenault won in the constituency of Cape Breton North
Cape Breton North
Cape Breton North is a provincial electoral district in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly....
, thus bringing the NDP presence in the Nova Scotia Legislature up to four seats.
During his years as head of the NDP in Nova Scotia, Akerman had met increased resistance to his efforts from the Halifax branch of the party which was critical of the party's inability to win seats on the mainland. Through gaining a majority of seats on the party's provincial executive, the Halifax group came to dominate the party, even although they were unable win a seat in the Legislature. Akerman also faced strains on his health and personal life, due to the stress of the workload he carried; he missed the 1977 session of the House because of an illness and his marriage ended in divorce. By 1980, reportedly tired after 12 years at the helm of the party, he announced his retirement. At the time he was the longest-serving NDP leader anywhere in Canada.
Soon afterwards, Akerman received a contract from the provincial government to become Executive Director of Intergovernmental Affairs. In order to accept a job in the civil service he severed his ties with the NDP. He worked in this position or other provincial government posts for the next eleven years. Following this, he served for a time as editor of the Metro Telecaster, then pursued a career in acting. He has appeared in at least 24 movies.
During his time as NDP leader in Nova Scotia, Akerman earned a high level of respect from all political parties and was considered one of the ablest debaters in the House.
Akerman attempted a return to politics in a March 6, 2001 byelection in the provincial constituency of Halifax Fairview
Halifax Fairview
Halifax Fairview is a provincial electoral district in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.It was created in the re-distribution of 1993...
. This time running as candidate for the Nova Scotia Liberal Party, Akerman finished second behind NDP candidate Graham Steele
Graham Steele
Graham Steele is Nova Scotia's Minister of Finance and Minister of Acadian Affairs in Darrell Dexter's Cabinet. As a member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, he represents the constituency of Halifax Fairview...
.
In 2011, he played a small role as a judge in Thom Fitzgerald
Thom Fitzgerald
Thomas "Thom" Fitzgerald is an award winning American-Canadian film director as well live theater director.-Life:Fitzgerald was born and raised in New Rochelle, New York. His parents divorced when he was five years old. He moved with his mother and brother, Timothy Jr., to Bergenfield, New Jersey,...
's film Cloudburst
Cloudburst (2011 film)
Cloudburst is a film by Canadian writer and director Thom Fitzgerald, which premiered at the Atlantic Film Festival in Halifax, Nova Scotia on September 16, 2011...
.