John Baird Finlay
Encyclopedia
John Baird Finlay was a member of the Canadian House of Commons
from 1993 to 2004. His career had been in the school system, as a teacher and superintendent.
Finlay was born in 1929 in Santo Domingo
, Dominican Republic
. He attended John Wanless public school in Toronto (1934–36), then a PNEU school in Croydon
. England
in 1936. He returned to Toronto in 1937 and attended Hodgson public school until 1942 followed by University of Toronto Schools
until 1947. He then studied at Victoria College, Toronto
earning a Bachelor of Arts
in 1952.
His teaching career included terms at Upper Canada College
from 1952 to 1954, then in Woodstock, Ontario
from 1955 to 1964 except for the 1957-58 school year at Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute
(IDCI). He was assistant secretary of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation
from 1964 to 1967. He became vice-principal (1967–69) and principal (1970–73) in Woodstock, Ontario
, and returned to IDCI as principal from 1973 to 1977. He earned a Master of Education
at the University of Western Ontario
in 1977. From that year to 1988, he was superintendent of schools for the Oxford County Board of Education
.
Finlay made unsuccessful attempts at political office in the 1963 Woodstock municipal election, and in the 1981 and 1987 Ontario elections
. He was elected to federal office in the riding of Oxford
under the Liberal Party of Canada
in the 1993, 1997 and 2000 general elections, serving in the 35th
, 36th
and 37th Canadian Parliament
s respectively.
Finlay left office in 2004 as he chose not to campaign again for the Oxford riding. David Mackenzie of the Conservative party
won the riding in that year's general election.
Towards the end of his life, Finlay suffered from Parkinson's disease
. He died on 17 October 2010 at the age of 81.
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...
from 1993 to 2004. His career had been in the school system, as a teacher and superintendent.
Finlay was born in 1929 in Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
, Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
. He attended John Wanless public school in Toronto (1934–36), then a PNEU school in Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
. England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1936. He returned to Toronto in 1937 and attended Hodgson public school until 1942 followed by University of Toronto Schools
University of Toronto Schools
The University of Toronto Schools is an independent secondary day school affiliated with the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada...
until 1947. He then studied at Victoria College, Toronto
Victoria University, Toronto
Victoria University is a constituent college of the University of Toronto, founded in 1836 and named for Queen Victoria. It is commonly called Victoria College, informally Vic, after the original academic component that now forms its undergraduate division...
earning 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...
in 1952.
His teaching career included terms at Upper Canada College
Upper Canada College
Upper Canada College , located in midtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is an independent elementary and secondary school for boys between Senior Kindergarten and Grade Twelve, operating under the International Baccalaureate program. The secondary school segment is divided into ten houses; eight are...
from 1952 to 1954, then in Woodstock, Ontario
Woodstock, Ontario
Woodstock is a city and the county seat of Oxford County in Southern Ontario, Canada. Woodstock is located 128 km southwest of Toronto, north of Highway 401 along the historic Thames River...
from 1955 to 1964 except for the 1957-58 school year at Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute
Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute
Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute is a public high school in Ingersoll, Ontario. As the only high school in Ingersoll, it also serves the village of Thamesford, and the rural areas surrounding both communities. It is in the Thames Valley District School Board . It is located in the north...
(IDCI). He was assistant secretary of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation
Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation
The Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation is a trade union which represents 60,000 members across Ontario, Canada.Founded in 1919, its membership includes public high school teachers, occasional teachers, teaching assistants, psychoeducational consultants, social workers, child and youth...
from 1964 to 1967. He became vice-principal (1967–69) and principal (1970–73) in Woodstock, Ontario
Woodstock, Ontario
Woodstock is a city and the county seat of Oxford County in Southern Ontario, Canada. Woodstock is located 128 km southwest of Toronto, north of Highway 401 along the historic Thames River...
, and returned to IDCI as principal from 1973 to 1977. He earned a Master of Education
Master of Education
The Master of Education is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in a large number of countries. This degree in education often includes the following majors: curriculum and instruction, counseling, and administration. It is often conferred for educators advancing in...
at 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 1977. From that year to 1988, he was superintendent of schools for the Oxford County Board of Education
Thames Valley District School Board
The Thames Valley District School Board is a public school board in southwestern Ontario. It was created on January 1, 1998 by the amalgamation of the Elgin County Board of Education, The Board of Education for the City of London, Middlesex County Board of Education, and Oxford County Board of...
.
Finlay made unsuccessful attempts at political office in the 1963 Woodstock municipal election, and in the 1981 and 1987 Ontario elections
Ontario general election, 1987
The Ontario general election of 1987 was held on September 10, 1987, to elect members of the 34th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada.The governing Ontario Liberal Party, led by David Peterson, was returned to power with a large majority...
. He was elected to federal office in the riding of Oxford
Oxford (electoral district)
Oxford is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since the 1935 election.It consists of the county of Oxford....
under the Liberal Party of Canada
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
in the 1993, 1997 and 2000 general elections, serving in the 35th
35th Canadian Parliament
The 35th Canadian Parliament was in session from January 17, 1994 until April 27, 1997. The membership was set by the 1993 federal election on October 25, 1993, and it changed only somewhat due to resignations and by-elections until it was dissolved prior to the 1997 election.It was controlled by...
, 36th
36th Canadian Parliament
The 36th Canadian Parliament was in session from September 22, 1997 until October 22, 2000. The membership was set by the 1997 federal election on June 2, 1997, and it changed only somewhat due to resignations and by-elections until it was dissolved prior to the 2000 election.It was controlled by...
and 37th Canadian Parliament
37th Canadian Parliament
The 37th Canadian Parliament was in session from January 29, 2001, until May 23, 2004. The membership was set by the 2000 federal election on November 27, 2000, and it changed only somewhat due to resignations and by-elections until it was dissolved prior to the 2004 election.It was controlled by...
s respectively.
Finlay left office in 2004 as he chose not to campaign again for the Oxford riding. David Mackenzie of the Conservative party
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
won the riding in that year's general election.
Towards the end of his life, Finlay suffered from Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
. He died on 17 October 2010 at the age of 81.