John Henry Cates was a businessman and political figure in British Columbia

British Columbia

British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...

. He represented North Vancouver

North Vancouver (provincial electoral district)

North Vancouver was a provincial electoral district in the Canadian province of British Columbia. It first appeared on the hustings in 1916 and at the time of its creation included West Vancouver as well as North Vancouver...

 in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia is one of two components of the Parliament of British Columbia, the provincial parliament ....

 from 1945 to 1952 as a Liberal

British Columbia Liberal Party

The British Columbia Liberal Party is the governing political party in British Columbia, Canada. First elected for government in 1916, the party went into decline after 1952, with its rump caucus merging with the Social Credit Party for the 1975 election...

.

He was born in Moodyville

North Vancouver, British Columbia

There are two municipalities in the Greater Vancouver region of British Columbia, Canada, that use the name North Vancouver. These are:*The City of North Vancouver...

, the son of Charles Henry Cates. Cates was a partner in the tugboat company C.H. Cates and Sons. He served in the Royal Navy

Royal Navy

The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...

 during World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

. Cates was a member of a Liberal-Conservative coalition in the assembly and served as Minister of Labour in the provincial cabinet. In 1927, he married Carrie Matilda Sweeten, who later served as mayor of North Vancouver; she died in 1977. Cates died at the age of 90.