John Richardson (politician)
Encyclopedia
BGen
John Alexander "Jack" Richardson (1 December 1932 – 2 June 2010) was a member of the Canadian House of Commons
from 1993 to 2002. His career was in education
and defence
. During his term with the Canadian Forces
, he attained the rank of Brigadier General
.
He graduated from the University of Ottawa
with a Bachelor of Commerce, then from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
with a Masters of Education. He served with the Canadian Forces
from 1952, including a tour of duty in Germany. He eventually reached the rank of Brigadier General as a reservist. In 1961, he joined Norwood Secondary School where he was a teacher and vice-principal and served at other schools, finally reaching Stratford, Ontario
where he became superintendent of instruction.
After his retirement from education, Richardson was elected in the 1993 federal election
at the Perth—Wellington—Waterloo
electoral district
for the Liberal party
. After riding restructuring, he was re-elected at the Perth—Middlesex
electoral district in the 1997
and 2000 federal election
s. In all, Richardson served in the 35th
and 36th Canadian Parliament
s but abruptly resigned 11 October 2002 before completing his term in the 37th Canadian Parliament
.
The reasons for his resignation were initially declared to be "personal", but later reports indicated Richardson had been ill for some time. A subsequent by-election loss of Richardson's riding to Progressive Conservative
candidate Gary Schellenberger
was blamed by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien
on Richardson's reluctance to leave Canadian politics when his health began deteriorating.
Richardson died in his birth city of Peterborough, Ontario
on 2 June 2010 after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
John Alexander "Jack" Richardson (1 December 1932 – 2 June 2010) was a 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...
from 1993 to 2002. His career was in education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
and defence
Defense (military)
Defense has several uses in the sphere of military application.Personal defense implies measures taken by individual soldiers in protecting themselves whether by use of protective materials such as armor, or field construction of trenches or a bunker, or by using weapons that prevent the enemy...
. During his term with the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
, he attained the rank of Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
.
He graduated from the University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
with a Bachelor of Commerce, then from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
The Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto is a teachers' college in Toronto, Ontario.-History:OISE/UT traces its origins to the founding of the Provincial Normal School in 1847...
with a Masters of Education. He served with the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
from 1952, including a tour of duty in Germany. He eventually reached the rank of Brigadier General as a reservist. In 1961, he joined Norwood Secondary School where he was a teacher and vice-principal and served at other schools, finally reaching Stratford, Ontario
Stratford, Ontario
Stratford is a city on the Avon River in Perth County in southwestern Ontario, Canada with a population of 32,000.When the area was first settled by Europeans in 1832, the townsite and the river were named after Stratford-upon-Avon, England. It is the seat of Perth County. Stratford was...
where he became superintendent of instruction.
After his retirement from education, Richardson was elected in the 1993 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1993
The Canadian federal election of 1993 was held on October 25 of that year to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 35th Parliament of Canada. Fourteen parties competed for the 295 seats in the House at that time...
at the Perth—Wellington—Waterloo
Perth—Wellington—Waterloo
Perth—Wellington—Waterloo was a federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1988 to 1997. It was located in the province of Ontario...
electoral district
Electoral district
An electoral district is a distinct territorial subdivision for holding a separate election for one or more seats in a legislative body...
for the Liberal party
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...
. After riding restructuring, he was re-elected at the Perth—Middlesex
Perth—Middlesex
Perth—Middlesex was an electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1997 to 2003 and in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1999 to 2007....
electoral district in the 1997
Canadian federal election, 1997
The Canadian federal election of 1997 was held on June 2, 1997, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 36th Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's Liberal Party of Canada won a second majority government...
and 2000 federal election
Canadian federal election, 2000
The 2000 Canadian federal election was held on November 27, 2000, to elect 301 Members of Parliament of the Canadian House of Commons of the 37th Parliament of Canada....
s. In all, Richardson served 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...
and 36th Canadian Parliament
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...
s but abruptly resigned 11 October 2002 before completing his term in the 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...
.
The reasons for his resignation were initially declared to be "personal", but later reports indicated Richardson had been ill for some time. A subsequent by-election loss of Richardson's riding to Progressive Conservative
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....
candidate Gary Schellenberger
Gary Schellenberger
Gary Ralph Schellenberger is a Canadian politician. He is a current member of the Canadian House of Commons, representing the riding of Perth—Wellington for the Conservative Party....
was blamed by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien
Jean Chrétien
Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien , known commonly as Jean Chrétien is a former Canadian politician who was the 20th Prime Minister of Canada. He served in the position for over ten years, from November 4, 1993 to December 12, 2003....
on Richardson's reluctance to leave Canadian politics when his health began deteriorating.
Richardson died in his birth city of Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough is a city on the Otonabee River in southern Ontario, Canada, 125 kilometres northeast of Toronto. The population of the City of Peterborough was 74,898 as of the 2006 census, while the census metropolitan area has a population of 121,428 as of a 2009 estimate. It presently ranks...
on 2 June 2010 after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
External links
- CBC Canada Votes 2006: Perth-Wellington, accessed 29 July 2006