Michael Pitfield
Encyclopedia
Peter Michael Pitfield, PC
, CVO
(born June 18, 1937) is a former Canadian Senator
and senior civil servant.
He is the youngest son of the late Canadian financier Ward C. Pitfield and the late Grace MacDougall Pitfield. His brother, Ward C. Pitfield, Jr.
, was Chairman of the family Investment Banking firm, Pitfield, MacKay, Ross, which later became Dominion Securities
, now the Investment arm of the Royal Bank of Canada
. His nephew, Ward Elcock is the former director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service
and former Deputy Minister at the Department of National Defence (Canada)
.
Born in Montreal
, Quebec
, Pitfield graduated from St. Lawrence University
in Canton, New York
at the age of 16. His SLU degree, in science, was followed by a degree in law
from McGill University
. He went to Ottawa
to join the civil service in 1959 where he worked as an administrative assistant to Justice Minister
E. Davie Fulton.
He subsequently obtained a postgraduate degree in public law, and held various positions in the civil service. In 1966 he became assistant secretary to the Privy council and in 1969 secretary of the Division of planification. He became Clerk of the Privy Council of Canada and Secretary to the Cabinet under Prime Minister
Pierre Trudeau
from 1975 to 1979, and again from 1980 to 1982. Because of his close association with Trudeau, he was replaced during the ministry of Joe Clark
, but returned following the 1980 election
that returned Trudeau to power.
As head of the public service, Pitfield played a senior role in the government's successful efforts to patriate the Canadian Constitution. In recognition of his service, he was appointed to the Canadian Senate at Trudeau's recommendation on December 22, 1982. Although he had been perceived to be close to the Liberal Party
, he took his seat in the Senate as an Independent. He also served from the mid 1980s until 2002 as vice chairman of Power Corporation, and is now Director Emeritus of the company.
His two decades of service to the University of Ottawa
Heart Institute Foundation were recognized by the establishment of the Michael Pitfield Chair in Cardiac Surgery at the Institute. In recent years, Pitfield has suffered from Parkinson's disease
and has worked to raise awareness of the condition.
Pitfield resigned from the Senate on June 1, 2010.
He is the father of three children (Caroline, Thomas and Kate, who remain close friends with the younger Trudeaus) and was predeceased by his wife Nancy in 1999. He has lived in Westmount, Quebec
for many years.
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
, CVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(born June 18, 1937) is a former Canadian Senator
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
and senior civil servant.
He is the youngest son of the late Canadian financier Ward C. Pitfield and the late Grace MacDougall Pitfield. His brother, Ward C. Pitfield, Jr.
Ward C. Pitfield, Jr.
Ward Chipman Pitfield, Jr. is a retired Canadian financier and Thoroughbred racehorse owner. He is the son of Canadian financier Ward C. Pitfield, a co-founder of the stock brokerage firm, Pitfield, MacKay, Ross....
, was Chairman of the family Investment Banking firm, Pitfield, MacKay, Ross, which later became Dominion Securities
RBC Dominion Securities
RBC Dominion Securities is the brand used by Royal Bank of Canada for full service brokerage services primarily in Canada. It forms part of RBC's Wealth Management division. Established in Toronto in 1901, it originally focused on government and municipal but diversified into war bonds during...
, now the Investment arm of the Royal Bank of Canada
Royal Bank of Canada
The Royal Bank of Canada or RBC Financial Group is the largest financial institution in Canada, as measured by deposits, revenues, and market capitalization. The bank serves seventeen million clients and has 80,100 employees worldwide. The company corporate headquarters are located in Toronto,...
. His nephew, Ward Elcock is the former director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service
Canadian Security Intelligence Service
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service is Canada's national intelligence service. It is responsible for collecting, analyzing, reporting and disseminating intelligence on threats to Canada's national security, and conducting operations, covert and overt, within Canada and abroad.Its...
and former Deputy Minister at the Department of National Defence (Canada)
Department of National Defence (Canada)
The Department of National Defence , frequently referred to by its acronym DND, is the department within the government of Canada with responsibility for all matters concerning the defence of Canada...
.
Born in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Pitfield graduated from St. Lawrence University
St. Lawrence University
St. Lawrence University is a four-year liberal arts college located in the village of Canton in Saint Lawrence County, New York, United States. It has roughly 2300 undergraduate and 100 graduate students, about equally split between male and female....
in Canton, New York
Canton (village), New York
Canton is a village in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The village is centrally located in both the town of Canton and the county of St. Lawrence. The population was 5,882 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of St. Lawrence County...
at the age of 16. His SLU degree, in science, was followed by a degree in law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
from McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
. He went to Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
to join the civil service in 1959 where he worked as an administrative assistant to Justice Minister
Minister of Justice (Canada)
The Minister of Justice is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for the Department of Justice and is also Attorney General of Canada .This cabinet position is usually reserved for someone with formal legal training...
E. Davie Fulton.
He subsequently obtained a postgraduate degree in public law, and held various positions in the civil service. In 1966 he became assistant secretary to the Privy council and in 1969 secretary of the Division of planification. He became Clerk of the Privy Council of Canada and Secretary to the Cabinet under Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
Pierre Trudeau
Pierre Trudeau
Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, , usually known as Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 4, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984.Trudeau began his political career campaigning for socialist ideals,...
from 1975 to 1979, and again from 1980 to 1982. Because of his close association with Trudeau, he was replaced during the ministry of Joe Clark
Joe Clark
Charles Joseph "Joe" Clark, is a Canadian statesman, businessman, and university professor, and former journalist and politician...
, but returned following the 1980 election
Canadian federal election, 1980
The Canadian federal election of 1980 was held on February 18, 1980 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 32nd Parliament of Canada...
that returned Trudeau to power.
As head of the public service, Pitfield played a senior role in the government's successful efforts to patriate the Canadian Constitution. In recognition of his service, he was appointed to the Canadian Senate at Trudeau's recommendation on December 22, 1982. Although he had been perceived to be close to 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...
, he took his seat in the Senate as an Independent. He also served from the mid 1980s until 2002 as vice chairman of Power Corporation, and is now Director Emeritus of the company.
His two decades of service to 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...
Heart Institute Foundation were recognized by the establishment of the Michael Pitfield Chair in Cardiac Surgery at the Institute. In recent years, Pitfield has suffered from Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
and has worked to raise awareness of the condition.
Pitfield resigned from the Senate on June 1, 2010.
He is the father of three children (Caroline, Thomas and Kate, who remain close friends with the younger Trudeaus) and was predeceased by his wife Nancy in 1999. He has lived in Westmount, Quebec
Westmount, Quebec
Westmount is a city on the Island of Montreal, an enclave of the city of Montreal, in southwestern Quebec, Canada; pop. 20,494; area 4.02 km²; population density of 5,092.56 inhabitants/km²....
for many years.