Patrick Flynn (Canadian politician)
Encyclopedia
Patrick Joseph Flynn (September 8, 1921 – June 9, 1996) was an Irish
-born Canadian politician. He served as a Liberal
Member of Parliament
representing Kitchener, Ontario
from 1974 until 1979. His younger brother Dennis Flynn
was also active in Canadian politics.
Flynn was born Patrick Joseph "Joe" O'Flynn in Rathcormac, County Cork
, Ireland
on September 8, 1921. He and Dennis, along with their parents, John Joseph O'Flynn and Molly O'Flynn (née Mary Cahill) immigrated to Canada in 1925 on board the CP Ship Melita. Evidently the family dropped the "O'", and became known simply as Flynn.
First arriving in Quebec City
, they travelled by train to Toronto
where they settled. He served as a Chief Petty Officer
on the HMCS Halifax during the World War II
.
Joe and Dennis had three siblings, all born in Toronto:
On March 18, 1944 he married Norma Jean (Betty) Brown, at St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church in Toronto. Upon his discharge from the RCN in 1945, Mr. Flynn accepted a position within the radiology department of St. Joseph's Hospital in Toronto. In 1948 accepted a new position at K-W Hospital in Kitchener, Ontario. Mr. Flynn left the hospital to pursue a career in sales and successfully represented companies such as Merrel, Alberta Distillers and Hiram Walker. In the late 1960s, Mr. Flynn was elected to the Kitchener Separate School Board and later went on to become Chair of the Waterloo County Catholic School Board.
Joe and Betty Flynn had nine children, three of which were born in Toronto (Pat, Michael & Maureen) and the remainder were born in Kitchener (K.C., Larry, Mary Geraldine, Terry, Cathy & Sean). Tragically two of their children died at very young ages (Mary Geraldine 1958-1958 and Cathaleen Mavourneen 1963-1969). They resided in the "North Ward" area of Kitchener from 1948-1979. During his early days in Kitchener, Joe was an active member of the local Catholic community in Kitchener and was instrumental in the founding and building of St. Teresa Catholic Church.
In early 1974 he won the nomination of the Kitchener Center Liberal Party to run as their candidate for Member of Parliament in the July 8th general election. He soundly defeated Progressive Conservative candidate, Mr. Barney Lawrence by more than 5,000 votes. During his term in the House of Commons, Mr. Flynn went onto to serve on a number of House committees rising to Chair the Veterans Affairs Committee. In September 1978 he suffered a near-fatal aortic aneurysm while a patient in the National Defence Medical Centre in Ottawa. In May 1979 Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau recommended to the Governor General Ed Schreyer that he be appointed to the Canadian Pension Commission for a 10-year period. Due to health reasons, Mr. Flynn retired from the Commission in 1983 and returned to Kitchener for his retirement.
Joe and Betty Flynn resided in the Doon area of Kitchener from 1983 until his death in 1996. He is survived by his wife Betty (1922 - present) and his seven children.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
-born Canadian politician. He served as a Liberal
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...
Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
representing Kitchener, Ontario
Kitchener, Ontario
The City of Kitchener is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It was the Town of Berlin from 1854 until 1912 and the City of Berlin from 1912 until 1916. The city had a population of 204,668 in the Canada 2006 Census...
from 1974 until 1979. His younger brother Dennis Flynn
Dennis Flynn
Christopher Dennis Flynn O.Ont, was Chairman of Metropolitan Toronto from 1984 to 1988. Flynn rarely used his first name and was commonly known as Dennis Flynn.-Background:...
was also active in Canadian politics.
Flynn was born Patrick Joseph "Joe" O'Flynn in Rathcormac, County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
on September 8, 1921. He and Dennis, along with their parents, John Joseph O'Flynn and Molly O'Flynn (née Mary Cahill) immigrated to Canada in 1925 on board the CP Ship Melita. Evidently the family dropped the "O'", and became known simply as Flynn.
First arriving in Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
, they travelled by train to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
where they settled. He served as a Chief Petty Officer
Chief Petty Officer
A chief petty officer is a senior non-commissioned officer in many navies and coast guards.-Canada:"Chief Petty Officer" refers to two ranks in the Canadian Navy...
on the HMCS Halifax during the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Joe and Dennis had three siblings, all born in Toronto:
- Eileen Natale - whose husband (now deceased) started Tuxedo Junction in Toronto and then Eugene Natale, Men's Clothier, which was managed by Eileen.
- Mary Ross - who worked for the municipal government of the City of Toronto; her husband, Ron (deceased), was a high school teacher.
- John Joseph Flynn Jr. - John married Joselyn Leise, an elementary school teacher, and John is a Senior Teaching Fellow with the Canada School of Public Service (for the Canadian government).
On March 18, 1944 he married Norma Jean (Betty) Brown, at St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church in Toronto. Upon his discharge from the RCN in 1945, Mr. Flynn accepted a position within the radiology department of St. Joseph's Hospital in Toronto. In 1948 accepted a new position at K-W Hospital in Kitchener, Ontario. Mr. Flynn left the hospital to pursue a career in sales and successfully represented companies such as Merrel, Alberta Distillers and Hiram Walker. In the late 1960s, Mr. Flynn was elected to the Kitchener Separate School Board and later went on to become Chair of the Waterloo County Catholic School Board.
Joe and Betty Flynn had nine children, three of which were born in Toronto (Pat, Michael & Maureen) and the remainder were born in Kitchener (K.C., Larry, Mary Geraldine, Terry, Cathy & Sean). Tragically two of their children died at very young ages (Mary Geraldine 1958-1958 and Cathaleen Mavourneen 1963-1969). They resided in the "North Ward" area of Kitchener from 1948-1979. During his early days in Kitchener, Joe was an active member of the local Catholic community in Kitchener and was instrumental in the founding and building of St. Teresa Catholic Church.
In early 1974 he won the nomination of the Kitchener Center Liberal Party to run as their candidate for Member of Parliament in the July 8th general election. He soundly defeated Progressive Conservative candidate, Mr. Barney Lawrence by more than 5,000 votes. During his term in the House of Commons, Mr. Flynn went onto to serve on a number of House committees rising to Chair the Veterans Affairs Committee. In September 1978 he suffered a near-fatal aortic aneurysm while a patient in the National Defence Medical Centre in Ottawa. In May 1979 Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau recommended to the Governor General Ed Schreyer that he be appointed to the Canadian Pension Commission for a 10-year period. Due to health reasons, Mr. Flynn retired from the Commission in 1983 and returned to Kitchener for his retirement.
Joe and Betty Flynn resided in the Doon area of Kitchener from 1983 until his death in 1996. He is survived by his wife Betty (1922 - present) and his seven children.