Walter Dinsdale
Encyclopedia
Walter Gilbert Dinsdale, PC
, DFC
(April 3, 1916 - November 20, 1982) was a Canadian
politician.
Born in Brandon, Manitoba
, he graduated from Brandon College and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1937 from McMaster University
. He received a Master of Arts degree from the University of Toronto
in 1951.
Dinsdale was a Progressive Conservative
Member of Parliament
(MP) from 1951 until his death in 1982. During his tenure in the Canadian House of Commons
, he represented the electoral riding of Brandon
for one year in 1951 until it was merged with the electoral riding of Souris
, and represented the merged riding of Brandon—Souris
from 1952 until his death in 1982.
During his period as MP, he was the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Veterans Affairs in 1957 and, Parliamentary Secretary
to the same minister in 1960. He then joined the Cabinet of John Diefenbaker
as Minister of Northern Affairs and National Resources from 1960 to 1963. He was also Acting Minister of Mines and Technical Surveys
for a few months in 1961.
Prior to entering politics, Dinsdale was a social worker with the Salvation Army
and, from 1946 to 1951, the Director of Adult Education and Assistant Professor of Social Services at Brandon College. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
during World War II
for his service as a de Havilland Mosquito
night-fighter pilot with the Royal Canadian Air Force
.
He died from kidney failure in 1982 after suffering a stroke
about two months before his death. He was married to Lenore and had five children: Gunnar, Gregory, Elizabeth, Eric and Rolf.
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,...
, DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
(April 3, 1916 - November 20, 1982) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician.
Born in Brandon, Manitoba
Brandon, Manitoba
Brandon is the second largest city in Manitoba, Canada, and is located in the southwestern area of the province. Brandon is the largest city in the Westman region of Manitoba. The city is located along the Assiniboine River. Spruce Woods Provincial Park and CFB Shilo are a relatively short distance...
, he graduated from Brandon College and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1937 from McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
. He received a Master of Arts degree from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
in 1951.
Dinsdale was a 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....
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,...
(MP) from 1951 until his death in 1982. During his tenure in 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...
, he represented the electoral riding of Brandon
Brandon (electoral district)
Brandon was a federal electoral district in the province of Manitoba, Canada, that was represented in the House of Commons from 1896 to 1953.It was created in 1892 from parts of Marquette and Selkirk ridings....
for one year in 1951 until it was merged with the electoral riding of Souris
Souris (electoral district)
Souris was a federal electoral district in the province of Manitoba, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1904 to 1953.This riding was created in 1903 from parts of Brandon and Lisgar ridings....
, and represented the merged riding of Brandon—Souris
Brandon—Souris
Brandon—Souris is a federal electoral district in Manitoba, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1953.-Demographics:-Geography:The district is in the southwestern corner of the Province of Manitoba...
from 1952 until his death in 1982.
During his period as MP, he was the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Veterans Affairs in 1957 and, Parliamentary Secretary
Parliamentary Secretary
A Parliamentary Secretary is a member of a Parliament in the Westminster system who assists a more senior minister with his or her duties.In the parliamentary systems of several Commonwealth countries, such as the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, it is customary for the prime minister to...
to the same minister in 1960. He then joined the Cabinet of John Diefenbaker
John Diefenbaker
John George Diefenbaker, PC, CH, QC was the 13th Prime Minister of Canada, serving from June 21, 1957, to April 22, 1963...
as Minister of Northern Affairs and National Resources from 1960 to 1963. He was also Acting Minister of Mines and Technical Surveys
Minister of Mines and Technical Surveys
The Minister of Mines and Technical Surveys was a position in the Canadian Cabinet from 1950 to 1966.The former offices of Minister of Mines and Resources and Minister of Reconstruction and Supply were abolished by Statute 13 Geo. VI, c...
for a few months in 1961.
Prior to entering politics, Dinsdale was a social worker with the Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
and, from 1946 to 1951, the Director of Adult Education and Assistant Professor of Social Services at Brandon College. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
during 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...
for his service as a de Havilland Mosquito
De Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
night-fighter pilot with the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
.
He died from kidney failure in 1982 after suffering a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
about two months before his death. He was married to Lenore and had five children: Gunnar, Gregory, Elizabeth, Eric and Rolf.