Alfred Wallace Downer
Encyclopedia
Alfred Wallace Downer (May 1, 1904 — August, 1994) was a Canadian
politician and long time member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
A vicar and then a canon in the Anglican Church of Canada
, and a member of the Conservative Party, Downer was first elected to the legislature as the member for Dufferin-Simcoe in the 1937 election
. He served as Member of Provincial Parliament until 1975, winning a provincial record of ten consecutive elections.
While an elected MPP, he also served in the military during World War II
, serving as chaplain of the Queen's York Rangers in North Africa and Europe. From 1955 until 1959, he served as Speaker
of the legislative assembly. He also served as a liquor control commissioner beginning in 1960.
Downer was a candidate in the 1961 PC leadership convention
, but was eliminated on the third ballot.
Downer had expected to run in the 1975 election
and had expected to win his party's nomination by acclamation but was upset by another candidate, George McCague, at the Progressive Conservative nomination meeting.
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 and long time member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
A vicar and then a canon in the Anglican Church of Canada
Anglican Church of Canada
The Anglican Church of Canada is the Province of the Anglican Communion in Canada. The official French name is l'Église Anglicane du Canada. The ACC is the third largest church in Canada after the Roman Catholic Church and the United Church of Canada, consisting of 800,000 registered members...
, and a member of the Conservative Party, Downer was first elected to the legislature as the member for Dufferin-Simcoe in the 1937 election
Ontario general election, 1937
The Ontario general election, 1937 was held on October 6, 1937, to elect the 90 Members of the 20th Legislative Assembly of Ontario . It was the 20th general election held in the Province of Ontario, Canada....
. He served as Member of Provincial Parliament until 1975, winning a provincial record of ten consecutive elections.
While an elected MPP, he also served in the military 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...
, serving as chaplain of the Queen's York Rangers in North Africa and Europe. From 1955 until 1959, he served as Speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of the legislative assembly. He also served as a liquor control commissioner beginning in 1960.
Downer was a candidate in the 1961 PC leadership convention
Ontario Progressive Conservative leadership conventions
This page lists the results of leadership elections within the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario .Before 1920, leaders of the Conservative Party were usually chosen by caucus...
, but was eliminated on the third ballot.
Downer had expected to run in the 1975 election
Ontario general election, 1975
The Ontario general election of 1975 was held on September 18, 1975, to elect the 125 members of the 30th Legislative Assembly of Ontario of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
and had expected to win his party's nomination by acclamation but was upset by another candidate, George McCague, at the Progressive Conservative nomination meeting.