Gordon Peter Campbell
Encyclopedia
Gordon Peter Campbell was a Canadian Senator, lawyer and businessman.
A lawyer by profession, he was senior partner at the Toronto firm of Campbell, Godfrey and Lewtas.
Campbell was a senior fundraiser for the Liberal Party of Canada
and managed the party's financial affairs during the 1940 federal election
.
In the 1930s he founded the Centurian Club, a non-partisan service organization with a mandate to interest young people in politics.
Campbell was born in Ridgetown, Ontario
. As a youth, he earned pocket money by working in the general store
and operating a dance hall
with friends that, on one occasion, featured a young Guy Lombardo
conducting the orchestra.
He graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School
in 1923 and became a junior partner in the Toronto firm of Arnoldi, Parry and Campbell. He initially focussed on litigation but later switched to corporate and taxation law.
He became particularly involved with maritime law and served as counsel to the Lake Shipping Association and the East Elevators Association. He was one of the first proponents of offshore radio
, and recommended that commercial radio stations be established off the coasts of Canada.
In the 1930s, he played a role in the drafting of the Canada Shipping Act of 1934, Canada's first attempt to regulate the shipping industry which had previously been regulated by laws inherited from Britain.
He was named King's Counsel in 1939.
Campbell was appointed to the Senate by William Lyon Mackenzie King
in 1943 and sat in the chamber as a Liberal until his death at the age of 65.
Later in his career, Campbell was vice-president of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
and Crown Trust and was president of several shipping firms. He was also a director of Argus Corporation.
He played a role in the development of Collingwood, Ontario
as a centre for skiing with his ownership of Blue Mountain Resorts Ltd.
A lawyer by profession, he was senior partner at the Toronto firm of Campbell, Godfrey and Lewtas.
Campbell was a senior fundraiser for the Liberal Party of Canada
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...
and managed the party's financial affairs during the 1940 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1940
The Canadian federal election of 1940 was the 19th general election in Canadian history. It was held March 26, 1940 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 19th Parliament of Canada...
.
In the 1930s he founded the Centurian Club, a non-partisan service organization with a mandate to interest young people in politics.
Campbell was born in Ridgetown, Ontario
Ridgetown, Ontario
Ridgetown is a community located in south-east Chatham-Kent, Ontario, Canada. It is home to the University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus. It has a population of roughly 3,500 and is one of many small farming communities in Chatham-Kent.-History:...
. As a youth, he earned pocket money by working in the general store
General store
A general store, general merchandise store, or village shop is a rural or small town store that carries a general line of merchandise. It carries a broad selection of merchandise, sometimes in a small space, where people from the town and surrounding rural areas come to purchase all their general...
and operating a dance hall
Dance hall
Dance hall in its general meaning is a hall for dancing. From the earliest years of the twentieth century until the early 1960s, the dance hall was the popular forerunner of the discothèque or nightclub...
with friends that, on one occasion, featured a young Guy Lombardo
Guy Lombardo
Gaetano Alberto "Guy" Lombardo was a Canadian-American bandleader and violinist.Forming "The Royal Canadians" in 1924 with his brothers Carmen, Lebert, and Victor and other musicians from his hometown, Lombardo led the group to international success, billing themselves as creating "The Sweetest...
conducting the orchestra.
He graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School is a Canadian law school, located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and affiliated with York University. Named after the first Chief Justice of Ontario, William Osgoode, the law school was established by The Law Society of Upper Canada in 1889 and was the only accredited law...
in 1923 and became a junior partner in the Toronto firm of Arnoldi, Parry and Campbell. He initially focussed on litigation but later switched to corporate and taxation law.
He became particularly involved with maritime law and served as counsel to the Lake Shipping Association and the East Elevators Association. He was one of the first proponents of offshore radio
Offshore radio
Offshore radio is radio broadcasting from ships or fixed maritime structures, usually in international waters. The claimed first wireless broadcast of music and speech for the purpose of entertainment was transmitted from a Royal Naval craft, the HMS Andromeda, in 1907...
, and recommended that commercial radio stations be established off the coasts of Canada.
In the 1930s, he played a role in the drafting of the Canada Shipping Act of 1934, Canada's first attempt to regulate the shipping industry which had previously been regulated by laws inherited from Britain.
He was named King's Counsel in 1939.
Campbell was appointed to the Senate by William Lyon Mackenzie King
William Lyon Mackenzie King
William Lyon Mackenzie King, PC, OM, CMG was the dominant Canadian political leader from the 1920s through the 1940s. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Canada from December 29, 1921 to June 28, 1926; from September 25, 1926 to August 7, 1930; and from October 23, 1935 to November 15, 1948...
in 1943 and sat in the chamber as a Liberal until his death at the age of 65.
Later in his career, Campbell was vice-president of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce is one of Canada's chartered banks, fifth largest by deposits. The bank is headquartered at Commerce Court in Toronto, Ontario. CIBC's Institution Number is 010, and its SWIFT code is CIBCCATT....
and Crown Trust and was president of several shipping firms. He was also a director of Argus Corporation.
He played a role in the development of Collingwood, Ontario
Collingwood, Ontario
Collingwood is a town in Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it is situated on Nottawasaga Bay at the southern point of Georgian Bay.-History:...
as a centre for skiing with his ownership of Blue Mountain Resorts Ltd.