Helen Cooper (Canadian politician)
Encyclopedia
Helen Cooper is a Canadian
politician and administrator. She served as mayor
of Kingston, Ontario
from 1988 to 1993, and was chair of the Ontario Municipal Board from 1993 to 1996.
, and moved to Kingston with her family as a child. She graduated from Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute
, received a Bachelor of Science
degree from Queen's University
in 1968, and worked overseas for a few years in development programs. She met her husband when working as a teacher in northern Tanzania
. In 1973, she received a Master of Science
degree from the London School of Economics
in England
. Cooper returned to Kingston after her graduation, and worked part-time as a teacher at Queen's and St. Lawrence College
.
as an alderman
for the Sydenham Ward in 1980, and was re-elected in 1982 and 1985. In 1985, she became the first member of council to vote in favour of a Gay Pride Day for the city. There was a strong reaction against this decision, and she reversed her position after what the Kingston Whig-Standard
described as "many vicious hate calls". When Cooper first campaigned for mayor in 1988, she pledged not to proclaim a Gay Pride Day if elected. She later regretted this decision, and again supported a Gay Pride proclamation when running for re-election in 1991.
As mayor, Cooper initiated a Community Economic Advisory Committee which helped establish a civic airport building and a Technology Transfer Centre for Queen's University. She was the only mayoral candidate to support a city takeover of the Kingston Public Utilities Commission in 1991, and despite her personal victory was unable to convince Kingston voters to accept the measure in a referendum. She later presided over a property tax re-assessment in 1992, which resulted in significant increases for some residents. With one year remaining in her second term, she resigned in 1993 to accept a three-year appointment as chair of the Ontario Municipal Board.
nomination in the riding of Kingston and the Islands
. She had not previously been a member of the party, but was persuaded to run by national leader Jean Charest
. The other nomination candidates regarded her with suspicion: Doug Haunts described her as "socialist-oriented" and a possible New Democratic Party
plant, while Blair MacLean
referred to her as an opportunist with no roots in the party. Despite these criticisms, she won the nomination with 230 votes, against 132 for MacLean and 89 for Haunts.
Although considered a star candidate, she finished a distant second against Liberal
incumbent Peter Milliken
in the 1997 federal election
. After the election, some observers argued that voters had difficulty associating her with a right-of-centre party, and speculated that this hurt her chances of election. Alan Whitehorn, professor at Royal Military College
, said "I would describe her philosophically as a left-liberal. She's certainly no neo-conservative". Milliken himself argued that Cooper "should have run as a Liberal" under ideal circumstances.
Cooper remained active in the Progressive Conservative Party after her defeat, and supported Hugh Segal
's bid for the leadership in 1998. In 2000, she spoke at a gravesite ceremony honouring the legacy of John A. Macdonald
, Canada's first prime minister
and a longtime Kingston resident. In 2002, she was appointed to the Nuclear Waste Management Organization's (NWMO) Advisory Council.
.
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 administrator. She served as mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
from 1988 to 1993, and was chair of the Ontario Municipal Board from 1993 to 1996.
Early life and education
Cooper was born in AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and moved to Kingston with her family as a child. She graduated from Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute
Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute
Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute is a secondary school in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1792 by Reverend John Stuart based upon a grant for secondary education in the colony of Upper Canada, it moved to its present location in 1892. It is considered the oldest public secondary...
, received a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree from Queen's University
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
in 1968, and worked overseas for a few years in development programs. She met her husband when working as a teacher in northern Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
. In 1973, she received a Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
degree from the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Cooper returned to Kingston after her graduation, and worked part-time as a teacher at Queen's and St. Lawrence College
St. Lawrence College
St. Lawrence College is the name of more than one educational institution:* St. Lawrence College, Ontario, in Kingston, Ontario, with satellite campuses in Cornwall and Brockville, Ontario, Canada...
.
Local councillor
She was elected to Kingston City CouncilKingston City Council
For the city council in Victoria, Australia, see City of Kingston.Kingston City Council is the governing body for the City of Kingston, Ontario.The council consist of the Mayor of Kingtson and 12 city councillors.-Members 2006-2010 :...
as an alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
for the Sydenham Ward in 1980, and was re-elected in 1982 and 1985. In 1985, she became the first member of council to vote in favour of a Gay Pride Day for the city. There was a strong reaction against this decision, and she reversed her position after what the Kingston Whig-Standard
Kingston Whig-Standard
The Kingston Whig-Standard is a newspaper in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. It is published daily, except on Sunday. It publishes a mix of community, national and international news and is owned by Sun Media...
described as "many vicious hate calls". When Cooper first campaigned for mayor in 1988, she pledged not to proclaim a Gay Pride Day if elected. She later regretted this decision, and again supported a Gay Pride proclamation when running for re-election in 1991.
Mayor
Cooper was first elected as mayor in 1988, defeating rival candidate Joe Hawkins by over 3,000 votes. She became the first female mayor of Kingston. She was re-elected over Hawkins by a greater margin in 1991, and served as president of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario in 1991-92.As mayor, Cooper initiated a Community Economic Advisory Committee which helped establish a civic airport building and a Technology Transfer Centre for Queen's University. She was the only mayoral candidate to support a city takeover of the Kingston Public Utilities Commission in 1991, and despite her personal victory was unable to convince Kingston voters to accept the measure in a referendum. She later presided over a property tax re-assessment in 1992, which resulted in significant increases for some residents. With one year remaining in her second term, she resigned in 1993 to accept a three-year appointment as chair of the Ontario Municipal Board.
Federal politics
Cooper returned to political life in early 1997, when she campaigned for the federal Progressive ConservativeProgressive 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....
nomination in the riding of Kingston and the Islands
Kingston and the Islands
Kingston and the Islands is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1968....
. She had not previously been a member of the party, but was persuaded to run by national leader Jean Charest
Jean Charest
John James "Jean" Charest, PC, MNA is a Canadian politician who has been the 29th Premier of Quebec since 2003. He was leader of the federal Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1993 to 1998 and has been leader of the Quebec Liberal Party since 1998....
. The other nomination candidates regarded her with suspicion: Doug Haunts described her as "socialist-oriented" and a possible New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
plant, while Blair MacLean
Blair MacLean
Blair MacLean is a Canadian politician. He has campaigned for the Canadian House of Commons on two occasions, for the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada and the Conservative Party of Canada.-Early life:...
referred to her as an opportunist with no roots in the party. Despite these criticisms, she won the nomination with 230 votes, against 132 for MacLean and 89 for Haunts.
Although considered a star candidate, she finished a distant second against 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...
incumbent Peter Milliken
Peter Milliken
Peter Andrew Stewart Milliken, UE is a Canadian lawyer and politician. He was a member of the Canadian House of Commons from 1988 until his retirement in 2011 and served as Speaker of the House for 10 years beginning in 2001. Milliken represented the Ontario riding of Kingston and the Islands as a...
in the 1997 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1997
The Canadian federal election of 1997 was held on June 2, 1997, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 36th Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's Liberal Party of Canada won a second majority government...
. After the election, some observers argued that voters had difficulty associating her with a right-of-centre party, and speculated that this hurt her chances of election. Alan Whitehorn, professor at Royal Military College
Royal Military College
The Royal Military College can refer to:* Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario, Canada* Royal Military College Saint-Jean in Saint-Jean, Quebec, Canada* Royal Military College, Duntroon in Campbell, Australian Capital Territory, Australia...
, said "I would describe her philosophically as a left-liberal. She's certainly no neo-conservative". Milliken himself argued that Cooper "should have run as a Liberal" under ideal circumstances.
Cooper remained active in the Progressive Conservative Party after her defeat, and supported Hugh Segal
Hugh Segal
Hugh Segal, CM is a Canadian senator, political strategist, author, and commentator. Segal is credited with helping Stephen Harper become Prime Minister by moderating his image.-Life and career:...
's bid for the leadership in 1998. In 2000, she spoke at a gravesite ceremony honouring the legacy of John A. Macdonald
John A. Macdonald
Sir John Alexander Macdonald, GCB, KCMG, PC, PC , QC was the first Prime Minister of Canada. The dominant figure of Canadian Confederation, his political career spanned almost half a century...
, Canada's first 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...
and a longtime Kingston resident. In 2002, she was appointed to the Nuclear Waste Management Organization's (NWMO) Advisory Council.
Current position
, Cooper is employed with the Minister of Community and Social ServicesMinistry of Community and Social Services (Ontario)
The Ministry of Community and Social Services in the Canadian province of Ontario is responsible for social services such as welfare, and disability insurance and community service programs around issues such as homelessness, domestic violence, spousal support, adoption, and assisted housing for...
.