John Joseph Kee Pearson
Encyclopedia
John Joseph Kee Pearson was born on October 3, 1901 in Clarlougheske, (Irontown), Town of Donegal
, Donegal, Ireland
, and died February 8, 1974 in Grimsby, Ontario
.
He emigrated from the farm district of Donegal
to the industrial regions of southern Ontario in 1921. He married Mary Elizabeth White around 1922. She was born March 15, 1897 in Belfast, Ireland, and died October 15, 1993. They were married in Toronto
, ON in a ceremony that was kept secret because he was, like many Irish immigrants, applying for a position on the Toronto police force, and they only hired single men. Vision problems kept him off the force, and they re-settled in Hamilton, Ontario
, where he went to work in the locomotive round house at the Steel Company of Canada, Hilton Works.
Bothered by the abuse of immigrant workers, he became active in the secret movement to bring the trade union to Stelco, and was appointed to the first Works Council which was the company’s attempt at co-opting the labour movement.
When World War II
started, he was too old for active duty, but lied about his age to join the Royal Canadian Navy. He sailed in the North Atlantic Convoy on the HMCS Wentworth, and the HMCS Port Hope
. Eventually, he became an Engine Room Artificer. After WWII, he returned to Stelco, and with his leadership training in the RCN, he was promoted to management in the locomotive round house.
This ended his involvement in the trade union, but his sympathies remained with the immigrant worker, and he became a charter member of the Stelco Credit Union in an effort to give the workers an alternative to the big banks.
Donegal
Donegal or Donegal Town is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. Its name, which was historically written in English as Dunnagall or Dunagall, translates from Irish as "stronghold of the foreigners" ....
, Donegal, 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...
, and died February 8, 1974 in Grimsby, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
He emigrated from the farm district of Donegal
Donegal
Donegal or Donegal Town is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. Its name, which was historically written in English as Dunnagall or Dunagall, translates from Irish as "stronghold of the foreigners" ....
to the industrial regions of southern Ontario in 1921. He married Mary Elizabeth White around 1922. She was born March 15, 1897 in Belfast, Ireland, and died October 15, 1993. They were married in 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...
, ON in a ceremony that was kept secret because he was, like many Irish immigrants, applying for a position on the Toronto police force, and they only hired single men. Vision problems kept him off the force, and they re-settled in Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
, where he went to work in the locomotive round house at the Steel Company of Canada, Hilton Works.
Bothered by the abuse of immigrant workers, he became active in the secret movement to bring the trade union to Stelco, and was appointed to the first Works Council which was the company’s attempt at co-opting the labour movement.
When 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...
started, he was too old for active duty, but lied about his age to join the Royal Canadian Navy. He sailed in the North Atlantic Convoy on the HMCS Wentworth, and the HMCS Port Hope
Port Hope
Port Hope mar refer to:*Port Hope, Michigan, U.S.*Port Hope, Ontario, Canada**Port Hope Aerodrome**Port Hope Conference**Port Hope Panthers**Port Hope railway station**Port Hope Transit...
. Eventually, he became an Engine Room Artificer. After WWII, he returned to Stelco, and with his leadership training in the RCN, he was promoted to management in the locomotive round house.
This ended his involvement in the trade union, but his sympathies remained with the immigrant worker, and he became a charter member of the Stelco Credit Union in an effort to give the workers an alternative to the big banks.