Ron A. Searle
Encyclopedia
Ron Searle was the second mayor of Mississauga, Ontario
.
, England
on July 19, 1919 to Ruby and Alfred Searle. He was later joined by a sister, Barbara. His mother Ruby was a seamstress and his father Alfred was a seaman
with the White Star Line
and the Royal Navy
during World War I
. His parents were married in Edinburgh
, Scotland
while Alfred was on a short leave from patrols in the North Sea
.
, United States
. He moved his family to New York but succumbed shortly after contracting dengue fever
while on mercy missions in the tropics. Ron was just over three years of age at the time. Alfred's death bed wish was that the family re-locate to Toronto, Canada where the family had relatives.
, where he became friends with Ed Mirvish
and Wayne and Shuster
, among others. Ron admired many of his classmates and families who were new Canadians having moved to Canada
from various European homelands where the Nazi tyranny had caused them to flee for their lives. Ron's son, Mark, recalls his father often saying that his relationships with these school friends further added to his resolve to do his part against the Nazis. He joined the Toronto Scottish militia in the mid-thirties, which would eventually lead to his signing up with the Toronto Scottish Regiment immediately upon Canada declaring war against Nazi Germany
in September 1939. Ron landed twice in France, once at Brest and the last time in Normandy. He was wounded in Verrieres taking three machine gun bullets through his leg.
in 1965, for the riding of Peel
, finishing a distant second. He was mayor from 1976–1978, and remains active in local Conservative politics, being highly critical of Tim Peterson
's installation as the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
candidate in 2007 after crossing the floor, remarking that the process was "a violation of the democratic principles the Conservative Party has stood for over the years".
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....
.
Early life
He was born in SouthamptonSouthampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
, 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...
on July 19, 1919 to Ruby and Alfred Searle. He was later joined by a sister, Barbara. His mother Ruby was a seamstress and his father Alfred was a seaman
Seaman
Seaman is one of the lowest ranks in a Navy. In the Commonwealth it is the lowest rank in the Navy, followed by Able Seaman and Leading Seaman, and followed by the Petty Officer ranks....
with the White Star Line
White Star Line
The Oceanic Steam Navigation Company or White Star Line of Boston Packets, more commonly known as the White Star Line, was a prominent British shipping company, today most famous for its ill-fated vessel, the RMS Titanic, and the World War I loss of Titanics sister ship Britannic...
and the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. His parents were married in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
while Alfred was on a short leave from patrols in the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
.
Move to North America
After the war, Ron's father Alfred returned to the White Star Lines and was transferred to New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He moved his family to New York but succumbed shortly after contracting dengue fever
Dengue fever
Dengue fever , also known as breakbone fever, is an infectious tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash that is similar to measles...
while on mercy missions in the tropics. Ron was just over three years of age at the time. Alfred's death bed wish was that the family re-locate to Toronto, Canada where the family had relatives.
In Canada
Searle attended Harbord Collegiate InstituteHarbord Collegiate Institute
Harbord Collegiate Institute is a public secondary school located in downtown Toronto, Canada. Specifically, the school is located in the Palmerston-Little Italy/The Annex neighbourhood, situated on the north side of Harbord Street, between Euclid Ave. and Manning St...
, where he became friends with Ed Mirvish
Ed Mirvish
Edwin “Honest Ed” Mirvish, OC, CBE was a Canadian businessman, philanthropist and theatrical impresario who lived in Toronto, Ontario...
and Wayne and Shuster
Wayne and Shuster
Wayne and Shuster were a Canadian comedy duo formed by Johnny Wayne and Frank Shuster. They were active professionally from the early 1940s until the late 1980s....
, among others. Ron admired many of his classmates and families who were new Canadians having moved to Canada
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...
from various European homelands where the Nazi tyranny had caused them to flee for their lives. Ron's son, Mark, recalls his father often saying that his relationships with these school friends further added to his resolve to do his part against the Nazis. He joined the Toronto Scottish militia in the mid-thirties, which would eventually lead to his signing up with the Toronto Scottish Regiment immediately upon Canada declaring war against Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
in September 1939. Ron landed twice in France, once at Brest and the last time in Normandy. He was wounded in Verrieres taking three machine gun bullets through his leg.
Politics
He ran for the Progressive Conservative Party of CanadaProgressive 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....
in 1965, for the riding of Peel
Peel
Peel or Peeling can refer to:* Peel , rind or skin-Places:* Peel Park * Peel Street Australia* Peel * Peel River * Peel Island, QueenslandCanada* Peel, New Brunswick...
, finishing a distant second. He was mayor from 1976–1978, and remains active in local Conservative politics, being highly critical of Tim Peterson
Tim Peterson
Tim Peterson is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, representing the Greater Toronto Area riding of Mississauga South...
's installation as the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario , is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. The party was known for many years as "Ontario's natural governing party." It has ruled the province for 80 of the years since Confederation, including an uninterrupted run from 1943 to 1985...
candidate in 2007 after crossing the floor, remarking that the process was "a violation of the democratic principles the Conservative Party has stood for over the years".