Bill Estabrooks Explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Honourable
Bill Estabrooks
Birth Date:26 July 1947
Birth Place:Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada
Death Place:Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Residence:Upper Tantallon, Nova Scotia
Constituency Am:Timberlea-Prospect
Assembly:Nova Scotia House of
Term Start:March 24, 1998
Term End:October 8, 2013
Predecessor:Bruce Holland
Successor:Iain Rankin
Office2:Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal
Term Start2:June 19, 2009
Term End2:May 30, 2012
Predecessor2:Brooke Taylor
Successor2:Maurice Smith
Office3:Minister of Energy
Term Start3:June 19, 2009
Term End3:January 11, 2011
Predecessor3:Barry Barnet
Successor3:Charlie Parker
Party:NDP
Occupation:School teacher

William Irvine Estabrooks (July 26, 1947 – June 4, 2024) was a Canadian educator and politician from Nova Scotia.[1]

A native of Sackville, New Brunswick, Estabrooks attended Mount Allison University from which he graduated in 1969. Estabrooks found employment as a teacher in the communities around Halifax, Nova Scotia, residing in the suburban community of Upper Tantallon. Estabrooks taught at various schools in Halifax including Sir John A. Macdonald High, Sackville High and Brookside Junior High.[2] He was involved in local chapters of the Lions Club as well as volunteering with local hockey and football teams. He was also a recipient of the Lions International Presidents' Recognition Award and the Medal of Bravery from the Governor General.

In 2015, the Hubley Community Centre was named the Estabrooks Community Hall in Bill Estabrooks' honour for his years of dedication to the community.[3]

Political career

Estabrooks ran for the nomination of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party in the riding of Timberlea-Prospect in 1998. He was elected in the 1998 Nova Scotia election and was subsequently re-elected in the 1999, 2003, 2006 and 2009 provincial elections.

Estabrooks was appointed to the Executive Council of Nova Scotia in June 2009 where he served as Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal and Minister of Energy until his resignation from cabinet in May 2012.[4] [5]

Later life and death

On September 10, 2010, Estabrooks announced that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in November 2008.[6] He continued to serve in cabinet until his resignation on May 30, 2012. Estabrooks also announced his decision to not seek re-election in the next provincial election due to his health concerns.[4]

Estabrooks later moved to Edmonton around 2019 to be closer to his family, where he resided in a care home. He died there on June 4, 2024, at the age of 76.[7] [8]

Notes and References

  1. Book: The Canadian Parliamentary Guide. Gale, T.. Group, G.. 1999. Gale Group. 0315-6168. February 20, 2015.
  2. News: Bill Estabrooks. 2017-04-21. Nova Scotia Legislature Website. 2018-05-29. en.
  3. Web site: HOWE ROOM: Estabrooks humbled by community's naming gesture. 2015-09-13. The Chronicle Herald. en. 2018-04-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20180418032736/http://thechronicleherald.ca/opinion/1310927-howe-room-estabrooks-humbled-by-community%E2%80%99s-naming-gesture. 2018-04-18. dead.
  4. News: First female finance minister appointed in N.S.. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. May 30, 2012. May 10, 2018.
  5. Web site: Bill Estabrooks. November 29, 2010.
  6. News: Estabrooks has Parkinson's disease. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. September 10, 2010. May 10, 2018.
  7. Web site: 'Call me Bill': Longtime Nova Scotia MLA Bill Estabrooks dies at age 76. CBC News. June 6, 2024. June 6, 2024.
  8. Web site: Popular Nova Scotia MLA Bill Estabrooks dies at age 76. CTV News. June 5, 2024. June 5, 2024.