David Onley Explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Honourable
David Onley
Order:28th
Office:Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
Term Start:September 5, 2007
Term End:September 23, 2014
Governor General:
Premier:
Predecessor:James Bartleman
Successor:Elizabeth Dowdeswell
Birth Name:David Charles Onley
Birth Date:12 June 1950
Birth Place:Midland, Ontario, Canada
Death Place:Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Children:Jonathan, Robert, Michael
Occupation:Journalist
Alma Mater:University of Toronto

David Charles Onley (June 12, 1950 – January 14, 2023) was a Canadian broadcaster and writer who served as the 28th lieutenant governor of Ontario from 2007 until 2014.

Prior to his viceregal appointment, Onley was a television journalist. He worked primarily for Citytv as a weather reporter, before moving on to cover science and technology stories. Later on, he worked with the 24-hour news station CablePulse 24 as a news anchor and host of a weekly technology series, Home Page. A published author, he was the founding president of the Aerospace Heritage Foundation of Canada.

His seven-year term as Lieutenant Governor of Ontario makes him the province's third longest-serving viceroy since Confederation,[1] behind Albert Edward Matthews (1937–1946) and his successor Elizabeth Dowdeswell (2014–2023).

Early life

David Charles Onley was born in Midland, Ontario, on June 12, 1950.[2] [3] Beginning at the age of three, he battled with polio, resulting in partial paralysis.[4] [5] In order to facilitate medical treatment, the family moved to Scarborough (now part of Toronto), settling on Orchard Park Drive in the neighbourhood of West Hill.[6] As a result of extensive physical therapy, he regained the use of his hands and arms, and partial use of his legs.[7] Onley was able to get around using leg braces, canes, crutches,[8] and his electric scooter.[9] He was able to drive a car using hand controls.[10]

He was educated at the University of Toronto Scarborough, served as student council president,[11] [12] and graduated in 1975 with an honours Bachelor of Arts degree and specialist certificate in political science.[13] He then attended the University of Windsor Law School from 1976 to 1977, but did not complete the degree.[14] [15] [16]

Career

Unable to find full-time employment after his graduation, Onley turned to writing, publishing Shuttle: A Shattering Novel of Disaster in Space, a bestselling novel about space travel, in 1981.[9] It was nominated by the Periodical Distributors of Canada as book of the year in 1982.[14]

While promoting the book, Onley positioned himself as a space program expert, leading to a career in radio.[9] He began hosting a weekly science show for Toronto radio station CFRB, subsequently joining the CKO network in 1983.[9] He then joined Citytv in 1984 as weather specialist, a position he held until 1989. In a 2004 interview with Link Up, a Toronto employment agency for people with disabilities, Onley stated that

From 1989 to 1995, he was the first news anchor on the then-new Breakfast Television, Citytv's morning show. He served as education specialist for Citytv from 1994 to 1999. Onley became an anchor on Citytv's sister station CP24 upon its launch in 1998, and both hosted and produced Home Page on CP24.[6]

He was one of Canada's first on-air television personalities with a visible disability; he used a mobility device due to his paralysis. Camera shots began with only upper body shots, but Onley demanded that the shot include him in his mobility device. In honour of his contributions to the advancement of disability issues in Canada, he has received awards from the Terry Fox Hall of Fame in 1997, and the Clarke Institute's Courage to Come Back award. He was appointed Chair of the Accessibility Standards Advisory Council to the Minister of Community and Social Services in 2005.[17] He was inducted into the Scarborough Walk of Fame in 2006.[18]

Onley returned to his acting roots, with a cameo appearance in the sixth season of the Canadian TV series Murdoch Mysteries. The episode, "The Ghost of Queens Park" aired in Canada on February 25, 2013. In it he played the eighth Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Sir Oliver Mowat.[19] He also served as founding president of the Aerospace Heritage Foundation of Canada.[20]

As Lieutenant Governor

Onley's appointment as Lieutenant Governor was announced on July 10, 2007; he was privately informed of this after a July 4, 2007, taping of Home Page: "I just had reached the top of the Don Valley Parkway... and there was no place to pull over. And when the Prime Minister of your country calls, all you can try to do is stay in the same lane, avoid any fender-benders and have a meaningful conversation, which I did."[21]

He was sworn in on September 5, 2007, at Queen's Park in Toronto. As the province's first Lieutenant Governor with a disability, Onley said he would use his vice-regal position to help remove physical barriers to Ontario's 1.5 million people with disabilities, as well as focus on other issues affecting disabled people, including obstacles to employment and housing. Onley also stated, in his installation speech, that he would expand on his immediate predecessor James Bartleman's First Nations literacy initiatives, his aim being to see computers on every student's desk in northern schools.[22] For his installation, Onley approached the legislature on his electric scooter, however he ascended the Throne on foot, using leg braces and canes.

During Onley's mandate, he participated in 2550 engagements, during which he spoke to an estimated audience of over one million people.[23] He travelled to China to represent the Queen and Canada at the 2008 Summer Paralympics opening ceremony.[24] Onley delivered his last speech from the throne to the Ontario Legislative Assembly on July 3, 2014;[25] his last full day in office was September 22, 2014, with his successor sworn in the following afternoon.[26] [27]

Onley and his wife resided in their Scarborough home during his vice-regal tenure, as Ontario is one of three provinces that does not have an official vice-regal residence.[28]

Post-viceregal life

Onley was appointed senior lecturer in the Department of Political Sciences at University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC), his alma mater.[29] His appointment began on October 1, 2014. At UTSC he also served as specialadvisor on disability issues, encouraging the development of new initiatives including the founding of the Centre for Global Disability Studies. He also served as the university's special ambassador for the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games.[30]

In 2018, Onley was appointed to review the act and conducted public consultations on the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Onley conducted extensive consultations, and delivered a written Legislative Review of the AODA in 2019, available online.[31] In the report, Onley raises concerns that based on consultations with disabled citizens and their family members, the province is not on track to meet 2025 AODA goals.[32] The report offers concrete recommendations for improved implementation of the AODA, including calls to address the intersection of disability and poverty, and the need to take an "all-of-government approach by making accessibility the responsibility of every ministry" and clarify the relationship of the AODA to the Ontario Human Rights Code.[33]

Personal life and death

Onley was married to Ruth Ann, a Christian music performer.[34] They have three sons, Jonathan, Robert and Michael. In late 2019, Onley received emergency medical treatment after a brain scan revealed that he had a tumour the size of an orange at the front of his brain, which was successfully removed.[35]

Onley died at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto on January 14, 2023, aged 72.[36] [37] He is survived by his wife and three children.[38] [39] [40] He was accorded an Ontario state funeral;[41] following two days of lying in state at the Ontario Legislative Building, his funeral was held on January 30 at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church.[42] Those in attendance included his successor Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell and Ontario Premier Doug Ford.[43]

Honours and awards

CountryOrderClass or positionYearsCitation
CanadaOrder of CanadaMember2016–2023[44] [45]
CanadaOrder of OntarioChancellor2007–2014[46]
CanadaOrder of OntarioMember2007–2023
CanadaOrder of St. JohnVice-Prior of the Order of St. John in Ontario (2007–2014), Knight of Justice of the Order2007–2023[47]
CountryOrganizationAward or positionYearCitation
CanadaCanadian Foundation for Physically Disabled PersonsKing Clancy Award1992[48]
CanadaScarborough Women Teachers AssociationAward for Broadcasting Excellence1992[49]
CanadaClarke InstituteCourage to Come Back Award1996
CanadaTerry Fox Hall of FameInductee1997–2023
CanadaUniversity of TorontoPositive Impact Award2001
CanadaCity of ScarboroughScarborough Walk of Fame Inductee2006–2023
CanadaOur Lady of Lourdes Catholic High SchoolNational Leadership Award2009[50]
Academic honours
CountryOrganizationAward or positionYearCitation
CanadaCanada Christian CollegeDoctor of Laws (honoris causa)date unknown[51]
CanadaCentennial CollegeHonorary Fellow2003–2023
CanadaUniversity of Guelph-HumberDoctor of Laws (honoris causa)2008
CanadaUniversity of WindsorDoctor of Laws (honoris causa)2008
CanadaUniversity of Western OntarioDoctor of Laws (jure dignitatis)2008[52]
CanadaNipissing UniversityDoctor of Education (honoris causa)2009[53] [54]
CanadaUniversity of TorontoDoctor of Laws (honoris causa)2009[55] [56]
CanadaYork UniversityDoctor of Laws (honoris causa)2009[57]
CanadaCarleton UniversityDoctor of Laws (honoris causa)2011[58]
CanadaLaw Society of Upper CanadaDoctor of Laws (honoris causa)2013[59]

Ribbon bars


Ribbon Description Date Notes
2016 Member (CM)
2007 Knight of Justice (KStJ)
2007 Member (OOnt)
1992 Recipient[60]
2012 Canadian version[61]

Other distinctions

Coat of arms

Escutcheon:Azure on a pile reversed an open book Argent bound and charged with a Latin cross Azure;
Crest:Issuant from a Loyalist civil coronet Azure a phoenix Or issuant from flames proper and holding in its beak a cane Azure;
Supporters:Two eagles wings elevated and addorsed Or each gorged with a coronet erablé Azure and standing on a grassy mount Vert set with three apples Gules slipped Or;
Motto:PER ARDUA AD ALTA (Through Difficulties to the Heights)[65]

Bibliography

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Former lieutenant governor of Ontario David Onley dead at 72 . January 18, 2023 . Toronto Sun . en-CA.
  2. Web site: Media Advisory – Lieutenant Governor welcomes Lieutenant Governor-designate David Onley . January 15, 2023 . news.ontario.ca.
  3. Web site: September 2007 . The Honourable David C. Onley, O.Ont. . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080704082909/http://www.lt.gov.on.ca/En/Their_Honours/HisHonour.html . July 4, 2008 . September 15, 2007 . Queen's Printer for Ontario.
  4. Web site: Onley vows focus on access. September 5, 2007. Toronto Star.
  5. Web site: July 11, 2013 . That Polio Season: Lt.-Gov. David Onley and the Epidemic of 1953 . January 18, 2023 . Toronto Star . en.
  6. Prime Minister announces appointment of David C. Onley as Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario . Canadian Prime Minister's Office . July 10, 2007 . July 13, 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070714024543/http://pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?category=1&id=1747 . July 14, 2007.
  7. Web site: Vanessa . Balintec . January 15, 2023 . Honour late lieutenant-governor David Onley by making Ontario accessible, advocates, friends say . Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
  8. Web site: June 21, 2013 . Lieutenant-Governor David Onley on the mend after fall . January 18, 2023 . Toronto Star . en.
  9. Web site: Thiessen . Connie . January 15, 2023 . Former broadcaster and Ontario Lt.-Gov. David Onley has died . January 18, 2023 . Broadcast Dialogue . en-CA.
  10. Web site: October 12, 2010 . Disabled drivers helpless at self-serve pumps . January 18, 2023 . Toronto Star . en.
  11. Web site: 'A life-long champion of accessibility': U of T remembers former lieutenant governor and alumnus David Onley . January 18, 2023 . University of Toronto News . en.
  12. Web site: What You Might Not Have Known About David Onley . January 18, 2023 . CityNews.
  13. News: January 14, 2023 . David Onley, former Ontario lieutenant-governor, dies at 72 . en-CA . The Globe and Mail . January 18, 2023.
  14. Web site: David C. Onley . 2023-02-04 . The Canadian Encyclopedia . 2023-01-16 .
  15. Web site: Hon.David Onley, CM OOnt. . 2023-02-04 . A Seat at the Table . 2021-11-16 . Rob . Ham .
  16. Web site: 2012 Warriors' Day Parade Distinguished Guest of Honour and Reviewing Officer: Colonel The Honourable David C. Onley, O.Ont., The Lieutenant Governor of Ontario . 2023-02-04 . The Warriors' Day Parade .
  17. Web site: Lieutenant Governor welcomes Lieutenant Governor-designate David Onley . July 10, 2007. Lieutenant Governor of Ontario . dead . July 30, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070730120522/http://lt.gov.on.ca/20070711_DavidOnleyENG.pdf .
  18. Web site: 2006 Star Inductees . January 18, 2023 . Scarborough Walk of Fame . December 8, 2021 . en.
  19. News: Ontario Lt.-Gov. David Onley films cameo for CBC drama 'Murdoch Mysteries' . Winnipeg Free Press . July 13, 2012.
  20. Web site: Raza . Ali . David Onley to be Special Ambassador for Pan Am and Parapan Games at UTSC . January 18, 2023 . Toronto.com . en.
  21. http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_12727.aspx David Onley Appointed Next Lt.-Gov. Of Ontario
  22. Web site: Vice-regal role model. September 6, 2007. Toronto Star.
  23. Web site: End of mandate report. https://web.archive.org/web/20160109214138/http://www.lgontario.ca/en/specific/Pages/onley-report.aspx. dead. January 9, 2016. Lieutenant Governor of Ontario web site. September 17, 2014. October 1, 2014.
  24. Statement by the Prime Minister of Canada. Queen's Printer for Canada. August 26, 2008. March 8, 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100309102203/http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?category=3&id=2245. March 9, 2010.
  25. Web site: July 3, 2014 . Liberals' throne speech details left-leaning agenda . January 18, 2023 . Toronto Star . en.
  26. Web site: September 23, 2014 . Elizabeth Dowdeswell sworn in as Ontario lieutenant-governor . January 18, 2023 . Toronto . en.
  27. Web site: Gross . John . September 23, 2014 . Installation of Elizabeth Dowdeswell as the 29th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario . January 18, 2023 . Lieutenant Governor of Ontario . en.
  28. Web site: Incoming lieutenant-governor plans to smooth path for all. September 3, 2007. Toronto Star.
  29. Web site: September 25, 2014 . Ontario's 28th Lt. Governor David Onley joins UTSC faculty . University of Toronto.
  30. Web site: January 14, 2023 . David Onley, former lieutenant-governor of Ontario, dead at 72 . Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
  31. Web site: Onley . David . Legislative Review of the AODA . Ontario.ca . 30 January 2023.
  32. Web site: Onley . David . 2019 Legislative Review of the AODA - Section 3 and 4 . 30 January 2023.
  33. Web site: Onley . David . 2019 Legislative Review of the AODA - Section 6 - Recommendations . Ontario.ca . Government of Ontario . 30 January 2023.
  34. Web site: Ruth Ann Onley . https://web.archive.org/web/20081227203323/http://www.ruthannonley.com/ . December 27, 2008.
  35. News: New targeted radiation treatment potential 'game-changer' for cancer patients, oncologists say. Wency . Leung . May 19, 2021. May 19, 2021. The Globe and Mail .
  36. https://www.legacy.com/ca/obituaries/theglobeandmail/name/david-onley-obituary?pid=203707751 David ONLEY Obituary (2023) - The Globe and Mail
  37. Web site: January 14, 2023 . David Onley, former broadcaster and Ont. lieutenant-governor, dies at age 72 . January 15, 2023 . CTVNews . en.
  38. Web site: Lieutenant Governor's Statement On The Death Of The Honourable David C. Onley . January 15, 2023 . LG Ontario . January 14, 2023 .
  39. News: January 14, 2023 . David Onley, former Ontario lieutenant-governor, dies at 72 . en-CA . The Globe and Mail . January 15, 2023.
  40. News: Former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario David Onley dies at 72 . Kelly . Skjerven . January 14, 2023 . January 15, 2023 . Toronto Star. en-CA.
  41. News: Former Lt.-Gov. David Onley to be remembered Jan. 30 at state funeral . 2023-01-19 . 2023-02-04 . The Canadian Press, via CBC News. en-CA.
  42. News: Former Lt.-Gov. David Onley lies in state at Ontario legislature . 2023-01-28 . 2023-02-04 . The Canadian Press, via CBC News. en-CA.
  43. News: Former Ontario lieutenant-governor David Onley remembered at funeral as role model, family man . 2023-01-28 . 2023-02-04 . The Canadian Press, via CBC News. Maan . Alhmidi . Allison . Jones . en-CA.
  44. http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/order-canada-newest-appointees-2016-150-1.3916634 "Order of Canada's newest appointees include Paralympian, Supreme Court judge and astrophysicist"
  45. https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/146-10887 Order of Canada citation
  46. Web site: The Order of Ontario . January 17, 2023 . Government of Ontario.
  47. http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2008/2008-04-26/pdf/g1-14217.pdf Canada Gazette
  48. News: David Onley . https://web.archive.org/web/20070919013508/http://www.citynews.ca/shows/personalities_637.aspx . dead . CityNews . September 19, 2007 . January 20, 2023.
  49. http://www.lt.gov.on.ca/En/Their_Honours/Honours_and_Awards.html Lieutenant Governor of Ontario: Honours
  50. Guelph Mercury. Fight for Equality: Our lady of Lourdes Catholic High School Honours province's Lieutenant Governor. https://archive.today/20120711221249/http://news.guelphmercury.com/article/442015 . Retrieved March 2, 2009
  51. Web site: Canada Christian College. July 22, 2017. July 15, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170715163856/http://canadachristiancollege.com/ccc/grammy-winning-artist-lecrae/. dead.
  52. Web site: Honorary Degree Recipients 1881 – present . University of Western Ontario . 16. July 2019 . January 15, 2023.
  53. Web site: Honorary Degree Recipients | Nipissing University . July 16, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130403151450/http://www.nipissingu.ca/departments/presidents-office/honorary_degree/Pages/default.aspx . April 3, 2013 .
  54. Web site: Honorary Degree Recipients | Nipissing University . Nipissingu.ca . November 20, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140750/http://www.nipissingu.ca/about-us/convocation/Pages/Honorary-Degree-Recipients.aspx . June 12, 2018 . dead .
  55. Web site: Honorary Degree Recipients . Convocation.utoronto.ca . November 20, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120419075328/http://www.convocation.utoronto.ca/Honorary_Graduands_and_Speakers.htm . April 19, 2012 . dead .
  56. Web site: Honorary Degree Recipients 1850 – 2016 . University of Toronto . 30 . January 15, 2023.
  57. Web site: Current Students . Senate | University Secretariat . Yorku.ca . November 20, 2017.
  58. Web site: Honorary Degrees (Fall 2011) – Convocation . October 16, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120814071938/http://www5.carleton.ca/convocation/video-archive/honorary-degrees-fall-2011/ . August 14, 2012 .
  59. Web site: Honorary LLD | The Law Society of Upper Canada . Lsuc.on.ca . November 20, 2017.
  60. Web site: Rethinking Normalcy to Achieve Equality for Disabled Persons . University of Toronto Scarborough . January 19, 2023.
  61. Web site: His Honour the Honourable David Onley . January 17, 2023 . The Governor General of Canada.
  62. Web site: Honoraries . January 18, 2023 . . The Rangers have a unique appointment is that of Colonel of the Regiment. This position is held in perpetuity by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario [emphasis added]....
  63. Web site: The Honourable David C. Onley . Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.
  64. Web site: David Onley Park officially dedicated. June 14, 2013 .
  65. Web site: Onley, David Charles [Individual]. November 12, 2020 .

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