Ronald Wallace (politician) explained

Ronald Wallace
Honorific-Suffix:MLA, C.M.
Birth Date:August 5, 1916
Birth Place:Halifax, Nova Scotia
Death Place:Halifax, Nova Scotia
Office:Mayor of Halifax
Term Start:1980
Term End:1991
Predecessor:Ronald Hanson
Successor:Moira Leiper Ducharme
Office2:MLA for Halifax Citadel
Term Start2:1970
Term End2:1978
Predecessor2:Donald MacKeen Smith
Successor2:Art Donahoe
Party:Liberal
Profession:optometrist

Ronald Wallace, (August 5, 1916 – May 20, 2008)[1] was a Canadian politician and optometrist. Wallace is the longest-serving mayor of the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Wallace was one of fifteen children born to Thomas John Wallace and Ada Evangeline Wallace, formerly MacNeil. He graduated from Saint Mary's University in 1939. He was the intercollegiate boxing champion, and a champion rower. His brother Dan was also a Maritime heavyweight boxing champion and a champion rower, and as a Rhodes scholar and rowed for Oxford University.

Wallace served two terms as the Liberal member for Halifax in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1970 to 1978. He was elected mayor of Halifax in 1980 and served until his retirement in 1991. He served as mayor longer than any other, and was known for his fairness, good humor and visionary approach to improving his beloved city. He was made a member of the Order of Canada in 2001.

Wallace married Julia Patricia McColough, daughter of Reginald Walker McColough, Director of Public Works for the Parliament of Canada. Together they had six children; Barbara Wallace, Suzanne Wallace, Mary Beth Wallace, Ian Wallace, Mark Wallace and Jennifer Wallace. He died at his home in Halifax on May 20, 2008, at the age of ninety-one after suffering fromcancer and pneumonia.[1]

Notes and References

  1. News: Lawlor . Allison . July 7, 2008 . Ron Wallace 91: Politician and Optometrist . Globe and Mail. Toronto, Ontario.