Ronald A. Irwin (October 29, 1936 – December 5, 2020) was a
Canadian
Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...
diplomat and politician.
Life
Born in
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Sault Ste. Marie ( ) is a city in Ontario, Canada. It is at the St. Mary's River on the Canada–US border. It is the third largest city in Northern Ontario, after Sudbury and Thunder Bay.
The Ojibwe, the indigenous Anishinaabe inhabitants ...
, Irwin earned an undergraduate degree from the
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario (UWO), also known as Western University or Western, is a public research university in London, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land, surrounded by residential neighbourhoods and the Thames R ...
and a law degree from
Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School, commonly shortened to Osgoode, is the law school of York University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The law school is home to the Law Commission of Ontario, the Journal of Law and Social Policy, and the '' Osgoode Hall L ...
of
York University
York University (french: Université York), also known as YorkU or simply YU, is a public university, public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's fourth-largest university, and it has approximately 55,700 students, 7,0 ...
. While at the
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario (UWO), also known as Western University or Western, is a public research university in London, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land, surrounded by residential neighbourhoods and the Thames R ...
he joined the Sigma Kappa Sigma chapter of
Delta Upsilon
Delta Upsilon (), commonly known as DU, is a collegiate men's fraternity founded on November 4, 1834 at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts. It is the sixth-oldest, all-male, college Greek Letter Organizations#Greek letters, Greek-let ...
. From 1972 to 1974, he was
mayor
In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well ...
of Sault Ste. Marie. He also served as a school trustee,
alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members t ...
and director of the local
Chamber of Commerce. From 1977 to 1980, he was a member of the
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.
Irwin was first elected to the
House of Commons of Canada in the
1980 federal election as a
Liberal
Liberal or liberalism may refer to:
Politics
* a supporter of liberalism
** Liberalism by country
* an adherent of a Liberal Party
* Liberalism (international relations)
* Sexually liberal feminism
* Social liberalism
Arts, entertainment and m ...
. He served as
parliamentary secretary to
Jean Chrétien while the latter was
Justice Minister
A justice ministry, ministry of justice, or department of justice is a ministry or other government agency in charge of the administration of justice. The ministry or department is often headed by a minister of justice (minister for justice in a ...
. Irwin was defeated in the
1984 election but returned to Parliament in the
1993 election.
When the Liberals returned to power as a result of the 1993 election, Chrétien, now
Prime Minister of Canada
The prime minister of Canada (french: premier ministre du Canada, link=no) is the head of government of Canada. Under the Westminster system, the prime minister governs with the confidence of a majority the elected House of Commons; as su ...
, appointed Irwin to the
Cabinet as
Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Minister may refer to:
* Minister (Christianity), a Christian cleric
** Minister (Catholic Church)
* Minister (government), a member of government who heads a ministry (government department)
** Minister without portfolio, a member of government w ...
. He retired from parliament in 1997.
Irwin served as a personal advisor to Prime Minister Chrétien from 1997 to 1998. He was appointed
Canadian Ambassador to Ireland in 1998, and served until 2001. In 2001, Irwin was appointed Canada’s
Consul General
A consul is an official representative of the government of one state in the territory of another, normally acting to assist and protect the citizens of the consul's own country, as well as to facilitate trade and friendship between the people ...
to
Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
.
In 1975, he was made a Member of the
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada (french: Ordre du Canada; abbreviated as OC) is a Canadian state order and the second-highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit.
To coincide with the cen ...
. He died on December 5, 2020 at the age of 84.
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Irwin, Ron
Canadian King's Counsel
Canadian Ministers of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Canadian people of Irish descent
Liberal Party of Canada MPs
Mayors of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Members of the 26th Canadian Ministry
Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Ontario
Members of the Order of Canada
Members of the King's Privy Council for Canada
Lawyers in Ontario
University of Western Ontario alumni
1936 births
2020 deaths
Osgoode Hall Law School alumni
Ambassadors of Canada to Ireland