 |
Fred Hodges | |
|---|---|
| Born | Frederick Douglas Hodges April 19, 1918 |
| Died | July 21, 1999 (aged 81) |
| Resting place | Field of Honour, Cedar Hill Extension Cemetery, West Saint John |
| Occupation(s) | Labour leader, politician, activist, humanitarian |
Frederick Douglas Hodges CM (19 April 1918 - 21 July 1999) was a Canadian labour leader, civil rights activist, politician and humanitarian. [1] Born in Saint John, New Brunswick, Hodges was the first visible minority elected in the Saint John City Council. [2]
Hodges was born in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada to Lloyd Hodges and Drusilla Oliver - descendants of Black Loyalists who arrived in New Brunswick in the 1780s following the American Revolution. [1] [3] In the 1940s, Hodges worked as a freight handler with the Canadian Pacific Railway. During the Second World War, he served for two years in the Royal Canadian Airforce as a radio-telephone operator in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Hodges maintained an active and long-running career in politics.
In 1946, Hodges returned to work as a freight handler for the CPR, who had a collective agreement with the Winterport Lodge 797 of the Brotherhood of Railway, Airline and Steamship Clerks, Freight Handlers, Express and Station Employees. [3] Hodges became the first Black member of Lodge 747 when the union amended their constitution to permit memberships for Black workers in 1947. [3] He maintained his membership for over 50 years. [3] In the 1950s, Hodges lobbied for the Saint John District Labour Council to establish a standing committee on human rights, becoming its first chairman. [3] In 1964, he became the first Black president of the Saint John District Labour Council, and served for 11 years.
In 1962, Hodges became a trustee within the New Brunswick Federation of Labour. [3] In 1969, Hodges was elected the vice-president of the New Brunswick Federation of Labour for the counties of Saint John-Charlotte-Queens, serving for 6 years. [3] Hodges was a founding member of the New Brunswick Association for the Advancement of Coloured People. [1] [3] He was also appointed to the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission.
In 1974, Hodges ran as an official labour candidate and became the first member of a visible minority to be elected as city councillor of Saint John. [3]
Hodges' other memberships and roles included: [3]
Following Hodges' retirement in 1984, he maintained that labour movements or visible minorities were still not sufficiently accepted in Saint John, citing a lack of representation. [3] Addressing the issue, Hodges stated that “the only way it will ever change is for these groups to keep united as a collective group and to make their voice known through the ballot box.” [3]
In 1978, Hodges received the Queen's Jubilee Medal. [3]
On October 29, 1979, the New Brunswick Association for the Advancement of Coloured People hosted a testimonial dinner for Hodges in which over 350 people attended to honor him for his contributions to Saint John. While there, Hodges received a certificate of merit from the city of Saint John and a commendation from Premier Richard Hatfield. [3]
In 1982, he received Canada's highest distinction, the Order of Canada for his work within labour, educational and municipal bodies, as well as his efforts "to further equal opportunities for minority groups." [4]
In 1984, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of New Brunswick. [3]
Hodges received the New Brunswick Human Rights Award from the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission for his "outstanding contributions to advance human rights." [5]
Hodges married Olive Mildred Stewart in 1940 and had six children together. [3] Olive died in 1965. [3] In 1983, Hodges married Eugenia Simmons. [3]
Upon being asked about his philosophy, Hodges stated: “accomplish what you can accomplish, then get a good night's sleep.” [6]
Hodges died on July 21, 1999, en route to the hospital after suffering a heart attack while vacationing in Nova Scotia. [3]
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