Shirley Dysart | |
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New Brunswick Leader of the Opposition | |
In office 1985 –May 4, 1985 | |
Preceded by | Ray Frenette |
Succeeded by | Frank McKenna |
MLA for Saint John North | |
In office November 18,1974 –October 23,1978 | |
Succeeded by | District abolished |
MLA for Saint John Park | |
In office October 23,1978 –September 11,1995 | |
Preceded by | Robert J. Higgins |
Succeeded by | District abolished |
Personal details | |
Born | Shirley Theresa Britt February 22,1928 [1] Boston,Massachusetts,United States |
Died | December 14,2016 88) Saint John,New Brunswick,Canada | (aged
Political party | Liberal |
Spouse | H. Eric Dysart |
Children | 1 |
Shirley Theresa Dysart CM (néeBritt,February 22,1928 –December 14,2016) was an American-born Canadian teacher and a politician in the province of New Brunswick. [2]
She attained a number of "firsts" in New Brunswick politics. She was the first female Liberal in serve in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick,the first woman to serve as the leader of a party in the provincial Legislature (1985),the first woman to be Minister of Education (1987–1991) and first woman to be Speaker (1991–1995). [3]
Shirley Theresa Britt was born into an Irish Catholic family in Boston,Massachusetts in 1928,the eldest of eight children born to Canadians Leslie John Britt and Mary Agnes (née Donovan) Britt. [4] Her parents were both born in Saint John,New Brunswick,Canada,and in May 1927 they traveled to Waltham,Massachusetts to stay with a cousin. [5] They returned to Canada when Shirley was still a baby,and she was followed by seven more children:Daniel,Raymond,Kenny,Shirley Joan,Anne,John and Gerald. [6] She often cared for her younger siblings while her parents worked. [7] [8]
Shirley and her siblings,fifth-generation residents of Saint John, [6] grew up in Saint John's East Side in the Cathedral Parish,where they attended public schools and St. Vincent's High School. [4] Upon graduating she studied at the New Brunswick Teachers' College and the University of New Brunswick. [3] She was awarded a Beaverbrook Scholarship and studied at the University of London. [9]
After graduating college,Dysart taught at her high school alma mater,St. Vincent's High School in Saint John. [4] In 1967 she became a member of the school board for District 20. [10] She later served as chair of the board for three years, [4] the first woman to hold the position. [8]
In 1974 the leader of the Liberal Party,Bob Higgins,suggested she run for a seat in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick;she won the seat of Saint John North,becoming the first female Liberal,and second female of any party,to serve in the Legislative Assembly. [11] In 1976,she served on the Bi-Centennial Celebration Committee for the Province of New Brunswick. [8]
Dysart was re-elected in 1978,1982,1987 and 1991,holding her seat for twenty years. [12] She remains the only Liberal politician to win five consecutive elections in Saint John. [8]
In 1985,she was appointed the interim Leader of the Opposition,becoming the first woman to serve as the Leader of a political party in New Brunswick. [8] Following the 1987 election,she was appointed Minister of Education,becoming the first woman to hold the position. While serving as Minister of Education,she led the introduction of a province-wide universal,full-day public kindergarten program,becoming known as the "architect" of the province's kindergarten system. [11] [13] She was also responsible for a number of community projects in St. John,including the rebuilding of the Imperial Theatre. [11]
In 1991,Dysart was elected Speaker of the Legislative Assembly,the first woman to hold the position. [7] She retired from politics in 1995,not seeking re-election in the general election of that year. [3]
In addition to her political career,Dysart held a number of community leadership positions. She was president of the Catholic Women's League Council,president of the University of New Brunswick Alumni Council,and a member of the board of governors of the Beaverbrook Art Gallery. [3] She served on the boards of the New Brunswick Music Festival,Theatre New Brunswick,the University of New Brunswick Alumni Council, [4] Saint John Family Services,and the Irish-Canadian Cultural Association. [13]
In October 1996 Dysart was awarded an honorary LLD by the University of New Brunswick Saint John,and in 2000,she received a Red Cross Humanitarian Award. [9] She was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 2004. [3] In 2012 she was a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. [9]
In 2015 she was named a Champion of Public Education by the national educational charity The Learning Partnership. [14] She was also the recipient of the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada,and the Paul Harris Fellowship from the Rotary Club of Saint John. [8]
Dysart was married to H. Eric Dysart and had one son,J. E. Britt Dysart. [3] [9]
Dysart died "after a period of failing health" on December 14,2016,at the age of 88. [11] She was survived by her son,daughter-in-law,and two grandchildren,as well as two sisters,two brothers,and a large extended family. [3] Following her death,flags at Saint John City Hall were flown at half-staff as a sign of respect. [11]