David Braley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Braley
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Braley in April 2010
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| Senator for Ottawa | |||||||||||||||
| In office 20 May 2010 – 30 November 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Wilbert Keon | ||||||||||||||
| Constituency | Ontario | ||||||||||||||
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| Born |
David Osborn Braley
May 31, 1941 Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
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| Died | October 26, 2020 (aged 79) Burlington, Ontario, Canada |
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| Political party | Conservative | ||||||||||||||
| Residence | Burlington | ||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | McMaster University | ||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Businessman | ||||||||||||||
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David Osborn Braley (born May 31, 1941 – died October 26, 2020) was a well-known Canadian businessman and politician. He was famous for owning several professional football teams, including the BC Lions and, at different times, the Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He also served as a Senator for a few years and was recognized for his contributions to sports and his community. He was a member of the Order of Canada and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
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Who Was David Braley?
David Braley was born in Montreal, Quebec. He grew up in Hamilton, Ontario, where he later attended McMaster University.
Starting His Business Career
Braley began his work life with a company called GMAC in Hamilton. Later, he joined London Life Insurance. In 1969, he bought William Orlick Limited, a company that made parts for cars. This company is now known as Orlick Industries Limited. He remained its owner and president for many years. David Braley lived in Burlington, Ontario.
A Life in Sports
David Braley loved sports, especially football. He became a major figure in Canadian sports.
Owning Football Teams
Braley first owned the Hamilton Tiger-Cats football team from 1987 to 1990. He returned to the CFL in 1997 when he bought the BC Lions. He also owned a soccer team called the Vancouver 86ers. This team later became the Vancouver Whitecaps.
In 2010, Braley also bought the Toronto Argonauts. This made him the only person to own two CFL teams at the same time! To make things fair, the league scheduled games between the Lions and Argonauts early in the season. This was to avoid any problems if they met in the playoffs. He sold the Argonauts in 2015.
Leading the CFL
Braley was also involved in running the CFL. He served as the chairman of the CFL's Board of Governors. He was even the league's temporary commissioner for a few months in 2002.
Supporting Major Events
He helped Ontario's successful bid to host the 2015 Pan Am Games. These are big sports events for countries in the Americas. He was also chairman for the 2003 World Cycling Championships held in Hamilton.
Honors and Recognition
Many places in Hamilton, Ontario, are named after David Braley. These include:
- The David Braley Athletic Centre at McMaster University
- The David Braley Health Sciences Centre at McMaster University
- The David Braley Athletic and Recreation Centre at Mohawk College
- The David Braley Research Institute at the Hamilton General Hospital
In 2012, David Braley was elected into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. In 2019, he was appointed to the Order of Canada. This award recognized his important contributions to the CFL and his community.
Time in Politics
On May 20, 2010, David Braley was appointed to the Senate of Canada. He represented the province of Ontario. He was chosen by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Braley was a member of the Conservative Party of Canada.
Voting on Sports Betting
Senator Braley supported a bill that would allow provinces to license single sports betting. This means people could bet on the outcome of one game, not just multiple games. Because he owned sports teams, he chose not to vote on this bill. The bill did not pass in the Senate.
Leaving the Senate
Braley resigned from the Senate on November 30, 2013. He did not give an official reason. However, he had told a newspaper that his wife asked him to consider leaving. There were some issues at the time that were affecting the reputation of all Senators. Braley felt that a few people were causing problems for everyone else.
Later Life and Passing
In 2016, Braley was hospitalized for a foot infection related to diabetes. He passed away peacefully in his sleep on October 26, 2020, at his home in Burlington, Ontario. He was 79 years old and had been dealing with a long-term illness.
In his will, David Braley reportedly left a lot of money to the BC Lions team. His goal was for the team to be financially stable for several seasons. He wanted it to be debt-free when it was sold to new owners.
