George Hees facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Hees
|
|
|---|---|
Hees c. 1942–1948
|
|
| Minister of Veterans Affairs | |
| In office September 17, 1984 – September 14, 1988 |
|
| Prime Minister | Brian Mulroney |
| Preceded by | Bennett Campbell |
| Succeeded by | Gerald Merrithew |
| Minister of Trade and Commerce | |
| In office October 11, 1960 – February 8, 1963 |
|
| Prime Minister | John Diefenbaker |
| Preceded by | Gordon Churchill |
| Succeeded by | Malcolm Wallace McCutcheon |
| Minister of Transport | |
| In office June 21, 1957 – October 10, 1960 |
|
| Prime Minister | John Diefenbaker |
| Preceded by | George Carlyle Marler |
| Succeeded by | Léon Balcer |
| Member of Parliament for Northumberland (Prince Edward—Hastings; 1968–1979) |
|
| In office November 8, 1965 – November 21, 1988 |
|
| Preceded by | Pauline Jewett |
| Succeeded by | Christine Stewart |
| Member of Parliament for Broadview |
|
| In office May 15, 1950 – April 8, 1963 |
|
| Preceded by | Thomas Church |
| Succeeded by | David Hahn |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
George Harris Hees
June 17, 1910 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | June 11, 1996 (aged 85) Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Political party | Progressive Conservative |
| Spouse |
Mabel Dunlop
(m. 1934–1993) |
| Profession |
|
| Career information | |
|---|---|
| Position(s) | C |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) |
| Weight | 200 lb (91 kg) |
| College | University of Toronto & Royal Military College |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1934, 1937–38 | Toronto Argonauts |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Honours | Grey Cup champion - 1938 |
George Harris Hees (June 17, 1910 – June 11, 1996) was a Canadian politician and businessman. He was known for his work in government and his past as a talented athlete.
Contents
Early Life and Education
George Hees was born in Toronto, Ontario. He went to several schools, including Crescent School and Trinity College School. He also studied at the Royal Military College of Canada and the University of Toronto. In 1933, he spent a year studying at Cambridge University in England.
A Talented Athlete
Hees was a very good athlete. He won championships in boxing and lacrosse while at Cambridge University. He also played professional Canadian football as a star linebacker for the Toronto Argonauts. His team won the 1938 Grey Cup, which is a major championship in Canadian football.
During the Second World War, he played in a famous football game. It was called the Tea Bowl and was played in London in 1944. His Canadian Army team played against the American Army team and won the game.
Military Service in World War II
George Hees served in the Canadian Army during the Second World War. He was part of the fighting in North-West Europe. During a big battle in 1944, he bravely took command of a company of soldiers. This happened after all their officers were either killed or hurt. Hees was wounded in his arm during this battle. He was then sent back to Canada and left the army.
His Political Career
After the war, George Hees decided to enter politics. He first ran for election in 1945 but did not win. However, he won a special election in 1950 and became a member of the House of Commons of Canada. This is where elected officials make laws for Canada. He also served as the President of the Progressive Conservative Party from 1953 to 1956.
|
When his party, the Progressive Conservatives, won the election in 1957, George Hees became the Minister of Transport. In this role, he helped open the Saint Lawrence Seaway, which is a system of canals and locks that allows ships to travel from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. He also oversaw the opening of the new Halifax International Airport.
In 1960, he was given a new job as the Minister of Trade and Commerce. This meant he helped Canada trade with other countries. He was seen as a very important person in his political party during this time.
Hees left politics for a short time and became the president of the Montreal Stock Exchange. He returned to Parliament in 1965. He ran for the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party in 1967 but did not win.
Later, when Brian Mulroney became Prime Minister in 1984, Hees was named Minister of Veterans Affairs. This role meant he helped people who had served in the military. He retired from politics in 1988. In 1989, he was given the Order of Canada, which is one of the highest awards a Canadian can receive.
Today, there is a special wing for veterans at Toronto's Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre named after him.
