Marion Dewar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marion Dewar
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Marion Dewar
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| Member of the House of Commons of Canada | |
| In office 1987–1988 |
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| Preceded by | Ian Deans |
| Succeeded by | Beth Phinney |
| Constituency | Hamilton Mountain |
| President of the New Democratic Party | |
| In office 1985–1987 |
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| Preceded by | Tony Penikett |
| Succeeded by | Johanna den Hertog |
| 52nd Mayor of Ottawa | |
| In office 1978–1985 |
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| Preceded by | Lorry Greenberg |
| Succeeded by | Jim Durrell |
| Ottawa Controller | |
| In office 1975–1978 |
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| Preceded by | Lorry Greenberg, Tom McDougall, Ernie Jones |
| Succeeded by | Brian Bourns, Bill Law |
| Ottawa Alderwoman | |
| In office 1973–1974 |
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| Preceded by | Bill Law, Ralph Sutherland |
| Succeeded by | Sandy Boyd |
| Constituency | Britannia Ward |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Marion Bell
February 17, 1928 Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Died | September 15, 2008 (aged 80) Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Political party | New Democratic Party |
| Spouse |
Ken Dewar
(m. 1951; died 2003) |
| Relations | Paul Dewar (son) |
| Children | 5 |
Marion Dewar, CM (February 17, 1928 – September 15, 2008) was an important Canadian politician. She was a member of the New Democratic Party (NDP). She served as the mayor of Ottawa from 1978 to 1985. Later, she was a member of the House of Commons of Canada from 1987 to 1988.
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Early Life and Nursing Career
Marion Bell was born in 1928 in Montreal, Quebec. She grew up in Buckingham, Quebec, near Ottawa. In 1949, she finished her nursing studies in Kingston, Ontario. She worked as a nurse in the Ottawa area until 1952.
In 1951, she married Ken Dewar. They had five children together. Marion Dewar also worked as a public health nurse. She helped people in the community stay healthy. She continued her studies in nursing science at the University of Ottawa.
Marion Dewar's Time in Ottawa City Politics
Marion Dewar started her political career in Ottawa. In 1972, she became an alderman for Britannia Ward. An alderman is like a city council member. She was elected Deputy Mayor in 1974. She held this role until 1978.
Becoming Mayor of Ottawa
In 1978, Marion Dewar was elected as the Mayor of Ottawa. She served as mayor for seven years, until 1985. As mayor, she worked on many important projects.
One of her most famous projects was "Project 4000" in 1979. She helped Ottawa residents welcome 4,000 refugees from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. This project helped many families find a new home in Canada. Today, Ottawa still has a large Vietnamese community.
Marion Dewar was also a strong supporter of peace. She spoke out for nuclear disarmament. She believed in solving problems without war.
Marion Dewar's Federal Political Career
After being mayor, Marion Dewar became involved in federal politics. From 1985 to 1987, she was the president of the federal New Democratic Party.
Serving in the House of Commons
In 1987, Marion Dewar was elected to the House of Commons of Canada. She represented the riding of Hamilton Mountain. The House of Commons is where Canada's laws are made. She served there for one year.
She ran for re-election in 1988 but lost by a very small number of votes. In 1993, she tried again to return to Parliament for the riding of Ottawa Centre. However, she was not elected.
Later Career and Community Work
Even after leaving federal politics, Marion Dewar remained active. She chaired the Ottawa-Carleton Police Services Board. This board helped combine different police forces into one.
She continued to support her community. She did volunteer work for many groups. In 1995, she became the chair of Oxfam Canada. Oxfam is an organization that works to end poverty and injustice around the world.
Her son, Paul Dewar, also became a politician. He was elected to Parliament in 2006. Marion Dewar was a strong supporter of his political career.
In 2002, Marion Dewar received a high honour. She was made a Member of the Order of Canada. This is one of Canada's highest awards for citizens.
Death and Legacy
Marion Dewar passed away on September 15, 2008, at the age of 80. She was remembered for her dedication to public service. The City of Ottawa lowered its flags to honour her. Many people attended her funeral service.
Honouring Marion Dewar's Contributions
Today, Marion Dewar's work is still remembered.
- Marion Dewar Plaza: A public space next to Ottawa City Hall is named after her. It is a place for festivals and events.
- Marion Dewar Scholarship Fund: The Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization (OCISO) created a scholarship in her name. This fund helps refugee and immigrant high school students pay for college.
Her legacy shows her commitment to helping people and building a better community.
