Stanley Knowles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Stanley Knowles
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Knowles in the 1940s
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| New Democratic Party House Leader | |
| In office 1962–1981 |
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| Leader | Tommy Douglas David Lewis Ed Broadbent |
| Succeeded by | Ian Deans |
| New Democratic Party Whip | |
| In office 1962–1972 |
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| Leader | Tommy Douglas David Lewis |
| Co-operative Commonwealth Federation Whip | |
| In office 1944–1958 |
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| Leader | M. J. Coldwell Hazen Argue |
| Preceded by | Tommy Douglas |
| Succeeded by | Tommy Douglas |
| Member of Parliament for Winnipeg North Centre |
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| In office June 18, 1962 – September 3, 1984 |
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| Preceded by | John MacLean |
| Succeeded by | Cyril Keeper |
| In office November 30, 1942 – March 30, 1958 |
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| Preceded by | J. S. Woodsworth |
| Succeeded by | John MacLean |
| Executive Vice President of the Canadian Labour Congress | |
| In office 1958–1962 Serving with William Dodge
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| President | Claude Jodoin |
| Preceded by | Gordon G. Cushing |
| Succeeded by | Joe Morris |
| Member of the Winnipeg City Council | |
| In office 1941–1942 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Stanley Howard Knowles
June 18, 1908 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Died | June 9, 1997 (aged 88) Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Political party | New Democratic Party (1961–1997) Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (1935–1961) |
| Alma mater | Brandon College United College University of Manitoba |
| Profession | Clergyman |
Stanley Howard Knowles (June 18, 1908 – June 9, 1997) was a very important Canadian politician. He served in the Parliament of Canada for many years. Knowles represented the area of Winnipeg North Centre from 1942 to 1958. He was part of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) party. Later, from 1962 to 1984, he represented the New Democratic Party (NDP), which was the CCF's new name.
Many people saw Knowles as the top expert on how Parliament works. He was a leader for the CCF and NDP parties for decades. He also strongly supported social justice, which means fairness for everyone in society. He helped convince the government to increase payments for seniors. He also helped create the Canada Pension Plan, which helps people save for retirement. These were big steps in building Canada's welfare state, which provides support for citizens.
Early Life and Education
Stanley Knowles was born in Los Angeles, California, in the United States. He was the third child of Margaret and Stanley Ernest Knowles, who were from Canada. His father was a machinist from Nova Scotia. His mother's family was from New Brunswick. His parents moved to the United States in 1904.
When Stanley was 16, he visited relatives in Canada. He decided to stay and study at Brandon College in 1927. He grew up in a strict Methodist church. But he became interested in the idea of the "social gospel." This idea means that Christians should work to make society better. He became a United Church minister in 1933. He was inspired after meeting J. S. Woodsworth, a social justice leader.
Political Journey
Knowles joined the CCF party in 1934, during the Great Depression. This was a time when many people had no jobs and struggled. He tried to get elected to the House of Commons of Canada in 1935 and 1940 but did not win. He also ran for a seat in the Manitoba government in 1941.
He was first elected to the House of Commons in 1942. This happened in a special election after the death of former CCF leader J. S. Woodsworth. Knowles became very skilled at understanding parliamentary procedure. This means knowing all the rules and ways that Parliament works. He used his knowledge to challenge the government. This helped lead to the government's defeat in the 1957 election.
Progressive Conservative Party leader John Diefenbaker was impressed by Knowles. When Diefenbaker became prime minister in 1957, he asked Knowles to become the Speaker of the House. This person acts as a referee in Parliament. But Knowles said no. In 1958, Knowles lost his seat in an election. This was a tough time for the CCF party.
After losing his seat, Knowles worked for the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). This is a large group that represents workers. He worked with David Lewis to create a new political party. This new party would bring together the CCF and the labour movement. This new party was called the New Democratic Party (NDP). It started in 1961.
Knowles ran for his old seat again in 1962 as an NDP candidate, and he won! He played a key role in the 1960s and 1970s. During these years, no single party had a majority of seats in Parliament. This meant the NDP had a lot of power. Knowles used this power to convince the Liberal governments to pass laws that helped people.
Knowles was also known for not taking many of the extra benefits that politicians could get. When he was in Ottawa, he stayed with a family instead of buying his own home. A book about his life was written by Susan Mann in 1982. In 1979, he became a member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada. This is a special group of advisors to the Queen, chosen by the Prime Minister.
Retirement and Legacy
Knowles had multiple sclerosis from 1946. This is a disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. In 1981, he had a stroke, which made it hard for him to continue working. He retired from politics in 1984.
After he retired, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau gave him a special honor. He was made an honorary officer of the House of Commons. This allowed him to watch debates from the floor of the House. He often did this until more strokes made him unable to leave his bed.
In 1984, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. This is one of the highest honors a Canadian can receive. From 1970 to 1990, he was the chancellor of Brandon University. The student union building at the university is named after him and Tommy Douglas. There is also an elementary and junior high school in Winnipeg named after him. Stanley Knowles passed away in 1997.
Images for kids
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Knowles in the 1940s
Archives
There are many historical documents about Stanley Knowles at Library and Archives Canada. The special reference number for these documents is R6931.
