Bruce Owen

Bruce Owen (May 24, 1931 – February 7, 2022) was a Canadian lawyer and politician in Ontario. He served as a Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1987 to 1990, representing Simcoe Centre for the provincial Liberal Party.

Not to be confused with Bruce M. Owen.

Bruce Owen
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament
for Simcoe Centre
In office
1987–1990
Preceded byEarl W. Rowe
Succeeded byPaul Wessenger
Personal details
Born(1931-05-24)May 24, 1931
Chatham, Ontario, Canada
DiedFebruary 7, 2022(2022-02-07) (aged 90)
Barrie, Ontario, Canada
Political partyLiberal
SpouseAnne
Children3
ProfessionLawyer

Early life

Bruce Owen was born in Chatham, Ontario, on May 24, 1931.[1] He studied at the University of Western Ontario and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, before obtaining a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Toronto. He later earned a Bachelor of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School.[2] He specialized in real estate law and wills and estates.[3] Owen relocated to Barrie in 1959.[4] In the 1960s, he served two terms as an alderman for Barrie City Council. He also served as a judge for the small claims court.[3]

Political career

Bruce Owen ran for the House of Commons of Canada three times as a candidate of the Liberal Party of Canada. He lost to P.B. Rynard of the Progressive Conservative Party (PC) in Simcoe North in the 1972 election, and to PC Ronald A. Stewart in Simcoe South in the elections of 1980 and 1984.[5][6][7]

Owen ran for the Ontario legislature in the 1967 provincial election, but lost to PC candidate Arthur Evans by 2,530 votes in Simcoe Centre.[8] He ran again in the 1981 election, and lost to PC candidate George Taylor by a wider margin.[9] Owen was finally elected in the 1987 election, defeating PC incumbent Earl W. Rowe by 2,492 votes in Simcoe Centre.[10] He served as a backbench member of David Peterson's Liberal majority government for the next three years. During his tenure as an MPP, he played a pivotal role in bringing a Honda car plant to Alliston, as well as obtaining site approval for the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre. He also tabled legislation to prohibit smoking in workplaces.[11][12]

The Liberals were defeated in the 1990 provincial election, and Bruce Owen lost his seat to Paul Wessenger of the NDP by almost 3,000 votes.[13] He attempted a comeback in the 1995 election, but lost to PC candidate Joe Tascona by 17,729 votes.[14]

Outside politics

Owen was the programme chairman of the Barrie Concert Association, and has presented numerous programs of classical music in the city including the "Colours of Music" festivals.[15] He was a vocal soloist for several churches in Barrie, and performed a solo in the papal choir when Pope John Paul II visited the city and the nearby Martyrs' Shrine in 1984.[3][11]

Owen presented a plan to city council for a new arts theatre in 2005, noting that the existing Fisher Auditorium is showing signs of age. His plan has been supported by some figures in the tourism sector.[16]

Personal life

Owen was married to Anne[3] until her death in 2018. Together, they had three children: Trevor, Valerie, and Pamela. They resided in Shanty Bay.[3]

Owen died at the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre in Barrie, Ontario, on February 7, 2022, at the age of 90. He had suffered a heart attack prior to his death.[3][11]

References
  1. "Bruce Owen obituary". Tribute Archive. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  2. "Bruce Owen". Owen & Associates Law. March 16, 2015. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  3. Bruineman, Marg. (February 9, 2022). "Barrie community mourns 'passing of a legend'". BarrieToday.com. Village Media. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  4. Roberts, Dana (February 10, 2022). "Longstanding Barrie politician, Bruce Owen, dies at 90". CTV News. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  5. "How the 1,117 candidates fared across Canada". The Toronto Star. October 31, 1972. p. 15.
  6. "Election '80". The Toronto Star. February 19, 1987. p. B7.
  7. "How Canada voted". The Globe and Mail. September 5, 1984. pp. 14–15.
  8. Canadian Press (October 18, 1967). "Tories win, but..." The Windsor Star. Windsor, Ontario. p. B2. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  9. Canadian Press (March 20, 1981). "Winds of change, sea of security". The Windsor Star. Windsor, Ontario. p. 22. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
  10. "Results from individual ridings". The Windsor Star. September 11, 1987. p. F2.
  11. Simon, Chris (February 10, 2022). "'A true champion of the arts': Former Liberal MPP, ex-Barrie alderman and Kempenfest founder remembered". Barrie Advance. Archived from the original on February 11, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  12. "Owen, Bruce – Obituary". BarrieToday.com. Village Media. February 8, 2022. Archived from the original on February 11, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  13. "Ontario election: Riding-by-riding voting results". The Globe and Mail. September 7, 1990. p. A12.
  14. "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. June 8, 1995. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
  15. "Barrie's festival of many colours". Toronto Star. October 3, 2009. p. E6.
  16. Watt, Laurie (April 8, 2005). "Arts Council scales back plans for new theatre". Advance. Barrie, Ont. p. 1.
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