Alastair Gillespie

Alastair William Gillespie, PC OC (May 1, 1922[1] – August 19, 2018) was a Canadian politician and businessman.

The Honourable Alastair William Gillespie PC OC
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Etobicoke
In office June 25, 1968 – May 21, 1979
Preceded by	District was created in 1966.
Succeeded by	District was abolished in 1976.
Personal details
Born	May 1, 1922 Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Died	August 19, 2018 (aged 96) Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Nationality	Canadian
Political party	Liberal
Children	2

Gillespie was born in Victoria, British Columbia to Errol Pilkington Gillespie and Catherine Beatrice (Oliver) Gillespie.

He attended Brentwood College School where he was an avid rugby player. He received a Bachelor of Commerce degree from McGill University in 1947 and a Masters of Arts from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar in 1949. He later received a Master of Commerce from the University of Toronto in 1958.[2]

Gillespie worked at educational publisher W.J. Gage & Co from 1949 to 1970, beginning in warehouse operations and finishing as director and vice president.[3]

During World War II, Gillespie served in Europe as a pilot in the Canadian Fleet Air Arm and was a Lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Navy from 1941 to 1945.[4]

He was elected to the House of Commons of Canada as a Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) for the Toronto area riding of Etobicoke in the 1968 election. He was re-elected in the 1972 and 1974 elections. He lost to Michael Wilson in the 1979 election.

Gillespie held various portfolio ministerial positions in the Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau government, including: Minister of Industry, Trade and Commerce; Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources; Minister of State for Science and Technology; and Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board. He is one of the longest serving current Privy Counsellors of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, nominated in 1971 by Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau.

In 1998, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.[5]

Gillespie was director and chairman of Creemore Springs Brewery from 1996 to 2005.[6] He was director of the Canadian Opera Company from 1981 to 1993 and president from 1986 to 1988. A member of the Campaign for Scottish Studies at the University of Guelph, he was named 2003 Scot of the Year by the Scottish Studies Society.[7] In 2010, he was awarded the office of Honorary President of the Champlain Society for his support of the advancement of knowledge of Canadian history through the publication and study of primary records.[8]

Alastair Gillespie was married to Diana Christie Gillespie (Clark, d. 2010) and has two children, Ian Gillespie and Cynthia Webb.[9] He is the grandfather[10] of former Canadian professional tennis player, Olympian, NCAA Division I women's tennis champion and Duke University Athletics Hall of Fame member Vanessa Webb.[11] He died in August 2018 at the age of 96.[12]

Bibliography

• Gillespie, Alastair W. and Irene Sage, Made in Canada: A Businessman's Adventures in Politics, Robin Brass Studio, 2010.

Archives

There is an Alastair Gillespie fonds at Library and Archives Canada.[13]

References

1. Alastair Gillespie – Parliament of Canada biography
2. Holmes, Gillian K.; Davidson, Evelyn (2001). Who's Who in Canadian Business 2001. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 9780920966600.
3. Holmes, Gillian K.; Davidson, Evelyn (2001). Who's Who in Canadian Business 2001. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 9780920966600.
4. Holmes, Gillian K.; Davidson, Evelyn (2001). Who's Who in Canadian Business 2001. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 9780920966600.
5. Order of Canada citation
6. Holmes, Gillian K.; Davidson, Evelyn (2001). Who's Who in Canadian Business 2001. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 9780920966600.
7. "The Scottish Studies Foundation". www.scottishstudies.com. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
8. University of Toronto, Champlain Society (2017). "FORMER OFFICERS OF THE CHAMPLAIN SOCIETY (1905–2017)" (PDF). UTP Journals. 1: 5 – via UTP Journals Press.
9. "Obituary of Diana Gillespie | Humphrey Funeral Home A.W. Miles-Newbigging Chapel Limited". humphreymiles.com. Retrieved 2018-08-22.
10. "globeandmail.com: WEBB/GREENE". v1.theglobeandmail.com. Retrieved 2018-08-22.
11. "Profile: Duke Hall of Fame Inductee Vanessa Webb". goduke.com. Retrieved 2018-08-22.
12. "Obituary of Alastair Gillespie". Humphrey Funeral Home. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
13. "Alastair Gillespie fonds, Library and Archives Canada". Retrieved 2020-09-03.