Dana Porter

Dana Harris Porter (January 14, 1901 – May 13, 1967) was a Canadian politician and jurist.

Dana Porter
Attorney General of Ontario
In office
1949–1955
PremierLeslie Frost
Preceded byLeslie Blackwell
Succeeded byKelso Roberts
Treasurer of Ontario
In office
1955–1958
PremierLeslie Frost
Preceded byLeslie Frost
Succeeded byLeslie Frost
MPP for St. George
In office
1943–1958
Preceded byIan Strachan
Succeeded byAllan Lawrence
Personal details
Born
Dana Harris Porter

(1901-01-14)January 14, 1901
Toronto, Ontario
DiedMay 13, 1967(1967-05-13) (aged 66)
Political partyConservative
ProfessionLawyer, judge

Porter was a member of the Ontario Legislature from 1943 to 1958 serving as a representative for Toronto St. George.

In 1958, Porter left politics to accept an appointment as Chief Justice of the Ontario Court of Appeal. He made a notable ruling in 1964, lifting a ban on the book Fanny Hill.

Dana Porter's son, Julian Porter, is a Canadian copyright and libel lawyer who ran unsuccessfully in the 1985 provincial election as a Progressive Conservative in the same riding formerly represented by his father.

Early life

Porter was born January 14, 1901 in Toronto. His father was Dr. George Porter was the director of health services at the University of Toronto and his brother was hockey player John Porter, who went on to serve as executive vice-president at Simpsons.[1]

After graduating from the University of Toronto in 1921, Porter went to England to continue his studies at Balliol College, Oxford from which he graduated with a master's degree in 1923. He returned to Toronto where he was called to the bar, and joined the firm of Fennel, Porter & Davis.

Porter married his wife Dorothy (née Parker) in 1929. Together they had two sons - Dana Jr. and Julian.[1]

Career

Porter entered politics in 1943 winning a seat in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario representing the downtown Toronto riding of St. George in the 1943 provincial election. First serving as parliamentary assistant to then Premier George A. Drew, Porter went on to be named Minister of Planning and Development. During his fifteen-year career in the Legislature was elected five times, never once losing an election.[1]

Porter was the first chancellor of the University of Waterloo, serving from 1960 to 1966.[2]

Death

Porter died of cancer on May 13, 1967 at Wellesley Hospital in Toronto. Following his death Ontario's Supreme Courts were recessed from May 15 until after his funeral, with county courts also closing at noon on the day of the service.[1] The funeral was held on May 16 at the Metropolitan United Church in Toronto. Led by Reverend Arthur B. B. Moore, nearly 1,000 were in attendance. Among the 23 honorary pallbearers were former prime minister John Diefenbaker, former Ontario premier John Robarts and author Claude Bissell. Following the service, Porter's body was interred at Mount Pleasant Cemetery.[3]

References
  1. "Courts closed in tribute as Dana Porter dies". Toronto Daily Star (Paywall subscription) |format= requires |url= (help). May 15, 1967. p. 26.
  2. "Waterloo, then and now". 2017-03-14. Retrieved 2018-11-17.
  3. "1,000 mourn Dana Porter at funeral". Toronto Daily Star (Paywall subscription) |format= requires |url= (help). May 17, 2016. p. 9.
Academic offices
Preceded by
New position		 Chancellor of the University of Waterloo
1960–1966		 Succeeded by
Ira G. Needles
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