YORK: Remembering Donald MacDonald
Family and friends fondly recall political giant
Family and friends of the late Donald MacDonald paid a final tribute to the man they remembered as a political giant who had an "encyclopedic knowledge of the issues" that mattered to York residents and to all Ontarians.
MacDonald, who led the provincial Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) and New Democratic parties and served as MPP of York South from 1955 to 1982, died in March at the age of 94.
Guests who attended the special tribute event Wednesday at the University of Toronto's Hart House downtown included such dignitaries as former Ontario NDP leader Stephen Lewis, former Ontario premier William Davis, and current provincial NDP leader Howard Hampton.
Known to many as a tireless campaigner, MacDonald typed his own press releases and drove his own car to communities across the province including Fort Frances where Hampton worked as a boy at his grandfather's general store.
"He knew people from all walks of life. He had an incredible memory for faces, names and people," said Hampton, adding his parents and grandparents supported the CCF and subsequently the NDP because of MacDonald. "Reflecting on his life, this is someone who got things done."
MacDonald is credited with giving the NDP a strong foundation, leading the party in 1967 when it won 20 seats, a large increase from the eight obtained in the previous election.
The success of that election led to internal pressure for a change in leadership to move the party forward.
That's when Stephen Lewis, who recently served as the United Nations special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, stepped in.
"Donald didn't want me to challenge his leadership. He was hurt and dismayed," said Lewis, noting MacDonald could have won if he had mobilized his supporters. "But Donald wouldn't and couldn't hold a grudge. It was beneath him."
Instead of contesting the leadership, MacDonald decided to step down in 1970, fearing the division of the newly-formed party.
The NDP, however, failed to capitalize in the 1971 election under Lewis' leadership. MacDonald was there immediately to offer his support.
"Donald was unbelievable. He got right back into it," said Lewis, who would later lead the NDP to become the official Opposition with 38 seats in 1975. "His behaviour was far more admirable than my own."
Former Ontario premier Davis also paid his respects to MacDonald although they represented different parties.
Davis, a Progressive Conservative, joked that while MacDonald was "philosophically misguided," he made Ontario a better place to live.
"I liked him. I respected him," said Davis. "He made a great contribution to public life in this province and this country."
More locally, residents today are still benefitting from MacDonald's contributions to society through York Community Services, a multiservice agency providing accessible health, legal and social services, which he co-founded.
He also supported the Learning Enrichment Foundation (LEF) that gives new Canadians, low-income residents and their families support through skills training, said Fergy Brown, former York mayor and current LEF board president.
"His work goes on in York South," Brown said.
