Barnett Jerome "Barney" Danson PC CC (February 8, 1921 – October 17, 2011) was a Canadian politician and Cabinet minister.

Barney Danson
Minister of National Defence
In office
October 12, 1976 – June 3, 1979
Prime MinisterPierre Trudeau
Preceded byJames Armstrong Richardson
Succeeded byAllan McKinnon
Member of Parliament
for York North
In office
June 25, 1968 – May 21, 1979
Preceded byJohn Hollings Addison
Succeeded byJohn A. Gamble
Personal details
Born
Barnett Jerome Danson

(1921-02-08)February 8, 1921
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
DiedOctober 17, 2011(2011-10-17) (aged 90)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Political partyLiberal
Occupation
  • Diplomat
  • Consultant
  • Businessman
  • Consul General
AwardsOrder of Canada
Military service
Branch/serviceCanadian Army
Years of service1939-1945
RankLieutenant-colonel
UnitThe Queen's Own Rifles of Canada

Family

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Barnett Jerome "Barney" Danson was born to a Jewish family in Toronto's Parkdale neighbourhood. He joined The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada in 1939 as the Second World War broke out. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant and served until he was severely wounded, losing an eye, in the Battle of Normandy. His ailment created an interest in the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) and its library for the blind and visually impaired, which he maintained until his death.

He returned to Canada and joined his family's insurance business before entering the plastics industry with his own company, the Danson Corporation. He also served as president of the Society of the Plastics Industry of Canada.

In 2002, his autobiography, Not Bad for a Sergeant: The Memoirs of Barney Danson, was published.

His son, Tim Danson, is a Toronto lawyer known as a victim's rights advocate and for having represented the families of Paul Bernardo's victims.[1]

Politics

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Danson was first elected to the House of Commons of Canada in the 1968 general election as the Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) for the Toronto-area riding of York North. Danson was unsuccessful during his first attempt at politics as an Ontario Liberal Party candidate in the 1967 provincial election in the riding of York Mills.

In 1970, he became Parliamentary Secretary to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, and was appointed to the Cabinet in 1974 as Minister of State for urban affairs. In 1976, he was promoted to Minister of National Defence. While Minister of National Defence, he was appointed the Honorary Lieutenant Colonel of The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada, his regiment.

He served in that position until the defeat of the Liberal government in the 1979 general election, in which he lost his seat. Danson received an honorary degree (1993) from the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, of which he was a former chancellor.

As a Member of the Privy Council Danson was styled "The Honourable".

Service

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Danson is the co-founder along with Jacques Hébert of Katimavik, the national youth volunteer programme. Danson served as Canada's Consul General in Boston from 1984 to 1986.[citation needed]

He served on corporate and not-for-profit boards of directors such as the Canadian Executive Services Organization (CESO), Canadian Council of Christians and Jews, the Atlantic Council, the Empire Club of Canada, the Ballet Opera House Corporation, de Havilland Aircraft of Canada, Algoma Central Corporation, General steelwares, the Royal Conservatory of Music, and Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business.[citation needed]

During his last years, Danson was chairman of the advisory committee of the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa and produced No Price Too High, a six-part series broadcast on CBC Television on Canada's role in World War II.[citation needed]

A theatre in the Canadian War Museum is named for him in honour of his service[2] and to his four closest war-time friends killed in action; Sgt Fred B. Harris-Queen's, Lt Gerald Rayner, Lt Earl R. Stoll, and Lt Harlan David Keely.[3]

Awards

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Danson was named an Officer of France's National Order of Merit (1994), and the Churchill Society's Award for "Excellence in the Cause of Parliamentary Democracy" (1995). In 1996, Danson was named an Officer of the Order of Canada and promoted to Companion in 2008.[4]

In 2000, he was awarded the Vimy Award. In 2006, Danson was made an honorary Doctor of Laws by York University of Toronto.[citation needed]

He was sworn in as a Member of the Privy Council on August 8, 1974, which gave him the title "The Honourable" for life.[citation needed]

On March 28, 2007, he was made a Chevalier of the French Legion of Honour.[5]

  • Barney Danson's Medals were in Order of Precedence
Ribbon Description Notes
  Order of Canada (CC) 2008
  • Companion 2008
  • Officer 1996
  1939-45 Star
  France and Germany Star
  Defence Medal
  Canadian Volunteer Service Medal
  • With Overseas Clasp
  War Medal 1939–1945
  Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal 1977
  • Canadian Version of this Medal
  125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal 1992
  Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal 2002
  • Canadian Version of this Medal
  Legion of Honour 28 March 2007
  • Chevalier
  National Order of Merit 1994
  • Officer

Archives

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There is a Barney Danson fonds at Library and Archives Canada.[6]

Electoral record

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1968 Canadian federal election: York North
Party Candidate Votes
Liberal Barney Danson 24,054
Progressive Conservative Gord Hurlburt 15,693
New Democratic Jack Grant 7,000
1972 Canadian federal election: York North
Party Candidate Votes
Liberal Barney Danson 28,123
Progressive Conservative Stephen B. Roman 25,844
New Democratic Jim Reid 11,065
1974 Canadian federal election: York North
Party Candidate Votes
Liberal Barney Danson 34,179
Progressive Conservative Stephen Roman 26,386
New Democratic Jim Reid 7,669
Social Credit Victor Upeslacis 364
1979 Canadian federal election: York North
Party Candidate Votes
Progressive Conservative John A. Gamble 29,011
Liberal Barney Danson 21,990
New Democratic Bruce Searle 7,591
Libertarian Dan Davidson 430
Independent Neil Katzman 279
Marxist–Leninist Paul Herman 37

References

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  1. ^ Salutin, Rick (25 July 2003). "Tim Danson and victims' rights - The Globe and Mail". The Globe and Mail.
  2. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-07-15. Retrieved 2014-05-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "Barney Danson Theatre and plaque". National Defence Canada. 2008-04-16. Archived from the original on 2014-05-22. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  4. ^ "The Honourable Barnett J. (Barney) Danson invested as a Companion of the Order of Canada".
  5. ^ "Trudeau-era minister Barney Danson dies | CBC News".
  6. ^ "Barney Danson fonds, Library and Archives Canada". Retrieved 2020-09-03.
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