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John Waldie

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John Waldie
Portrait of John Waldie (1906)
Member of Parliament
for Halton
In office
1887–1888
Preceded byWilliam McCraney
Succeeded byDavid Henderson
In office
1888–1891
Preceded byDavid Henderson
Succeeded byDavid Henderson
Personal details
BornApril 22, 1833
Hawick, Roxburghshire, Scotland
DiedJune 12, 1907
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Resting placeBurlington, Ontario, Canada
Political partyLiberal
Professionlumber merchant

John Waldie (April 22, 1833 – June 12, 1907) was a Canadian politician and businessman.

Biography

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Born in Hawick, Roxburghshire, Scotland, he moved to Canada West when still a youth.[1] When the rest of his family moved to Huron County to establish a farm,[2] he decided to remain in Nelson Township, becoming a prominent wheat merchant.[3] He was Reeve of Nelson Township for two years,[1] and was instrumental in incorporating the Village of Wellington Square in 1873.[3] After Wellington Square was amalgamated with Port Nelson to become the Village of Burlington late that year,[3] he became its Reeve for five years.[1] During that time, he was also Warden of Halton County for two years.[1]

In 1885, he sold his interest in his business to his partner, and became a lumber baron, moving to Toronto in the process.[3] He founded the Victoria Harbour Lumber Company (consolidating three mills then operating)[4] that year,[2] located at Victoria Harbour, Ontario.[3] Many of the buildings he had constructed there have since been designated as heritage properties.[5] He would acquire further mills in his lifetime, including one in Spragge, Ontario just one month before his death.[1]

He was also the President of two tanneries, located at Collingwood and Burk's Falls,[1] and was a director on the boards of the Toronto Paper Company (operating in Cornwall) and the Canada Coating Mills (located in Georgetown).[1]

Waldie was also a director of the Bank of Toronto,[1] and had also been vice-president of the Landed Banking and Loan Company in Hamilton, Ontario,[1] which later became part of Canada Permanent Trust.

He was elected to the House of Commons of Canada as a Member of the Liberal Party in the 1887 election to represent the riding of Halton, later being re-elected in 1888, but defeated in the elections of 1891 and 1896. In that time, he developed a close friendship with Wilfrid Laurier, which proved useful after he left office.[2]

Electoral record

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1896 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Henderson 2,460 50.9 -0.2
Liberal John Waldie 2,376 49.1 +0.2
Total valid votes 4,836 100.0
1891 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Henderson 2,441 51.1 +1.4
Liberal John Waldie 2,337 48.9 -1.4
Total valid votes 4,778 100.0
Canadian federal by-election, August 22, 1888
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
On Mr. Waldie being unseated, January 19, 1888, for bribery by agents, and the subsequent winner Mr. Henderson being then unseated for corrupt practices by agents
Liberal John Waldie 2,042 50.3
Conservative David Henderson 2,018 49.7 -1.4
Total valid votes 4,060 100.0
1887 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Waldie 2,222 50.1 -1.1
Conservative David Henderson 2,213 49.9
Total valid votes 4,435 100.0

Further reading

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  • Armson, Kenneth A.; McLeod, Marjorie (2007). The Legacy of John Waldie: A History of the Victoria Harbour Lumber Company. Toronto: Dundurn. ISBN 978-1-55002-758-7.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Death of John Waldie, Ex-M.P." The Acton Free Press. 20 June 1907. p. 2.
  2. ^ a b c Gillies, Mark (2 March 2015). "John Waldie 'The Father of Burlington' paid for the library and created the Greenwood cemetery". Burlington Gazette.
  3. ^ a b c d e "John Waldie: An outstanding citizen of early Burlington". Burlington Post. 8 January 2010.
  4. ^ "Victoria Harbor Lumber Company Mills". Tay Township Heritage. 28 February 2016.
  5. ^ Gillies, Mark (13 March 2015). "Gillies thinks civic recognition of John Waldie embarrassing and pathetic, suggest naming something significant after the 'Father of Burlington'". Burlington Gazette.
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