Remarkable Cornwall – Society and Politics

As Cornwall and SDG can rightfully claim to be where modern Ontario began with the arrival of the United Empire Loyalists in 1784, it is fitting that it can claim to be a leader in Canadian political and social inclusivity.

Rolland Macdonald,(1810 – 1881) elected for Cornwall and Township to sit in the Provincial legislature from 1844 – 46, is thought to be the first Metis M.L.A. to hold public office in in Canada West (Ontario).

The son of Nor’Wester John Macdonald of Garth (Inverarden) and his Metis wife Nancy Small, Macdonald was born in Fort William (Thunder Bay). He was educated in Cornwall and Montreal and was called to the Bar in 1832. Throughout his career he practiced law in Cornwall and St. Catharines, served with the Militia during the Rebellions of 1837/38, and was present at the Battle of the Windmill in Prescott. After retiring from politics, Macdonald spent the rest of his life in the Niagara Peninsula involved with the law and militia in numerous capacities.

Angus Lalonde, (1856 – 1929), Cornwall’s first French-Canadian Mayor, 1904. First elected to Town Council in 1885, founding member of Knights of Columbus Council 755.

The rapid growth of Cornwall’s cotton mills from the 1860s on attracted first Scottish labourers, then French-Canadians, who by 1881 accounted for slightly more than 30% of the town’s population. Joseph Primeau was elected Cornwall’s first franophone councillor in 1879 followed by Glengarry born entrepreneur Angus Lalonde, elected for the East Ward in 1885, a position he held for the next 13 years, until he became Cornwall’s first French-Canadian mayor in 1904.

Several generations later, the family won the Mayor’s seat again with the election of Ron Martelle.

George Simon(1890 – 1964). George Simon was elected Mayor of Alexandria in 1918 and can lay claim to either being Canada’s first Jewish Mayor or one of the first. A General Store owner, he served as mayor for 15 terms intermittently until 1962.

Until the record recently revealed Simon’s accomplishments it was universally accepted that Cornwall’s Aaron Horovitz was Canada’s first Jewish Mayor. The fact Alexandria can claim the title 12 years before Cornwall only adds to Eastern Ontario’s pride in its inclusivity. Arriving in Canada from Romania in 1910, Horovitz located here with his brother Louis, a year later to open Prince Clothing and Cornwall Pants. First elected in 1930, he waived the annual honorarium, and served 18 terms to become Cornwall’s longest serving mayor. Defeated in the election after Cornwall annexed large parts of the surrounding Township, he died according to some of a “broken heart,” in 1957.

Jean Casselman Wadds, (1920 – 2011). The daughter of politician and Lt.-Gov. of Ontario William Earl Rowe, Wadds was born into a rural farming community in Simcoe County. Wadds was elected to the House of Commons in 1958 for Grenville-Dundas, to replace her deceased husband, Morrisburg educated Arza C. Wadds. In 1961 Wadds became the first Canadian woman appointed to the Canadian delegation to the U.N. A year later, she became the first woman in Canada to be made parliamentary secretary for any government ministry. In 1979,Wadds was the first Canadian woman to be made High Commissioner for Canada (ambassador) to the United Kingdom. In this position she played a significant role in the 1982 patriation of the Canadian Constitution.

American born professional athlete Bob Turner was hired by the Town of Colborne, Ontario in 1954 making him the first municipal Black recreation director in Canada. In 1957, university Turner was lured by the City of Cornwall to become our first Recreation Directory. His personality made him the City’s most popular employee.His career was sadly cut short when he died at age 35 in 1961.

From Montreal, Senator Bernadette Clement arrived in Cornwall after completing her legal training at the University of Ottawa in 1991, to work at the non-profit Roy McMurtry Legal Clinic. A firm believer in consultation over confrontation, Clement was the first person of colour to be elected to Cornwall City Council in 2006. After unsuccessfully vying for a seat as our M.P. for the Liberals in 2011 and 2015, she was elected Ontario’s first Black woman mayor in Ontario in 2018 where her respectful approach to political life had a marked effect. Three years later, Prime Minister Trudeau appointed Clement to the Senate where to became a member of the Independent Senator’s Group. We can only wait and see with anticipation what Senator Clement’s future achievements will be.

A final thought.

With this ground breaking history don’t you think it would be a good idea to include tributes to these people along with Bob Turner to highlight not only their contributions to our community, but Cornwall’s leading role in political and social inclusivity?