William Charles Winegard, PC OC (September 17, 1924 – January 31, 2019) was a Canadian educator, engineer, scientist and member of Parliament.

William Winegard
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Guelph—Wellington
In office
November 21, 1988 – October 25, 1993
Preceded byRiding Established
Succeeded byBrenda Chamberlain
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Guelph
In office
September 4, 1984 – November 21, 1988
Preceded byJames Schroder
Succeeded byDistrict abolished in 1987
Personal details
Born
William Charles Winegard

(1924-09-17)September 17, 1924
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
DiedJanuary 31, 2019(2019-01-31) (aged 94)
Political partyProgressive Conservative
CabinetMinister for Science (1990-1993)
Minister of State (Science and Technology) (1989-1990)
CommitteesChair, Standing Committee on External Affairs and International Trade (1984-1986)
Chair, Standing Committee on External Affairs and National Defence (1984-1986)
PortfolioParliamentary Secretary to the Minister for International Trade (1988-1989)

Life and career

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Born in Hamilton, Ontario, he served during World War II in the Royal Canadian Navy from 1942 to 1945, becoming the youngest officer in the history of the Canadian Navy. His father William Winegard was a veteran of both world wars, the first mayor of Caledonia, Ontario and the founder of Winegard Motors (Caledonia). In 1952, William received his doctorate in metallurgical engineering from the University of Toronto and he taught there until 1967. From 1967 to 1975, he was President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guelph. In 1980, he was made a Fellow of the American Society for Metals (ASM).

He was elected as a Progressive Conservative Party candidate in the riding of Guelph in the 1984 federal election. He was re-elected in the 1988 election in the riding of Guelph—Wellington. He was the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for International Trade from 1988 to 1989, the Minister of State (Science and Technology) from 1989 to 1990, and the Minister for Science from 1990 to 1993.

In 1998, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.

He married Elizabeth Latham Jaques (b. Morpeth/Moraviantown, Ontario, raised Six Nations Reserve, Ontario) and they had three children, Bill, Charles and Kathryn. He resided in Guelph, Ontario and was active in many charitable organizations.

He and several other community activists, formed a group they call the Old Man's Club, and they want the site of the former Guelph Correctional Centre to remain green and are opposed to development on that land. He was also against the Ontario Liberal Government's decision to close the Guelph Pacemaker Clinic, forcing about 2,000 Guelphites, mainly seniors, to go to Kitchener for treatment.

On November 11, 2014, he spoke at the Remembrance Day service in Guelph, in which he criticized the Harper Government for its handling of Canadian Veterans.

In the Spring of 2014, the Upper Grand District School Board had named a new public school in the east end of Guelph after him. William C. Winegard Public School opened in September for the 2015 school year and has since have had Winegard make numerous honourable appearances for various events.[1]

He died on January 31, 2019, at the age of 94.[2]

Electoral record

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1988 Canadian federal election: Guelph—Wellington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative William Winegard 25,721 43.21 -6.70
Liberal Frank Gauthier 19,002 31.92 +2.69
New Democratic Alex Michalos 11,623 19.53 +0.07
Christian Heritage Peter Ellis 1,978 3.32
Green Bill Hulet 581 0.98
Libertarian Michael J. Orr 298 0.50 -0.17
Rhinoceros Marty Williams 240 0.40 -0.33
Independent Joanne Bruce 80 0.13
Total valid votes 59,523 100.00
1984 Canadian federal election: Guelph
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative William Winegard 23,484 49.91 +12.36
Liberal Jim Schroder 13,757 29.24 -9.97%
New Democratic Jim Robinson 9,153 19.45 -2.72
Rhinoceros Susie Mew Catty 343 0.73 +0.11
Libertarian Walter A. Tucker 314 0.67 +0.43
Total valid votes 47,051 100.00

References

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  1. ^ "New Guelph public school to be named after Bill Winegard". www.guelphmercury.com. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  2. ^ William C. Winegard passes at the age of 94
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Political offices
Preceded by Minister of State (Science and Technology)
1989–1990
Succeeded by
The office was abolished.
Preceded by
The office was created.
Minister for Science
1990–1993
Succeeded by