Robert Strachan
Robert Strachan | |
|---|---|
| In office June 12, 1952 – October 5, 1975 | |
| Preceded by | Andrew Mowatt Whisker |
| Succeeded by | Barbara Wallace |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 1, 1913 Lung Cancer |
| Political party | British Columbia New Democratic Party |
| Occupation | Carpenter/Trade Unionist |
Robert Martin Strachan (December 1, 1913 – July 21, 1981) was a trade unionist and politician. He was the longest serving Leader of the Opposition in British Columbia history.[1]
Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Strachan was a carpenter by trade. He immigrated to Canada after quitting a 10-shilling-a-week job as messenger boy in Glasgow to go to Nova Scotia on a $10-a-week farm labor scheme. He moved west, in 1931, to the northern B.C. copper-smelting town of Anyox and then to Powell River, where he became a carpenter and an active unionist eventually becoming British Columbia head of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America.[1]
In 1952, he was elected to the
He remained leader after the party transformed into the
Strachan remained in the legislature, however, and was appointed Highways Minister when the NDP formed government for the first time as a result of the
He died of lung cancer in 1981.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e Canadian Press, "Robert Strachan Led CCF-NDP in opposition for 13 years in B.C. House", Globe and Mail, July 22, 1981
- ^ Palmer, Vaughn, "Robert Bonner was the bright young Mr. Fixit for W.A.C. Bennett", Vancouver Sun, August 17, 2005
- ^ Mitchell, David J., "The power of politics A Bennett takeover to change the Socreds", Globe and Mail, October 15, 1983
- ^ Johnson, William, "Two heroic men in a conflict", Globe and Mail, July 6, 1983