Mr. Speaker, it is with sadness that I rise now to commemorate a great citizen and a former parliamentarian, Alfred Hales, who passed away on Saturday, February 28.
Alf Hales was a long time Conservative member for the riding of Wellington South, now my riding of Guelph—Wellington. On Saturday, March 7 many people gathered in Chalmers United Church in Guelph, Ontario to say goodbye.
We said goodbye to a man whose involvement and drive for a better country and community was endless. His story is one we can look to for inspiration and one we can be proud of. His story is how a local boy gave so much to home while reaching the highest elected position in the land, a federal member of Parliament.
Born in 1909, Alf Hales attended Guelph public and high schools and graduated in 1934 from the Ontario Agricultural College, now the celebrated University of Guelph.
In 1936, during the depths of the Great Depression, he married Mary Gertrude, a marriage that lasted 62 years, right up until the day he died.
Alf Hales launched his impressive career playing football for the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL before becoming director of the Guelph YMCA. He also joined the navy reserve at the outbreak of World War II.
In quick succession, he joined the Guelph Chamber of Commerce, the Guelph Kiwanis Club and, long before environmentalism was popular, joined the Grand Valley Conservation Foundation which is still going strong today.
His political career started with his election as alderman for the city of Guelph and quickly changed to member of Parliament for Wellington South. He was the member from Guelph for seventeen and a half years, an impressive feat by anyone's standards.
Prior to his retirement in 1974, he held a number of prominent positions such as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour and chair of the public accounts committee. He was known around the House as someone who was honest and a good source of quotes for the press gallery.
One of his most important accomplishments in the House of Commons was the establishment in 1970 of the parliamentary internship program. After his retirement from active national politics, he continued to receive important appointments to committees needing the wisdom of his experience. At the same time, he continued to give with vigour and energy to the community he had already given so much to.
He joined the Guelph historical society. He was a member of the Colonel John McCrae Society and he was the first non-Italian inducted as an honorary life member to the Guelph Italian-Canadian Club.
Alf Hales' life is a testimony to selfless giving to the community. As a volunteer he helped co-ordinate the fundraising committee for the Puslinch community centre. Upon completion he handed over the key to the centre to the reeve of Puslinch township without one cent owing.
The list of Alf Hales' accomplishments and contributions is long, longer than I have time for here today. I will close by saying that Alf Hales will be missed by his wife of 62 years, Mary, his children and grandchildren and by all the people whose lives he touched.