Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to pay tribute to a great Conservative in my riding of Sarnia-Lambton, who passed away this week at the age of 96.
Ivan Mater grew up on the family farm in the prairies during the depression before joining the Royal Canadian Navy in 1941 and crossing the Atlantic 30 times during World War II.
After the war, Ivan helped to build the Sarnia General Hospital, churches, apartment buildings, and Dow Chemical. He was a long-time member of the Conservative Party, the Golden “K” Kiwanis club, the Central Baptist Church, the Shriners, and the Royal Canadian Legion.
His wisdom, his love of gardening, and his care for others will be sorely missed.
I ask members to please join me in extending sympathies to his children, his grandchildren, and his great grandchildren.