Thomas J. Higgins (Canadian politician)
Thomas J. Higgins | |
|---|---|
| 73rd Mayor of Saint John, New Brunswick | |
| In office February 14, 1994 – 1995 | |
| Preceded by | Elsie Wayne |
| Succeeded by | Shirley McAlary |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1931 |
| Died | August 24, 1995 (aged 63–64) |
| Spouse | Dorothy Ann MacDonald |
Thomas J. Higgins (1931[1] – August 24, 1995) was a Canadian educator and municipal politician who served as the mayor of Saint John, New Brunswick from 1994 to 1995. He was Saint John's first Catholic mayor.[2]
Life and career[edit]
Higgins attended the St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia,[3] where he met his future wife Dorothy Ann MacDonald.[4]
Higgins taught at St. Malachy's High School,[5] serving as a coach,[6] as well as a principal until his retirement.[7] During the 1970s, Higgins served as Deputy Mayor of Saint John,[8] and he was sworn in as Mayor of Saint John on February 14, 1994.[9] During his time as mayor, Higgins attended the Bangor-Saint John Sister City Exchange program, a cooperation meeting between Saint John city officials and American city officials of Bangor, Maine to discuss strengthening the relationship between Maine and New Brunswick.[10] On May 8, 1995,[11] Higgins had a memorial stone placed at Jervis Bay-Ross Memorial Park in recognition for the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #53.[12] He additionally honoured two individuals with the Freedom of the City.[13]
During the summer of 1995, Higgins resigned from his position due to declining in health. He was succeeded by Shirley McAlary, his interim mayor.[14]
Personal life and death[edit]
On August 24, 1995,[15] Higgins died from cancer.[5] His wife, Dorothy Ann Higgins, died in March 2013 at the age of 79.[4] The Thomas J. Higgins Award was created in his honour, with recipients including Moosehead Breweries.[16] His daughter, Patty Higgins, was another municipal politician who was elected to the Saint John City Council in 2008,[17] and ran for mayor of Saint John in 2016.[2]
References[edit]
- ^ "Thomas John Edward Higgins". www.ancestryinstitution.com. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
- ^ a b Goff, Shawn (April 23, 2016). "Higgins wants to improve city's fortunes". Telegraph-Journal. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ "Honour for Two Thomases; This year's winners of the Thomas J. Higgins awardboth knew the former mayor and remember him fondly". Telegraph-Journal. October 26, 2000. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ a b "Higgins was dedicated to her children, grandkids". Telegraph-Journal. March 29, 2013. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ a b Chilibeck, John (September 4, 1998). "Premier keeps pledge to youth". Telegraph-Journal. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ "Community cathedrals; The humble local hockey rink has unified Canadians for more than a century. In New Brunswick, one architectural firm is making its name designing plush, efficient arenas for the next hundred years, without neglecting the endearing nuances that made the old barns so charming. They are the new temples, writes Marty Klinkenberg". Telegraph-Journal. December 20, 2008. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
- ^ Chilibeck, John (July 11, 2008). "Ward 2 voters have intriguing choice in byelection race". Telegraph-Journal. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
- ^ "Minute Book 75". records.saintjohn.ca. Saint John Common Council. January 23, 1978. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
- ^ "Regular Council Meeting". records.saintjohn.ca. Saint John Council. January 14, 1994. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ Young, Susan (May 6, 1994). "Saint John and Bangor seek closer ties". The Bangor Daily News. p. 45. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ Canada, Veterans Affairs (February 20, 2019). "Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 53 Recognition Memorial – National Inventory of Canadian Military Memorials (NICMM) – Memorials – Remembrance – Veterans Affairs Canada". www.veterans.gc.ca. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ Goss, David (November 7, 1998). "Lest we Forget". Telegraph-Journal. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
- ^ Weisz, Marni (May 3, 1999). "Artist receives rare city honour". Telegraph-Journal. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
- ^ Campbell, Jennifer (February 19, 1998). "Store owner who ran for MP is now eyeing mayor's job". Telegraph-Journal. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
- ^ "Regular Council Meeting". records.saintjohn.ca. Saint John Common Council. August 28, 1995. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
- ^ Hawkins, Mike (September 10, 1999). "Exceptional Spirits". Telegraph-Journal. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ "'Time to get down to business and giddy-up,' says newly elected councillor". CBC News. July 15, 2008. Retrieved April 28, 2024.