391:
In 1985, she was appointed the interim Leader of the
Opposition, becoming the first woman to serve as the Leader of a political party in New Brunswick. Following the 1987 election, she was appointed Minister of Education, becoming the first woman to hold the position. While serving as Minister of
392:
Education, she led the introduction of a province-wide universal, full-day public kindergarten program, becoming known as the "architect" of the province's kindergarten system. She was also responsible for a number of community projects in St. John, including the rebuilding of the
47:
353:
After graduating college, Dysart taught at her high school alma mater, St. Vincent's High School in Saint John. In 1967 she became a member of the school board for
District 20. She later served as chair of the board for three years, the first woman to hold the position.
406:
In addition to her political career, Dysart held a number of community leadership positions. She was president of the
Catholic Women's League Council, president of the University of New Brunswick Alumni Council, and a member of the board of governors of the
457:
Dysart died "after a period of failing health" on
December 14, 2016, at the age of 88. She was survived by her son, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren, as well as two sisters, two brothers, and a large extended family. Following her death, flags at
329:
to stay with a cousin. They returned to Canada when
Shirley was still a baby, and she was followed by seven more children: Daniel, Raymond, Kenny, Shirley Joan, Anne, John and Gerald. She often cared for her younger siblings while her parents worked.
411:. She served on the boards of the New Brunswick Music Festival, Theatre New Brunswick, the University of New Brunswick Alumni Council, Saint John Family Services, and the Irish-Canadian Cultural Association.
369:, becoming the first female Liberal, and second female of any party, to serve in the Legislative Assembly. In 1976, she served on the Bi-Centennial Celebration Committee for the Province of New Brunswick.
902:
399:
In 1991, Dysart was elected
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the first woman to hold the position. She retired from politics in 1995, not seeking re-election in the
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in the
Cathedral Parish, where they attended public schools and St. Vincent's High School. Upon graduating she studied at the New Brunswick Teachers' College and the
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In 2015 she was named a
Champion of Public Education by the national educational charity The Learning Partnership. She was also the recipient of the
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388:, holding her seat for twenty years. She remains the only Liberal politician to win five consecutive elections in Saint John.
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278:, February 22, 1928 – December 14, 2016) was an American-born Canadian teacher and a politician in the province of
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293:, the first woman to serve as the leader of a party in the provincial Legislature (1985), the first woman to be
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832:. Government of Canada, Office of the Secretary to the Governor General, Information and Media Services
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365:, suggested she run for a seat in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick; she won the seat of
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in 1928, the eldest of eight children born to
Canadians Leslie John Britt and Mary Agnes (
8:
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Shirley
Theresa Britt, traveling from Montréal, Québec, Canada to Liverpool, England;
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She attained a number of "firsts" in New Brunswick politics. She was the first female
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852:"Shirley Dysart and Roxanne Fairweather to Be Named Champions of Public Education"
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Shirley and her siblings, fifth-generation residents of Saint John, grew up in
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798:"Remembering Shirley Dysart As A Very Important Political Figure This Century"
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636:"'Author of kindergarten': Former Liberal politician Shirley Dysart mourned"
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Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada
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by the University of New Brunswick Saint John, and in 2000, she received a
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Dysart was married to H. Eric Dysart and had one son, J. E. Britt Dysart.
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607:"Dr. Daniel Leslie Britt - Brenan's Funeral Homes & Crematorium"
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Shirley Theresa Britt was born into an Irish Catholic family in
341:. She was awarded a Beaverbrook Scholarship and studied at the
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530:"Shirley Dysart, former trailblazing Liberal politician, dies"
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U.S., Records of Aliens Pre-Examined in Canada, 1904-1954
858:(Press release). The Learning Partnership. July 6, 2015
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Speakers of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
898:Members of the Executive Council of New Brunswick
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564:Fitzpatrick's Funeral Home (December 15, 2016).
462:were flown at half-staff as a sign of respect.
419:In October 1996 Dysart was awarded an honorary
321:Donovan) Britt. Her parents were both born in
151:October 23, 1978 – September 11, 1995
117:November 18, 1974 – October 23, 1978
431:in 2004. In 2012 she was a recipient of the
769:"Former N.B. MLA Shirley Dysart dies at 88"
325:, Canada, and in May 1927 they traveled to
928:Politicians from Saint John, New Brunswick
491:"Message on the passing of Shirley Dysart"
442:, and the Paul Harris Fellowship from the
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740:. University of New Brunswick. Fall 2004
611:Brenan's Funeral Homes & Crematorium
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433:Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
943:Female Canadian political party leaders
479:UK, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960
893:New Brunswick Liberal Association MLAs
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59:New Brunswick Leader of the Opposition
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590:Leslie John Britt; Mary Agnes Britt;
497:. Government of New Brunswick, Canada
291:Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
923:Women government ministers of Canada
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672:"Shirley Theresa Dysart – 1928–2016"
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913:Canadian people of American descent
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297:(1987–1991) and first woman to be
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361:the leader of the Liberal Party,
948:Canadian people of Irish descent
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427:. She was made a Member of the
908:Members of the Order of Canada
678:(in French). December 16, 2016
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711:. Government of New Brunswick
705:"Hon. Shirley Theresa Dysart"
566:"Obituary for Shirley Dysart"
536:. CBC News. December 14, 2016
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401:general election of that year
425:Red Cross Humanitarian Award
7:
933:Women MLAs in New Brunswick
339:University of New Brunswick
71:1985 – May 4, 1985
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938:Women legislative speakers
856:thelearningpartnership.ca
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953:Women opposition leaders
918:Canadian Roman Catholics
409:Beaverbrook Art Gallery
335:Saint John's East Side
327:Waltham, Massachusetts
266:Shirley Theresa Dysart
295:Minister of Education
193:Shirley Theresa Britt
460:Saint John City Hall
343:University of London
16:Canadian politician
613:. January 14, 2016
174:District abolished
128:District abolished
826:"Order of Canada"
731:"UNB Alumni News"
676:Nécrologie Canada
570:Telegraph-Journal
415:Honors and awards
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213:December 14, 2016
196:February 22, 1928
162:Robert J. Higgins
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215:(2016-12-14)
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169:Succeeded by
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123:Succeeded by
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89:Succeeded by
82:Ray Frenette
66:
20:
18:
888:2016 deaths
883:1928 births
444:Rotary Club
363:Bob Higgins
305:Early years
157:Preceded by
77:Preceded by
877:Categories
802:thewave.ca
773:ctvnews.ca
466:References
220:Saint John
640:Yahoo.com
147:In office
113:In office
67:In office
777:CTV News
617:July 21,
252:Children
299:Speaker
287:Liberal
238:Liberal
738:UNB.ca
709:gnb.ca
534:cbc.ca
495:gnb.ca
349:Career
311:Boston
244:Spouse
228:Canada
199:Boston
830:GG.ca
734:(PDF)
276:Britt
864:2016
838:2016
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647:2016
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386:1991
384:and
382:1987
378:1982
374:1978
359:1974
210:Died
189:Born
137:for
103:for
421:LLD
357:In
319:née
273:née
135:MLA
101:MLA
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
