Larry Skey
Encyclopedia
Lawrence Wilton "Larry" Skey (October 29, 1911 – May 8, 1977) was a Canadian businessman and politician.
Skey was born in London, Ontario and educated at Ridley College
and the University of Toronto
where he earned a commerce degree.
He became a chartered accountant before joining the Royal Air Force
in 1936 and went on to serve during World War II
. He was mentioned in despatches on two occasions and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
. He was active in the Norwegian Campaign
making reconnaissance flights over Norway's coast looking for German battleships. He also served in Singapore, India, Suez, Gibraltar, Malta and Malaya.
Skey was transferred to the Royal Canadian Air Force
in 1944 and served as a wing commander. He retired from the air force in 1946 after being elected to the Canadian House of Commons
as the Progressive Conservative
MP for Trinity
in the 1945 federal election
. He served for four years until he was defeated in the 1949 federal election
by Liberal Lionel Conacher
.
He returned to private life and entered the investment business ultimately becoming president and director of York Associates in Toronto and also vice-president of Canadian Scudder Investment Fund.
Skey was born in London, Ontario and educated at Ridley College
Ridley College
Ridley College is a co-educational boarding and day university-preparatory school located in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, 20 miles from Niagara Falls...
and the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
where he earned a commerce degree.
He became a chartered accountant before joining the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
in 1936 and went on to serve during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was mentioned in despatches on two occasions and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
. He was active in the Norwegian Campaign
Norwegian Campaign
The Norwegian Campaign was a military campaign that was fought in Norway during the Second World War between the Allies and Germany, after the latter's invasion of the country. In April 1940, the United Kingdom and France came to Norway's aid with an expeditionary force...
making reconnaissance flights over Norway's coast looking for German battleships. He also served in Singapore, India, Suez, Gibraltar, Malta and Malaya.
Skey was transferred to the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
in 1944 and served as a wing commander. He retired from the air force in 1946 after being elected to the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
as the Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
MP for Trinity
Trinity (electoral district)
Trinity was an electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons 1935 to 1988. It covered a portion of the western Toronto. Its name comes from the Trinity-Bellwoods area that was once home to Trinity College....
in the 1945 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1945
The Canadian federal election of 1945 was the 20th general election in Canadian history. It was held June 11, 1945 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 20th Parliament of Canada...
. He served for four years until he was defeated in the 1949 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1949
The Canadian federal election of 1949 was held on June 27 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 21st Parliament of Canada. It was the first election in Canada in almost thirty years in which the Liberal Party of Canada was not led by William Lyon Mackenzie King. King had...
by Liberal Lionel Conacher
Lionel Conacher
Lionel Pretoria Conacher, MP , nicknamed "The Big Train", was a Canadian athlete and politician. Voted the country's top athlete of the first half of the 20th century, he won championships in numerous sports. His first passion was football; he was a member of the 1921 Grey Cup champion Toronto...
.
He returned to private life and entered the investment business ultimately becoming president and director of York Associates in Toronto and also vice-president of Canadian Scudder Investment Fund.