Paul Yakabuski
Encyclopedia
Paul Joseph Yakabuski was a politician in Ontario
, Canada
. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1963 to 1987, as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party
.
Yakabuski was born in Barry's Bay
, Ontario
, where his family had lived for more than a century after emigrating from the Kashub area of Poland
. He married Doreen Mary Conway on December 7, 1946, and the couple had fourteen childreen. Fellow Progressive Conservative Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Norm Sterling
once joked that Yakabuski "thought in terms of campaign organization" in his family planning.http://www.ontla.on.ca/hansard/house_debates/34_parl/session1/L002.htm#P41_13308
Yakabuski served overseas in World War II
as an infantryman with the Glengarry Highlanders. On returning to Canada, he joined his father in managing the family's hardware, building supply and furniture business. He was elected to the Barry's Bay council in 1951 by a single vote, was Reeve of Barry's Bay from 1952 to 1961, and served on the St. Francis Memorial Hospital Board from 1955 to 1962. He was a Roman Catholic, and a member of the Knights of Columbus
.
Yakabuski was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1963 provincial election
, defeating Liberal Party
candidate Leonard Quilty by 889 votes in Renfrew South
. He was re-elected over Quilty by an increased margin in the 1967 election
, and was returned without difficulty in 1971
and 1975
. After a narrow victory over Liberal Dick Trainor in the 1977 election
, he was again elected without difficulty in 1981
and 1985
.
Despite his long service in the legislature, Yakabuski was never appointed to cabinet. He was a backbench supporter of the John Robarts
, Bill Davis
and Frank Miller
administrations. Yakabuski was however, appointedand served as the Parlaimentry Assistant to The Minister of Natural Resources from 1975 to 1985.
He chose not seek re-election in 1987, and died on the day of his retirement. One of Yakabuski's sons, John Yakabuski
, currently serves in the Ontario legislature for Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke
as a Progressive Conservative. Another of his sons, Kim Yakabuski, was the life partner of former Ontario Attorney General Ian Scott. Yakabuski was also the cousin-in-law of prominent Liberal politician Sean Conway
.
There is currently a Paul J Yakabuski Community Centre in Barry's Bay.
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
from 1963 to 1987, as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario , is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. The party was known for many years as "Ontario's natural governing party." It has ruled the province for 80 of the years since Confederation, including an uninterrupted run from 1943 to 1985...
.
Yakabuski was born in Barry's Bay
Barry's Bay, Ontario
Barry's Bay is a community in the township of Madawaska Valley, Ontario, Canada, located two hours west of Ottawa on the shores of Kamaniskeg Lake, with a population of approximately 1,300 people...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, where his family had lived for more than a century after emigrating from the Kashub area of Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. He married Doreen Mary Conway on December 7, 1946, and the couple had fourteen childreen. Fellow Progressive Conservative Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Norm Sterling
Norm Sterling
Norman William Sterling is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He is one of the longest-serving members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, having been first elected in 1977....
once joked that Yakabuski "thought in terms of campaign organization" in his family planning.http://www.ontla.on.ca/hansard/house_debates/34_parl/session1/L002.htm#P41_13308
Yakabuski served overseas in 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...
as an infantryman with the Glengarry Highlanders. On returning to Canada, he joined his father in managing the family's hardware, building supply and furniture business. He was elected to the Barry's Bay council in 1951 by a single vote, was Reeve of Barry's Bay from 1952 to 1961, and served on the St. Francis Memorial Hospital Board from 1955 to 1962. He was a Roman Catholic, and a member of the Knights of Columbus
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in the United States in 1882, it is named in honor of Christopher Columbus....
.
Yakabuski was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1963 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1963
The Ontario general election of 1963 was held on September 25, 1963, to elect the 108 members of the 27th Legislative Assembly of Ontario of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, defeating Liberal Party
Ontario Liberal Party
The Ontario Liberal Party is a provincial political party in the province of Ontario, Canada. It has formed the Government of Ontario since the provincial election of 2003. The party is ideologically aligned with the Liberal Party of Canada but the two parties are organizationally independent and...
candidate Leonard Quilty by 889 votes in Renfrew South
Renfrew South
Renfrew South was a federal and provincial electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1968, and in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. It was located in the province of Ontario...
. He was re-elected over Quilty by an increased margin in the 1967 election
Ontario general election, 1967
The Ontario general election of 1967 was held on October 17, 1967, to elect the 117 members of the 28th Legislative Assembly of Ontario of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, and was returned without difficulty in 1971
Ontario general election, 1971
The Ontario general election of 1971 was held on October 21, 1971, to elect the 117 members of the 29th Legislative Assembly of Ontario of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
and 1975
Ontario general election, 1975
The Ontario general election of 1975 was held on September 18, 1975, to elect the 125 members of the 30th Legislative Assembly of Ontario of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
. After a narrow victory over Liberal Dick Trainor in the 1977 election
Ontario general election, 1977
The Ontario general election of 1977 was held on June 9, 1977, to elect the 125 members of the 31st Legislative Assembly of Ontario of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, he was again elected without difficulty in 1981
Ontario general election, 1981
The Ontario general election of 1981 was held on March 19, 1981, to elect members of the 32nd Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
and 1985
Ontario general election, 1985
The Ontario general election of 1985 was held on May 2, 1985, to elect members of the 33rd Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada...
.
Despite his long service in the legislature, Yakabuski was never appointed to cabinet. He was a backbench supporter of the John Robarts
John Robarts
John Parmenter Robarts, PC, CC, QC was a Canadian lawyer and statesman, and the 17th Premier of Ontario.-Early life:...
, Bill Davis
Bill Davis
William Grenville "Bill" Davis, was the 18th Premier of Ontario, Canada, from 1971 to 1985. Davis was first elected as the MPP for Peel in the 1959 provincial election where he was a backbencher in Leslie Frost's government. Under John Robarts, he was a cabinet minister overseeing the education...
and Frank Miller
Frank Miller (politician)
Frank Stuart Miller, was a Canadian politician, who served as the 19th Premier of Ontario for four months in 1985.-Early life and political career:...
administrations. Yakabuski was however, appointedand served as the Parlaimentry Assistant to The Minister of Natural Resources from 1975 to 1985.
He chose not seek re-election in 1987, and died on the day of his retirement. One of Yakabuski's sons, John Yakabuski
John Yakabuski
John Yakabuski is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He is a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, representing the eastern Ontario riding of Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke for the Progressive Conservative Party...
, currently serves in the Ontario legislature for Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke
Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke
Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1979.It is represented by Cheryl Gallant of the Conservative Party....
as a Progressive Conservative. Another of his sons, Kim Yakabuski, was the life partner of former Ontario Attorney General Ian Scott. Yakabuski was also the cousin-in-law of prominent Liberal politician Sean Conway
Sean Conway
Sean Conway is a Canadian university professor and administrator. He served for 28 years as a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, from 1975 to 2003, and was a high-profile cabinet minister in the government of David Peterson...
.
There is currently a Paul J Yakabuski Community Centre in Barry's Bay.