Robert B. Simpson
Encyclopedia
Robert B. Simpson is a former politician
in New Brunswick, Canada, and the former Executive Director of the New Brunswick Healthcare Association.
, in 1943. He graduated from Chatham High School in 1962 and went on to obtain a BA
, BEd
, and MEd
from the University of New Brunswick
. He was a teacher, Vice Principal, and Principal in the school systems of Nackawic
and Canterbury, NB
. He is married to Rowena Simpson
, the current Mayor of Nackawic
.
from 1974-83. During this time, the Village, formed only in 1968, was formally incorporated as a Town (1976). This rapid advancement in municipal status was a feat not accomplished by any municipality in New Brunswick before or since. He was the founding president of Western New Brunswick Crimestoppers
Association and served as the Vice President of the Towns of New Brunswick Association. He was also a founding member of the Capital Region Development Corporation. In 1985, he contested the Liberal nomination for the provincial riding of York North. Six candidates vied for the nomination, and the nomination convention held in Fredericton attracted 2400 attendees - the largest individual riding nomination meeting in the history of elected politics in New Brunswick. He was elected as the Liberal member for York North in the 1987 electoral sweep by the Liberal Party, winning the seat for the Liberals with a plurality of over 3500 votes in a traditionally Tory seat. All 58 seats in New Brunswick were captured by Frank McKenna
's Liberals in that historic election. Robert Simpson became the first Liberal elected in the riding of York North since 1953.
He distinguished himself in the Legislative Assembly, serving as the Labour advocate and as the Co-Chair of the Select Committee on the Meech Lake Accord. New Brunswick's stand on the Meech Lake Accord
was one of the pivotal moments in the national debate on the Accord, which eventually met its demise following the failure of the Manitoba legislature to ratify it. He also served on the Law Amendments Committee and the Crown Corporations Committee, as well as serving as the Chair of the Economic Policy Development Committee. He was defeated in 1991 by Greg Hargrove
, the candidate representing the anti-bilingualism Confederation of Regions Party (CoR)
, which opposed official bilingualism in New Brunswick. The Confederation of Regions Party won 8 seats in the 1991 election, primarily in the Fredericton area, and formed the Official Opposition.
Simpson went on to serve as Chair of the Board of the Region 3 Health Corporation (now River Valley Health) in New Brunswick. From 2001 - 2008, he was the Executive Director of the New Brunswick Healthcare Association, a federation of the province's 8 regional health authorities. From 2008-2010, he served as the Executive Director of the New Brunswick Health Research Foundation, helping to establish a firm footing for funded health research in New Brunswick.
He retired in 2010 but continues to do consulting work.
in 1992 and the Queen's Jubilee Medal
in 2002.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in New Brunswick, Canada, and the former Executive Director of the New Brunswick Healthcare Association.
Education
Robert Simpson was born in Chatham, New BrunswickChatham, New Brunswick
Chatham is a Canadian urban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick.Prior to municipal amalgamation in 1995, Chatham was an incorporated town in Northumberland County along the south bank of the Miramichi River opposite Douglastown...
, in 1943. He graduated from Chatham High School in 1962 and went on to obtain a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
, BEd
Bed
A bed is a large piece of furniture used as a place to sleep, relax, or engage in sexual relations.Most modern beds consist of a mattress on a bed frame, with the mattress resting either on a solid base, often wooden slats, or a sprung base...
, and MEd
MED
-Medicine:* Medicine * Medication, often used in the plural "meds"* Title of Medic, the first Physician degree in Argentina* Medical Extrication Device, a device for extricating an injured patient from an accident site, such as the Kendrick Extrication Device* Minimal Erythemal Dose, the minimum...
from the University of New Brunswick
University of New Brunswick
The University of New Brunswick is a Canadian university located in the province of New Brunswick. UNB is the oldest English language university in Canada and among the first public universities in North America. The university has two main campuses: the original campus founded in 1785 in...
. He was a teacher, Vice Principal, and Principal in the school systems of Nackawic
Nackawic, New Brunswick
Nackawic is a town located 65 km west of the city of Fredericton on the east bank of the Saint John River in New Brunswick, Canada. The town occupies an area of about 9 km² and is surrounded by the parishes of Southampton and Queensbury with the Village of Millville 10 km to the north.Latitude and...
and Canterbury, NB
Canterbury, New Brunswick
Canterbury is a village in York County, in the Canadian province of New Brunswick.-History:Tracing its roots to the forestry and railway industries, Canterbury was once was home to over 1000 residents and served as a service centre for the surrounding area of western York County.There were at...
. He is married to Rowena Simpson
Rowena Simpson
Rowena E. Simpson is the seventh and current mayor of Nackawic, New Brunswick, Canada. She was elected in May, 2008, as the first woman mayor in the history of the town.She was born in Hartfield, New Brunswick, on March 20, 1946....
, the current Mayor of Nackawic
Nackawic, New Brunswick
Nackawic is a town located 65 km west of the city of Fredericton on the east bank of the Saint John River in New Brunswick, Canada. The town occupies an area of about 9 km² and is surrounded by the parishes of Southampton and Queensbury with the Village of Millville 10 km to the north.Latitude and...
.
Political career
He served as Mayor of NackawicNackawic, New Brunswick
Nackawic is a town located 65 km west of the city of Fredericton on the east bank of the Saint John River in New Brunswick, Canada. The town occupies an area of about 9 km² and is surrounded by the parishes of Southampton and Queensbury with the Village of Millville 10 km to the north.Latitude and...
from 1974-83. During this time, the Village, formed only in 1968, was formally incorporated as a Town (1976). This rapid advancement in municipal status was a feat not accomplished by any municipality in New Brunswick before or since. He was the founding president of Western New Brunswick Crimestoppers
Crimestoppers
Crime Stoppers or Crimestoppers is a program separate from the emergency telephone number system, that allows a member of the community to provide anonymous information about criminal activity. It thereby allows the person to provide crime solving assistance to the authorities without being...
Association and served as the Vice President of the Towns of New Brunswick Association. He was also a founding member of the Capital Region Development Corporation. In 1985, he contested the Liberal nomination for the provincial riding of York North. Six candidates vied for the nomination, and the nomination convention held in Fredericton attracted 2400 attendees - the largest individual riding nomination meeting in the history of elected politics in New Brunswick. He was elected as the Liberal member for York North in the 1987 electoral sweep by the Liberal Party, winning the seat for the Liberals with a plurality of over 3500 votes in a traditionally Tory seat. All 58 seats in New Brunswick were captured by Frank McKenna
Frank McKenna
Francis Joseph "Frank" McKenna, PC, OC, ONB, QC is a Canadian businessman and former politician and diplomat. He is currently Deputy Chairman of the Toronto-Dominion Bank. He served as Canadian Ambassador to the United States from 2005 to 2006...
's Liberals in that historic election. Robert Simpson became the first Liberal elected in the riding of York North since 1953.
He distinguished himself in the Legislative Assembly, serving as the Labour advocate and as the Co-Chair of the Select Committee on the Meech Lake Accord. New Brunswick's stand on the Meech Lake Accord
Meech Lake Accord
The Meech Lake Accord was a package of proposed amendments to the Constitution of Canada negotiated in 1987 by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and ten provincial premiers. It was intended to persuade the government of the Province of Quebec to endorse the 1982 Canadian Constitution and increase...
was one of the pivotal moments in the national debate on the Accord, which eventually met its demise following the failure of the Manitoba legislature to ratify it. He also served on the Law Amendments Committee and the Crown Corporations Committee, as well as serving as the Chair of the Economic Policy Development Committee. He was defeated in 1991 by Greg Hargrove
Greg Hargrove
Gregory James Hargrove is a former politician in New Brunswick, Canada. He led the New Brunswick Confederation of Regions Party from 1995-1999....
, the candidate representing the anti-bilingualism Confederation of Regions Party (CoR)
New Brunswick Confederation of Regions Party
The New Brunswick Confederation of Regions Party was a political party in the Province of New Brunswick, Canada.It was the only branch of the Confederation of Regions Party to win any seats...
, which opposed official bilingualism in New Brunswick. The Confederation of Regions Party won 8 seats in the 1991 election, primarily in the Fredericton area, and formed the Official Opposition.
Simpson went on to serve as Chair of the Board of the Region 3 Health Corporation (now River Valley Health) in New Brunswick. From 2001 - 2008, he was the Executive Director of the New Brunswick Healthcare Association, a federation of the province's 8 regional health authorities. From 2008-2010, he served as the Executive Director of the New Brunswick Health Research Foundation, helping to establish a firm footing for funded health research in New Brunswick.
He retired in 2010 but continues to do consulting work.
Awards
He was a recipient of the Canada 125 medal125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal
The 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal is a commemorative medal struck by the Royal Canadian Mint celebrating the 125th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada...
in 1992 and the Queen's Jubilee Medal
Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal
The Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal created in 2002 to mark the 50th anniversary of the accession to the throne of Queen Elizabeth II...
in 2002.