Stanley McKeen
Encyclopedia
Stanley Stewart McKeen was a British Columbia businessman and politician.
McKeen was born in New Westminster, British Columbia
. He founded the family's tugboat
business, Straits Towing Limited, and was also chairman of Union Steamships. He also sat on the boards of directors of B.C. Forest Products Ltd, Burrard Dry Dock Ltd. and Decks-McBride Ltd.
as a Liberal MLA for Vancouver-Point Grey
but was defeated in the 1937 election
. McKeen also helped found the Non-Partisan Association
, a centre-right municipal political party in Vancouver, British Columbia which has largely dominated civic politics since the late 1930s.
During World War II
he was active helping the government raise money for the war effort and was appointed to the Canadian Senate
as a Liberal
in 1947 by Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King
. McKeen sat in the upper house
until his death at the age of 69.
McKeen also served as president of the Vancouver Board of Trade
in 1943.
His son, George McKeen, was a prominent Vancouver businessman in his own right.
McKeen was born in New Westminster, British Columbia
New Westminster, British Columbia
New Westminster is an historically important city in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, Canada, and is a member municipality of the Greater Vancouver Regional District. It was founded as the capital of the Colony of British Columbia ....
. He founded the family's tugboat
Tugboat
A tugboat is a boat that maneuvers vessels by pushing or towing them. Tugs move vessels that either should not move themselves, such as ships in a crowded harbor or a narrow canal,or those that cannot move by themselves, such as barges, disabled ships, or oil platforms. Tugboats are powerful for...
business, Straits Towing Limited, and was also chairman of Union Steamships. He also sat on the boards of directors of B.C. Forest Products Ltd, Burrard Dry Dock Ltd. and Decks-McBride Ltd.
Political career
McKeen was elected to the British Columbia Legislative Assembly in the 1933 provincial electionBritish Columbia general election, 1933
The British Columbia general election of 1933 was the eighteenth general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on September 13, 1933, and held on November 2, 1933...
as a Liberal MLA for Vancouver-Point Grey
Vancouver-Point Grey
Vancouver-Point Grey is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada. It first appeared on the hustings in the general election of 1933. It and the other new Vancouver ridings in this year, Vancouver-Burrard, Vancouver Centre and Vancouver East, were...
but was defeated in the 1937 election
British Columbia general election, 1937
The British Columbia general election of 1937 was the nineteenth general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on April 14, 1937, and held on June 1, 1937...
. McKeen also helped found the Non-Partisan Association
Non-Partisan Association
The Non-Partisan Association is a civic-level electoral organization in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. There are, and have also been in the past, Non-Partisan Association political parties in the nearby municipalities of Burnaby, Richmond and Surrey.The NPA was established in 1937 to...
, a centre-right municipal political party in Vancouver, British Columbia which has largely dominated civic politics since the late 1930s.
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 active helping the government raise money for the war effort and was appointed to the Canadian Senate
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
as a Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
in 1947 by Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King
William Lyon Mackenzie King
William Lyon Mackenzie King, PC, OM, CMG was the dominant Canadian political leader from the 1920s through the 1940s. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Canada from December 29, 1921 to June 28, 1926; from September 25, 1926 to August 7, 1930; and from October 23, 1935 to November 15, 1948...
. McKeen sat in the upper house
Upper house
An upper house, often called a senate, is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the lower house; a legislature composed of only one house is described as unicameral.- Possible specific characteristics :...
until his death at the age of 69.
McKeen also served as president of the Vancouver Board of Trade
Board of Trade
The Board of Trade is a committee of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, originating as a committee of inquiry in the 17th century and evolving gradually into a government department with a diverse range of functions...
in 1943.
His son, George McKeen, was a prominent Vancouver businessman in his own right.