Jack Shields

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Jack Shields

| image =

| imagesize = 150px

| caption =

| parliament = Canadian

| riding = Athabasca

| term_start = 2 February 1980

| term_end = 24 October 1993

| predecessor = Paul Yewchuk

| successor = David Chatters

| birth_name = John Wendele Shields

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1929|12|25}}

| birth_place = Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada

| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2004|11|29|1929|12|25}}

| death_place = Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

| spouse =

| residence =

| profession =

| party = Progressive Conservative

| allegiance = {{flag|Canada|1868}}

| branch = Canadian Army

| serviceyears = 1947–1957

| rank = Warrant officer

| unit = Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry

| battles = Korean War

}}

John Wendele Shields (25 December 1929 – 29 November 2004) was a Progressive Conservative member of the House of Commons of Canada. He was a soldier, businessman, and teacher by career.

Born in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Shields served with the Canadian Army in Korea. He left the military in 1958 to complete high school and went on to earn a degree in education from the University of Alberta.

During his time as a Member of Parliament (MP), he represented the northeast Alberta riding of Athabasca. He was elected in the 1980, 1984, and 1988 federal elections. He served in the 32nd, 33rd and 34th Canadian Parliaments.

In 1991, Shields incurred controversy for allegedly shouting "Shut up, Sambo" to New Democratic Party MP Howard McCurdy, the only black member of Parliament serving at the time.{{cite news | url=https://vancouversun.com/Notable+gaffes+transgressions+from+Canada+past/1678883/story.html | title=Words of the unwise | newspaper=Vancouver Sun | date=9 June 2009 | author=Global News | access-date=4 October 2018 | archive-date=16 December 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216021539/https://vancouversun.com/Notable+gaffes+transgressions+from+Canada+past/1678883/story.html | url-status=dead }} Shields denied ever making the comments.

Shields left federal politics after his defeat in the 1993 federal election to David Chatters of the Reform Party; he lost over half of his vote from 1988.

He died of heart failure following bladder surgery at the age of 74.

Member of the House of Commons, 1980–1993

Elected to the House of Commons in February 1980, served until October 1993
Opposition Deputy Critic - Energy, 1980–1984
Chairman of the Alberta Caucus, 1982–1992
Governor General Appointments, 1984–1992
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment and Immigration
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs

Canadian Armed Forces, 1947–1957

1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
Airborne Regiment
2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
Served in Korean War as Platoon Sgt., 1950–1951
Discharged in 1957, having achieved rank of Warrant Officer

Decorations and honours

Canadian Armed Forces Decoration (CD)
Korean Volunteer Services Medal (KVSM)
Korean Champaign Medal
United Nations Medal for Korea
Ambassador for Peace Medal (Korean Veterans Association){{cite web | url=https://albertaonrecord.ca/jack-shields-korean-war-records | title=Jack Shields Korean War Records | publisher=Archives Society of Alberta | accessdate=25 January 2021 }}

Tributes

On 1 December 2004, Brian Jean, Member of Parliament for Shields' former riding of Fort McMurray—Athabasca, rose in the House of Commons to pay the following tribute:

{{cquote|Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to Jack Shields, a member of this House from 1980 to 1993, who died two days ago after battling with cancer. Born in Alberta, Mr. Shields moved to Fort McMurray in 1963 after serving in the Korean war. He was the founding president of Keyano College, now an internationally recognized school. He was the president of the Chamber of Commerce, founding member and president of the Kinsmen Club, chairman of the Public School Board and owned many businesses employing hundreds of local persons throughout the years. He was a very colourful character known for his humour, creativity and generosity. He was a man who year after year would fly his own private plane to the Indian hamlet of Janvier and, dressed up as jolly old Saint Nick, would distribute hundreds of toys to infant aboriginal children. He was a man of the people for the people of Canada and was a true Albertan. He will be missed by his wife, Pat, and family members in Alberta.}}

References

External links

{{Canadian Parliament links|ID=361}}
{{Cite news | url=http://exparl.ca/pdf/Beyond-the-Hill-Winter05_e.pdf | title=Beyond the Hill | date=Winter 2005 | publisher=Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians | access-date=24 June 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070315155218/http://www.exparl.ca/pdf/Beyond-the-Hill-Winter05_e.pdf | archive-date=15 March 2007 | url-status=dead }} (obituary)
{{Cite web | url=http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?pub=hansard&mee=36&parl=38&ses=1&language=E&x=1#SOB-1044280 | title=Hansard | date=1 December 2006 | access-date=4 July 2007 | archive-date=25 May 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525034522/http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?language=E&mee=36&parl=38&pub=hansard&ses=1&x=1#SOB-1044280 | url-status=dead }}

__NOTOC__

Category:1929 births

Category:2004 deaths

Category:Canadian military personnel of the Korean War

Category:Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Alberta

Category:People from Grande Prairie

Category:Progressive Conservative Party of Canada MPs

Category:Canadian military personnel from Alberta

Category:Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry soldiers

Category:20th-century members of the House of Commons of Canada