John Waldie

{{Infobox officeholder

| image = John Waldie 1910.jpg

| caption = Portrait of John Waldie (1906)

| term_start = 1887

| term_end = 1888

| predecessor = William McCraney

| successor = David Henderson

| birth_date = 22 April 1833

| birth_place = Hawick, Roxburghshire, Scotland

| death_date = {{d-da|12 June 1907|22 April 1833}}

| death_place = Toronto, Ontario, Canada

| resting_place = Burlington, Ontario, Canada

| profession = lumber merchant

| party = Liberal

| residence =

| riding = Halton

| portfolio =

| footnotes =

| portfolio 2 =

| term_start2 = 1888

| term_end2 = 1891

| predecessor2 = David Henderson

| successor2 = David Henderson

}}

John Waldie (22 April 1833 – 12 June 1907) was a Canadian politician and businessman.

Biography

Born in Hawick, Roxburghshire, Scotland, he moved to Canada West when still a youth.{{cite news |author= |title= Death of John Waldie, Ex-M.P.|url= http://news.haltonhills.halinet.on.ca/85846/page/2|work= The Acton Free Press|date= June 20, 1907|page=2 }} When the rest of his family moved to Huron County to establish a farm,{{cite news |last= Gillies|first= Mark|date= March 2, 2015|title= John Waldie 'The Father of Burlington' paid for the library and created the Greenwood cemetery|url= http://www.burlingtongazette.ca/john-waldie-the-father-of-burlington-paid-for-the-library-and-created-the-greenwood-cemetery/|work= Burlington Gazette}} he decided to remain in Nelson Township, becoming a prominent wheat merchant.{{cite news |author= |date= January 8, 2010|title= John Waldie: An outstanding citizen of early Burlington|url= https://www.insidehalton.com/news-story/2888760-john-waldie-an-outstanding-citizen-of-early-burlington/|work= Burlington Post}} He was Reeve of Nelson Township for two years, and was instrumental in incorporating the Village of Wellington Square in 1873. After Wellington Square was amalgamated with Port Nelson to become the Village of Burlington late that year, he became its Reeve for five years. During that time, he was also Warden of Halton County for two years.

In 1885, he sold his interest in his business to his partner, and became a lumber baron, moving to Toronto in the process. He founded the Victoria Harbour Lumber Company (consolidating three mills then operating){{cite web |url= https://taytownshipheritage.wordpress.com/2016/02/28/victoria-harbor-lumber-company-mills/|title= Victoria Harbor Lumber Company Mills|author= |date= February 28, 2016|publisher= Tay Township Heritage}} that year, located at Victoria Harbour, Ontario. Many of the buildings he had constructed there have since been designated as heritage properties.{{cite news |last= Gillies|first= Mark|date= March 13, 2015|title= Gillies thinks civic recognition of John Waldie embarrassing and pathetic, suggest naming something significant after the 'Father of Burlington'|url= http://www.burlingtongazette.ca/gillies-thinks-civic-recognition-of-john-waldie-embarrassing-and-pathetic-suggest-naming-something-significant-after-the-father-of-burlington/|work= Burlington Gazette}} He would acquire further mills in his lifetime, including one in Spragge, Ontario just one month before his death.

He was also the President of two tanneries, located at Collingwood and Burk's Falls, and was a director on the boards of the Toronto Paper Company (operating in Cornwall) and the Canada Coating Mills (located in Georgetown).

Waldie was also a director of the Bank of Toronto, and had also been vice-president of the Landed Banking and Loan Company in Hamilton, Ontario, which later became part of Canada Permanent Trust.

He was elected to the House of Commons of Canada as a Member of the Liberal Party in the 1887 election to represent the riding of Halton, later being re-elected in 1888, but defeated in the elections of 1891 and 1896. In that time, he developed a close friendship with Wilfrid Laurier, which proved useful after he left office.

Electoral record

{{CANelec|CA|Conservative (historical)|David Henderson|2,460|50.9 |-0.2}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|4,836 |100.0}}

{{CANelec|CA|Conservative (historical)|David Henderson|2,441|51.1 |+1.4}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes| 4,778|100.0}}

{{CANelec/note|On Mr. Waldie being unseated, 19 January 1888, for bribery by agents, and the subsequent winner Mr. Henderson being then unseated for corrupt practices by agents|}}

{{CANelec|CA|Conservative (historical)|David Henderson|2,018|49.7 |-1.4}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|4,060 |100.0}}

{{CANelec|CA|Conservative (historical)|David Henderson|2,213|49.9|}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|4,435 |100.0}}