Gordon Chown

Who was Gordon Chown?

Gordon Campbell Chown was a Progressive Conservative party member of the Canadian House of Commons. He was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba and became a barrister and lawyer by career.

He served overseas in the army during World War Two and attained the rank of Captain. He served as President of the Young Conservatives of Manitoba, and as an Alderman of Winnipeg.

He was first elected in the Winnipeg South riding in the 1957 general election, and re-elected in the landslide 1958 election, and in the minority 1962 federal election, but was defeated in the following year's election. Chown served in the 23rd to 25th Canadian Parliaments. During his last term in the House of Commons, he served as Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committee of the Whole.

After leaving federal politics, Chown moved to Toronto. He helped to found the York County Legal Aid Plan. In 1972 he was appointed as a provincial judge, and acted in this capacity in Toronto and Hamilton until his retirement in 1992.

On 29 December 1959, he married Catherine Oliver Barton, and adopted her three children. He was a lifelong member of the Anglican Church of Canada; a Life Member of the Royal Canadian Military Institute, Toronto; and of the University of Manitoba Alumni Association. As a past member of the Royal Lake of the Woods Yacht Club and Winnipeg Winter Club, he was an avid sailor and figure skater.