Wilf Spooner

Who is Wilf Spooner?

Joseph Wilfred Spooner was a Canadian politician. His political career began as a Councillor in the City of Timmins, Ontario, from 1939-1951 and then as mayor of Timmins from 1952 to 1955, He was then elected to represent the electoral district of Cochrane South in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1955 to 1967 as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario. He was considered an extremely influential voice for Northern Ontario during his time at Queen's Park. He held three different Ministerial positions, including serving as Minister of Lands and Forests, Minister of Mines and Minister of Municipal Affairs. As Minister of Mines, he is credited with implementing important health and safety initiatives in response to the dire working conditions in the gold mines in the Kirkland Lake district. As Minister of Lands and Forests, he expanded the provincial park system.

In 1978, Premier Bill Davis appointed Spooner as the Chair of the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission. Outside of politics, Spooner was an accountant and worked for an insurance agency serving clients in northeastern Ontario. Spooner was one of the Charter members of the Rotary Club of Timmins. He was married to Gertrude and had two children.