Don contacted the Party in 1956/58 in Victoria, BC while on
shore leave from the Royal Canadian Navy. The local paper had published an
interview with SPGB member Gilbert McLatchie (Gilmac) who was on a North American
speaking tour. It also announced a meeting that the Victoria local was holding
for Gilmac that evening. Don attended with Ruby, one of his sisters.
He consumed the first volume of "Capital" three
times during his next naval tour in 1959. Within two years he became very
active, running as the Party's candidate in the 1961 Esquimalt/ Saanich federal
by-election. It not being a general contest, the Party got coast-to- coast
media coverage. After organizing a tour of the US and Canada, he helped the
Victoria local to pressure city coun-cil to establish a "speaker's
corner" in Beacon Hill Park. He did the same with the Vancouver local for
the Brockton Oval in Stanley Park.
Don worked for Duthies book stores before moving to the
forest industry. He loved books and had a bookstore of his own. Don also worked
as an independent logger. He became curator of the Forest Museum in Duncan, BC.
He fought to better labour conditions while he was a member of the Industrial
Workers of America union. He made important safety gains and was instrumental
in getting pension rights for all. In the 1970s, Don ran against Jack Munroe
for the presidency of the 50,000-member IWA union.
Don died 8 October 2001. The socialist movement has lost an
outstanding worker.
Our condolences go out to Don's family, friends, and
comrades.
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