The Honourable Donald Stewart McInnes

The Honourable Donald Stewart McInnes P.C., LL.D., Q.C., LL.B. , of Halifax and Chester, died peacefully at his home on October 3, 2015, with his wife, Shirley by his side. He lived a full and joyful life, finally succumbing to multiple medical conditions at age 78. Born and educated in Halifax schools , followed by graduation from Ashbury College in Ottawa, he returned to Halifax where he obtained his undergraduate and law degrees from Dalhousie University.

Beyond his professional pursuits he was a proud servant of his community, dedicating himself to dozens of organizations, notably as a fundraiser of epic proportions. Of all his excellent qualities he was a fighter. He responded to the difficulties of his life with a resiliency and inner strength that was well known to his friends and family, beginning with his boyhood triumph over polio after months of paralysis. In a speech he gave at a fundraising breakfast for Prostate Cancer, Stewart recited his various ailments over the years and paused frequently to say: “I’m a lucky guy.”

In 1962 he followed in his father’s and his grandfather’s footsteps joining the law firm now known as McInnes Cooper, venturing twice to the Supreme Court of Canada. In 1984 he was elected to represent the people of Halifax in the House of Commons, and thereafter was appointed a Minister of the Crown, holding the portfolios of Public Works, and Supply and Service. In 1988 he returned to the practice of law, and most recently his focus was arbitration and mediation.

Stewart was a man of remarkable energy who worked to make every one of his minutes count.

He was devoted to Dalhousie University and was rewarded with an Honorary Law Degree and recently the A.J. “Sandy” Young Award for Great Contribution to Sport in Nova Scotia. He was also a member of the Bertha Wilson Honour Society and a Dalhousie Alumnus of the Year.

He was a board member of the Atlantic School of Theology, Care Canada, the Grace Maternity Hospital, the Halifax Foundation, the Mayor’s Task Force on Drugs and the Tower Road Home and School Association.

He was president of the North British Society, the Halifax Club and a trustee of St. Matthews Church. He was a director of the Canada Summer Games (1984), of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards of Nova Scotia, the Halifax Board of Trade and the Pan American Wheelchair Games.

Stewart served as president of the Halifax School for the Blind, the Hearing and Speech Clinic, various committees at Dalhousie and as a director of the CNIB (Nova Scotia). He served on the national executive of the Olympic Trust of Canada, was a national regional judge for the Canadian Entrepreneur Awards, served as a director of both Tall Ships Nova Scotia and the Nova Scotia International Air Show.

He was a member of the Halifax Millennium Committee, the Canadian Olympic Association Task Force and patron of the Dragon Boat Festival. He was a board member of the Sacred Heart School and served on the corporate committee of the Atlantic Health Promotion Research Centre. He chaired the Cornwallis Park Stakeholder Forum and was a director of the World Wildlife Fund Canada (Nova Scotia). He chaired the Dalplex campaign and many other Dalhousie initiatives; he chaired the United Way; the CNIB capital campaign and chaired the fundraising committee for the Nova Scotia Symphony Explosion,. He played a key role in several YMCA campaigns, the Pier 21 Capital Campaign, and the Community Foundation of Nova Scotia. He was a fundraiser for many years for the Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia and the Conservative Party of Canada.

He chaired the capital campaign for Alta Gymnastics Club, was a member of the campaign committee for Canadian Mental Health and the capital campaign for the Foundation for Heritage and Arts Stabilization and Enhancement. He was a director of the Parkinsons Society for the Maritimes and was a member of the fundraising committees for both the Northwood Foundation Capital Campaign and the VG Hospital Foundation.

In the business world, Stewart served on the boards of Canada Post, Western Keltic Mines, , Defence Construction Ltd., Bennett Environmental, Blackstone Resources, Fortis Properties, Maritime Life Assurance, Iona Resources, Renewable Resources Energy, Marsh Canada and Innovative Properties. He served as Chairman of Trade Centre Ltd.

He had a lifelong passion of athletics. He was a squash champion, provincially-ranked tennis player, minor and high school football coach, captain of the Dalhousie Football Team and a member of the Dalhousie Hockey Team. He was a member of both Ashburn and Chester golf clubs as well as a keen skier. A Bronze Life Master in Bridge, he was a member of the Halifax Bridge World and Bridge Studio. A master gardener, Stewart was well known for his explosion of spring bulbs where he and Shirley enjoyed hosting many colorful events. For his efforts, he was honoured in Canadian Living, Canadian Gardener and East Coast Living.

He served as President of the Canadian Bar Association (Nova Scotia) and was a recipient of the Bar’s Community Service Award. He received the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. He was named the Hedley Ivany Senior Citizen of the Year and was a member of the Dalhousie Sports Hall of Fame. He received the Significant SIG award from Sigma Chi Fraternity.

Stewart is survived by his wife of 30 years, Shirley (Bowness), children Donald (Amy Moar), Janet, Ted (Nicola Trussoni), Sarah and Constance, five grandchildren, brother Dr. Roderick (Danielle Tanguay), sister Ann (Eric Rice), sister-in-law Beverley, many nieces and nephews, as well as his former wife, Eve Wickwire. He was predeceased by parents, Donald and Betty, and brother, Hector.

Visitation will be at Cruikshanks Funeral Home, 2666 Windsor Street on Tuesday, October 6th from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. and Wednesday, October 7th, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Memorial service to be held at St. Matthews United Church, 1479 Barrington Street, at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 8th. .

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Brunswick Street Mission, 2107 Brunswick Street, Halifax B3K 2Y4 or Prostate Cancer Canada, 5121 Sackville Street, Halifax B3J 1K1. To send or view an online condolence please visit :www.cruikshankhalifaxfuneralhome.com