He was a Knight of Justice in the Venerable Order of Saint John and a Knight Commander of Merit in the Order of Lazarus. In 1999 he was the first recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians. In 1993 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. John was named Brockville Citizen of the Year in 1967. Proud of his military associations, he held honorary militia appointments of LCol and then Col with the 30th Field Artillery Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery from 1972 to 1982. He was a driving force in the foundation of the Canadian Heraldic Authority. Heraldry was another of John's passionate pursuits. He also provided the concept and the background research that led to the design of the Order of Canada in 1967.A devoted Mason, he was a member of numerous lodges in Ontario and Quebec and cherished the practice of Freemasonry. Years later, his masters thesis was published under the title "Canada's Flag: A Search for a Country". In 1985 he was appointed a Judge of the District Court of Ontario and served on the Ontario Court of Justice (General Division) from 1990 to 1992.During his political career, John was a leading member of the parliamentary committee, which successfully shepherded the adoption of the Canadian (Maple Leaf) flag by parliament in 1965. In 1979 he moved to the County Court of Lanark, Perth Ontario. In 1968, he returned to the practice of law and was appointed Judge for the Judicial District of Ottawa-Carleton. He was re-elected in 1962, 1963, and 1965 and served as Parliamentary Secretary to Prime Minister Pearson. John was elected Federal Member of Parliament for Leeds in a 1961 by-election. He also received Honorary Doctorates from Queen's University and the Royal Military College in Kingston.John's loyalty and service to his alma mater, Queen's University, were exemplified by his Chairmanship of the Board of Management of Queen's Theological College, tenure as a University Councillor, founding membership in the Cha Gheill Society, and two decades on the Board of Trustees.In 1948 John and Edith settled in Brockville, where he was a founding member of the firm Matheson, Henderson and Hart. John was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1967. He later earned degrees from Mount Allison University (Master of Arts), and the University of Western Ontario (Master of Laws). They married in 1945, after which John studied Law at Osgoode Hall, graduating in 1948. He convalesced at the Veterans Hospital in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, where he met Edith Bickley. As a Forward Observation Officer, he was wounded near Ortona, Italy in 1943. He served in World War II with the First Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, 1st Canadian Infantry Division. He attended Queen's University, graduating in 1940 with a B.A. Alexander Dawson Matheson, John was born in Arundel and raised in Quebec City. The Honourable John Ross Matheson of Kingston ON formerly of Gananoque, Rideau Ferry, Ottawa, Brockville, Barrie, Toronto, Kingston, Montreal, and Quebec City passed away Friday morning, from respiratory complications, in the loving presence of his children and grandchildren at Kingston General Hospital.The oldest child of Gertrude (McCuaig) and Rev. Obituaries "M" Surnames, death notices The following obits have been forwarded to me by Heather Umelas WHEN YOU Choose to PURCHASE A BOOK OR CD FROM US YOU ARE MAKING A DONATION TO ASSIST US IN CONTINUING OUR JOURNEY IN PRESERVING GLENGARRY COUNTY & AREA HISTORY Our titles in most cases are always available for those interested individuals who desire to purchase a copy & support our efforts. Get a Free Search Engine for Your Web Site
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