1969 Fredericton Encaenia

Wishart, Arthur Allison

Doctor of Civil Law (D.C.L.)

Orator: MacNutt, W. Stewart

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L to R: Arthur Allison Wishart, Sir Max Aitken
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Source: UA PC-4a no.2(6); Photo by Joe Stone

Citation:

ENCAENIA, MAY, 1969
ARTHUR ALLISON WISHART
to be Doctor of Civil Law

Arthur Allison Wishart, a graduate in Arts of this University, is Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Ontario. Within a year of his first election to the Legislature he was appointed senior provincial law officer of the Crown. His extensive experience in legal practice in Windsor, in Blind River, and in Sault Ste. Marie, together with his background in municipal government (he has served as city solicitor, alderman, and mayor) provided excellent training for his present office, requiring skill and insight in both law and politics. He has been an undoubted success. An Ontario journalist recently referred to his "distinctive, humane, civilized parliamentary style", and said of him -- "he is just about the perfect Attorney General." And a political opponent once remarked: "If you want to dislike Arthur Wishart, you have to keep away from him."

We in New Brunswick are, of course, not surprised that one of our own, born near Chipman, educated at North Forks in Sunbury County and at Fredericton High School, should have been so successful at Osgoode Hall, as a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, and now a cabinet minister. Arthur Wishart was, after all, a member of the University of New Brunswick Rugby Championship Team during his undergraduate years.

Through his participation in the recent Constitutional Conferences, Mr. Wishart has become a national figure. Listening to his contributions to "the great debate", we have been impressed by his cool, reasoned assessment of the role of a charter of human rights in a nation based on parliamentary institutions and the tradition of the common law.

We are honouring today one who is serving his province and Canada in a quiet, civilized and most distinguished way.

From: Honoris Causa - UA Case70, Box 1

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