Lincoln Alexander comes home

by TheSpecTV | 215 days ago | 1157 page views
In: TheSpecTV, TheSpecTV News

The dignitary list is still being firmed up, but it’s expected hundreds will pay their final respects to Lincoln Alexander when only the second full-dress state funeral in Ontario’s history is held for him Friday.

A state funeral was first accorded former Ontario premier John Robarts in 1982. The province has booked Hamilton Place for Alexander’s goodbye.

The body of Alexander, who died Friday at 90, arrived in Hamilton late Monday after lying in state at Queen’s Park for two days. Hundreds paid their respects, from former Ontario premiers David Peterson, Bob Rae and Mike Harris, to Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath and former PC leader John Tory, to citizens who got to know Alexander through the support he gave many organizations.

Alexander was the first black MP in Canadian history (representing Hamilton West) and the first black cabinet minister (Joe Clark government, 1979). He was also Ontario’s first black lieutenant governor (1985-1991) and the first black partner in a Canadian law firm.

To read the full article, visit TheSpec.com.

---