MACEACHEN, The Honourable Allan J., P.C., O.C.

MacEachen, Hon. Allan J., 96, of East Lake Ainslie, passed away on September 12, 2017, in St. Martha’s Regional Hospital, Antigonish.

Allan J. MacEachen was born in Inverness, Nova Scotia on July 6, 1921. The son of Angus and Annie (Gillies) MacEachen, a proud member of the Clan Eachainn, which originated in Scotland in 1420, and an ardent supporter and champion of the Gaelic and Celtic heritage of Cape Breton and everywhere in North America. He was the last surviving member of his immediate family.

He was predeceased by his parents; brothers, John, William Gerald and Johnnie; sisters, Mary Tena and Flora Jane.

Following graduation from St. Francis Xavier University in 1944 with a B.A., he would go on to attain an M.A. at the University of Toronto and proceeded to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he began doctoral studies. MacEachen would serve as Professor of Economics and later Head of the Department of Economics and Social Sciences at St. Francis Xavier University. During his time on the faculty he became a leading proponent of the University’s Extension Department programs of adult education and cooperatives.

The son of a coal miner, he had first-hand exposure to the vulnerability of working families in early 20th century Canada. His advocacy of social and economic reforms led him into political action and he was nominated by the Inverness-Richmond Liberal Association as their candidate for the House of Commons in the 1953 Dominion general election. Re-elected eight times, he served as the M.P., for InvernessRichmond, 1953-58, 1962-68 and then for Cape Breton HighlandsCanso from 1968-84. Summoned to the Senate in 1984, he would serve in the upper chamber until reaching the statutory retirement age in 1996 having become one of Canada’s most respected politicians and statesmen.

Sworn into the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada on April 22, 1963, MacEachen would serve as a Minister of the Crown in the Cabinets of Lester B. Pearson, Pierre E. Trudeau and John N. Turner, holding the most senior portfolios of economic, social and foreign policy.

He ran for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada in 1968 and would serve as Interim Party Leader in 1979 prior to the return of Pierre Elliott Trudeau to politics.

His most satisfying and proudest achievements were the Medical Care Act, 1966, which would become Medicare, the Guaranteed Income Supplement for seniors and the Canada Labour Code, all which are now part of the Canadian social fabric and brought from concept to reality through skilled and patient leadership. The recipient of a number of honorary degrees, MacEachen was appointed to be an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2008.

The Government of Nova Scotia will be hosting a public celebration of the Honourable Allan J. MacEachen’s life on Sunday September 17, 2017 at 2 p.m., at the Keating Centre, St. Francis Xavier University, 1100 Convocation Boulevard, Antigonish.

A reception will follow the formal service. Guests are requested to be seated by 1:30 p.m. The order of dress is Business Attire with Decorations.

Visitation will be held Monday in Inverness Funeral Home, Inverness, NS, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral Mass will be held Tuesday in Stella Maris Catholic Church, Inverness, Reverend Bernie MacDonald presiding. Burial in the parish cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Allan J. MacEachen Institute (Dalhousie University), the Lake Ainslie Volunteer Fire Department, of the Stella Maris Cemetery Fund appreciated.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of C.L. Curry Funeral Home, Antigonish.

Online condolences: www. clcurry.com.