Montgomery (“Monty”) Bryden Davidson
October 13, 1935 … March 26, 2017
A beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, it is
with great sadness we announce that Monty, aged 81, passed away
peacefully at home surrounded by his family on Sunday March 26, 2017.
Monty lived a robust life and will be forever in the hearts of his
loving wife of 62 years, Margaret; his children Dean (Sharon); Debbie
(Peter); Brad (Suzie); Glenn (Dolly); Brett (Peggy), and Gregg
(Marianne); his 13 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren. Monty
will be missed by his sister Linda Bowen, his extended family of
“adopted” children and grandchildren, and his many
friends.
An activist; trade union leader; health and safety advocate; and,
proud life-long member of the New Democratic Party
(“NDP”), Monty valued and dedicated his attention to the
struggles and issues of his brothers and sisters in the Labour
Movement; to his constituents during his tenure as Member of
Provincial Parliament (“MPP”) for Cambridge, and to his
many friends across the country.
At the age of 15 Monty went to work at the Stauffer and Dobbie Co.,
textile plant in Galt, Ontario and at the age of 17 became the
plant’s shop steward. It was the plight of his fellow
workers’ at the textile plant that defined Monty’s
life’s focus to improve the standing of men, women, the less
fortunate, and most vulnerable. From the shop floor Monty moved on to
become a union organizing representative for the Textile Union Workers
of America, aiming to improve the standard of living and working
conditions of textile workers across Canada.
As a trade union organizer, Monty found a home with like-minded
individuals in the local NDP riding association where together they
would build social awareness and fight for equality. With his strong
social conscience, the support of his devoted wife Margaret, and at
the urging of his many friends and co-workers, Monty decided to take
his advocacy to a higher level. In 1975, Monty ran for a seat in
Ontario’s Provincial Parliament as the NDP candidate for the
riding of Cambridge. Monty’s, “Tomorrow Starts
Today” campaign ultimately resulted in a groundbreaking NDP
victory at the Provincial level in Cambridge. Monty continued to
represent Cambridge as its MPP until 1981. Monty would go on to work
with the Ontario Federation of Labour’s Workers Health and
Safety Centre before retiring in 1999.
Monty’s life-long contribution to the trade labour movement and
NDP in Cambridge was recently honoured through the establishment of
the Monty Davidson Labour-NDP award recognizing on an annual basis an
individual who best reflects Monty’s values and dedication to
the labour movement and NDP.
Cremation has taken place. A private family celebration of
Monty’s life and internment will follow at a later date.
In lieu of flowers donations in Monty’s memory can be made to a
social cause of one’s choice or to Toronto’s Sick
Children’s Hospital.
One election slogan is as relevant today as it was during the 1975
Provincial election campaign, “I’m for Monty.”
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Montgomery Monty Davidson.source
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