Gordon Brown
Member of Parliament Leeds-Grenville, Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes
When Caroline and I moved to Gananoque, we immediately began bumping into and meeting our local MP, Gord Brown. He was everywhere and knew everyone. I had worked in Canadian television news and documentary programming for years but had never met a politician who worked so hard for his riding and was so immediately likeable. I wanted to help him if I could in the 2016 election so I called to arrange breakfast. It was a very early breakfast of course, because Gord had an outrageously full calendar … as always. Over the next few months we had opportunities to talk and we eventually interviewed him on camera about his life and what drove him to work so hard for his constituents. That was 2015.
Gord passed away in his Parliament Hill office on May 2, 2018, age 57 after a morning hockey game with friends.
Next to his young family, hockey was his passion and he was instrumental in beginning the campaign for a second artificial ice surface in Gananoque, where hockey players, ice dancers and skaters could get time. The Canada 150 Parliament Hill rink has now been promised to Gananoque, but additional funding is required. Please watch your inbox and local media for upcoming and ongoing fund raising initiatives.
We produced this short tribute video called “Remembering a Champion” for the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville Economic Development Office. On their 10th EconDev summit anniversary held recently, they said thanks to Gord for all he had done for the riding and our country.
