Former Premier Sterling Lyon dies after short illness

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This article was published 16/12/2010 (5419 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Sterling Lyon, who served as premier of Manitoba from 1977 to 1981, died this morning at the Grace hospital.

“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Sterling Lyon, loving husband, father and grandfather, and passionate public servant, at the age of 83 following a brief illness,” his family said in a statement.

“Dad was deeply committed to public service and known for his strong will in pursuit of the public good. But as his family we were always blessed to know him as a devoted and loving husband, father and a grandfather. Funeral arrangements will be announced shortly.”

In more than four decades of public service, Lyon served as a Crown attorney, member of the legislature, attorney general, leader of the opposition, premier and as a judge on the Manitoba Court of Appeal.

“His passionate commitment to public service is a strong example to young Manitobans,” Conservative Leader Hugh McFadyen said in a statement.

“As premier, Sterling Lyon played an important role in repatriation of the Canadian Constitution and the enactment of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. His firm belief in maintaining the supremacy of elected parliaments led to the creation of the ‘notwithstanding clause’ in the Charter,” McFadyen said. “As the leader of our great party, he believed in the importance of combining fiscal responsibility with prudent public investments to build a better future for our province.”

Born in Windsor, Ont., Lyon moved with his family to Manitoba at a young age. He graduated from the University of Winnipeg in 1948, and received an LL.B from the Manitoba Law School in 1953. For the next four years, he worked as a crown attorney.

Lyon was first elected to the legislature in 1958, representing Fort Garry. He was subsequently named attorney general in the Duff Roblin government and held several other cabinet portfolios.

In 1975, he defeated Sidney Spivak for the Progressive Conservative Party’s leadership. And in 1977, Lyon led the party to an upset victory over Edward Schreyer’s New Democrats.

In 2009, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada “for his contributions as a judge and longtime politician in Manitoba, where, as premier, he led the expansion of community-based health and social services, and modernized governmental financial procedures.”

Lyon married his wife Barbara in 1953, who predeceased him in 2006.  Lyon is survived by his five children, Nancy, Andrea, Peter, Jennifer and Jonathon, and their partners and spouses and six grandchildren.