Edmund L. Morris

Edmund Leverett Morris (February 24, 1923 - January 3, 2003) was a Canadian politician, broadcaster and university administrator.

Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1923, Morris attended school at Saint Mary's Boys School. After graduating high school, he pursued an undergraduate and graduate degrees in political science from Dalhousie University. After graduation he went to work for a local radio in Halifax. He was married to Lorraine Ware and had six children.

In 1953, Morris made his attempt into politics when he ran as the Progressive Conservative candidate in Halifax in the federal election of that year. Although he lost, he continued to be involved in politics at the local level, and offered himself for election again in the 1957 election, in which he was elected to the Canadian House of Commons.

Between 1957 and 1963, Morris represented the riding of Halifax in the House of Commons. He held the positions of Parliamentary Secretary to the Postmaster General, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Commerce during this time.

In 1963, Morris appointed as chief assistant to the President of Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Saint Mary's, a Catholic university administered by the Society of Jesus, saw Morris serving as one of the few lay persons on staff. Morris was instrumental in large scale building programs at the university throughout the 1960s as well as the eventual change of the university to non-denominational institution in 1970. Morris served as Interim President of Saint Mary's University during the school year 1970-1971.

Between 1974 and 1980 Morris served as Mayor of the City of Halifax.

After stepping down as Mayor of Halifax, Morris, entered Provincial politics by standing as the Progressive Conservative candidate in the urban riding of Halifax Needham, during a by-election, on May 6, 1980. Morris won the seat by a mere 26 votes. Morris was re-elected in 1981 and 1984. Morris served as Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Municipal Affairs, Fisheries and Social Services.

Morris received an honorary degree, Doctor of Civil Law, from Saint Mary's University in 1986.

References

*Beck, J. Murray. "Politics of Nova Scotia: Vol. Two: Murray to Buchanan, 1896-1988". Tantallon, Nova Scotia: Four East Publications, 1988.