Minister of Education
What was the position of Shirley Dysart in Aug 1990?
Shirley Dysart Shirley Theresa Dysart CM ( née Britt , February 22 , 1928 – December 14 , 2016 ) was an American-born Canadian teacher and a politician in the province of New Brunswick . She attained a number of firsts in New Brunswick politics . She was the first female Liberal in serve in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick , the first woman to serve as the leader of a party in the provincial Legislature ( 1985 ) , the first woman to be Minister of Education ( 1987–1991 ) and first woman to be Speaker ( 1991–1995 ) . Early years . Shirley Theresa Britt was born into an Irish Catholic family in Boston , Massachusetts in 1928 , the eldest of eight children born to Canadians Leslie John Britt and Mary Agnes ( née Donovan ) Britt . Her parents were both born in Saint John , New Brunswick , Canada , and in May 1927 they traveled to Waltham , Massachusetts to stay with a cousin . They returned to Canada when Shirley was still a baby , and she was followed by seven more children : Daniel , Raymond , Kenny , Shirley Joan , Anne , John and Gerald . She often cared for her younger siblings while her parents worked . Shirley and her siblings , fifth-generation residents of Saint John , grew up in Saint Johns East Side in the Cathedral Parish , where they attended public schools and St . Vincents High School . Upon graduating she studied at the New Brunswick Teachers College and the University of New Brunswick . She was awarded a Beaverbrook Scholarship and studied at the University of London . Career . After graduating college , Dysart taught at her high school alma mater , St . Vincent’s High School in Saint John . In 1967 she became a member of the school board for District 20 . She later served as chair of the board for three years , the first woman to hold the position . In 1974 the leader of the Liberal Party , Bob Higgins , suggested she run for a seat in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick ; she won the seat of Saint John North , becoming the first female Liberal , and second female of any party , to serve in the Legislative Assembly . In 1976 , she served on the Bi-Centennial Celebration Committee for the Province of New Brunswick . Dysart was re-elected in 1978 , 1982 , 1987 and 1991 , holding her seat for twenty years . She remains the only Liberal politician to win five consecutive elections in Saint John . In 1985 , she was appointed the interim Leader of the Opposition , becoming the first woman to serve as the Leader of a political party in New Brunswick . Following the 1987 election , she was appointed Minister of Education , becoming the first woman to hold the position . While serving as Minister of Education , she led the introduction of a province-wide universal , full-day public kindergarten program , becoming known as the architect of the provinces kindergarten system . She was also responsible for a number of community projects in St . John , including the rebuilding of the Imperial Theatre . In 1991 , Dysart was elected Speaker of the Legislative Assembly , the first woman to hold the position . She retired from politics in 1995 , not seeking re-election in the general election of that year . In addition to her political career , Dysart held a number of community leadership positions . She was president of the Catholic Womens League Council , president of the University of New Brunswick Alumni Council , and a member of the board of governors of the Beaverbrook Art Gallery . She served on the boards of the New Brunswick Music Festival , Theatre New Brunswick , the University of New Brunswick Alumni Council , Saint John Family Services , and the Irish-Canadian Cultural Association . Honors and awards . In October 1996 Dysart was awarded an honorary LLD by the University of New Brunswick Saint John , and in 2000 , she received a Red Cross Humanitarian Award . She was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 2004 . In 2012 she was a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal . In 2015 she was named a Champion of Public Education by the national educational charity The Learning Partnership . She was also the recipient of the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada , and the Paul Harris Fellowship from the Rotary Club of Saint John . Personal life . Dysart was married to H . Eric Dysart and had one son , J . E . Britt Dysart . Dysart died after a period of failing health on December 14 , 2016 at the age of 88 . She was survived by her son , daughter-in-law , and two grandchildren , as well as two sisters , two brothers , and a large extended family . Following her death , flags at Saint John City Hall were flown at half-staff as a sign of respect .