I am honoured to stand here today and say a few words about Mr. Drummond White, who served as NDP MPP for Durham Centre from 1990 to 1995 and brought a real devotion to social justice and a sense of community to his constituents. He leaves behind his wife Norah; his children Amanda, Devin, and Lenore; his grandchildren Arya, Maisie, Ezra, Wilton, Ophelia and Miles; his sister Rosemary Johnston; and his nieces Kate, Alison and Emily.

His daughter Lenore joins us today, along with Mr. David Warner, Speaker of the 35th Parliament. We’re grateful for your presence here today. Thank you.

Born in Toronto, Mr. White attended the University of Toronto in 1969, where he was blessed to meet Norah, and they were married in 1972. After receiving his first degree at U of T, he went on to receive his bachelor of social work at York University, his MSW from Wilfrid Laurier University and then an advanced diploma in research at U of T—clearly a love for learning was present in his life.

Mr. White and his family made Whitby their home, where he devoted his life to public service and social justice. He was a force for social reforms, especially for his community in the Durham region.

Social workers play an important role in our communities, and Mr. White touched so many lives as a social worker for 35 years. He was a founding member of the Durham chapter of the Ontario Association of Professional Social Workers and was instrumental in the development of the Ontario College of Registered Social Workers and Social Service Workers. He served on the boards of both the Ontario Association of Social Workers and the Canadian Association of Social Workers, and in 2005 was the recipient of the CASW Distinguished Service Award—clearly well-deserved.

His ongoing contributions to the Ontario NDP were honoured in 2017 with a lifetime membership.

Just a couple of months before Mr. White passed away, he and Norah celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary—what a wonderful accomplishment.

His passion for life and devotion to his work will forever be remembered by his loved ones and those whose lives he touched through his service. Beyond politics and social work, Mr. White had diverse interests, such as literature, theatre, travel, music and history. He also enjoyed chess, cycling—scuba diving, even—and started learning a little Spanish toward the end of his life, so to that end: Remarks in Spanish.