Finlay MacDONALD

MacDONALD, The Honourable Finlay
The honourable Finlay MacDonald died Saturday afternoon at the Halifax Infirmary at the age of 79. Born in Sydney, he was a son of the late Finlay MacDonlad and Olive (Guthrie) MacDonald. He was educated at Sydney Academy, Saint Francis Xavier University and Dalhousie Law School. He served in the Canadian Army during World War II. Mr. MacDonald spent his professional career in broadcasting and politics. He started as an announcer at CJFX radio in Antigonish. In the 1950s, he was the general manager of CJCH radio in Halifax. In 1960, he founded CJCH Television, which later became ATV. He was also one of the original founders of the CTV network, and served as the president of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters. Mr. MacDonald was president of the first Canada Games, which were held in Halifax in 1969. That same year, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada. A long time supporter of the Progressive Conservative Party, Mr. MacDonald ran unsuccessfully in the 1963 federal election. In 1972, he took a position in Ottawa as chief of staff to Federal Party Leader Robert Stanfield. Throughout the 1970's, he served in senior party positions in Ottawa. In 1984, Mr. MacDonald was appointed to the Senate, where he chaired a number of committees including Transport, National Finance and National Defence. After retiring from the Senate in 1998, he returned to Nova Scotia where he spent his time between Chester and Halifax. Mr. MacDonald is survived by his wife, Lynn Tremblay MacDoanld; three children Finlay, Mary (Kevin) Ryan; and Ian (Sandra), all of Halifax. He is also survived by four grandchildren, Emmett and Katherine Ryan, Sonja and Dana MacDonald, and by his brother, Cameron, of Windsor, Ontario. He was predeceased by his first wife, Ann (MacKenzie) MacDonald, who died in 1984. Visitation will be Tuesday (2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.) at Snow's Funeral Home on Windsor Street in Halifax. A funeral mass will be celebrated Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Canadian Martyrs Church on Inglis Street. His ashes will be interred in the spring at Saint Augustine's Cemetery in Chester. Donations may be made to Adsum House or the IWK-Grace Hospital.