Raymond STEVENSON

STEVENSON _ Raymond Leslie "Ray", December 17, 1919, to August 24, 2004, after a lengthy illness at St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto. Survived by his wife and partner of thirty years Lil Greene, with whom he shared a creative life of mutual love, respect and dignity; son Gordon Michael (Judy); daughters Sharon (deceased) and Zoya Leah Claire from his marriage to Beatrice Walsh (deceased); step-daughters Toma (Mulliroe) Fraser, Karen (Gordon) Flowers and Louise Greene (Gay Bell); grandchildren, Carrie Fraser, Jennifer (Stephen) Johns, Kimberley and Michelle Flowers; and four great-grandchildren. He was the fourth son of George W. and Dolena Stevenson (both deceased). He is survived by brother David (Doreen) Stevenson and sister Ruth Proknow. A product of the 1930's drought crisis conditions which affected the prairies, he worked as a miner in Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. He was active in the International Mine, Mill, and Smelter Workers' Union and took part in the seminal union recognition strike (1941 - 1942) in Kirkland Lake, and later in union organization work and political activity. He joined the Canadian Army in 1942 and was honourably discharged in 1946 with the rank of Captain. Upon discharge he was appointed Educational Director for the Worker's Co-op of Northern Ontario, then Regional Organizer for the Labour Progressive Party. In the 1950's, he was Co-ordinator for the Contract Miners' Negotiations in Sudbury and elected to the Executive Board of Local 598 of Mine Mill. Ray also served as grievance chairman and assistant editor of the Local's "598 News". In 1955 he joined the union's national executive as eastern board member. In the 1960's, he was editor of the union's "Mine Mill Herald" and national educational director. Following the 1967 merger of the International Union of Mine, Mill, and Smelter Workers to the United Steelworkers of America, he edited "Information Magazine" for the union until 1972 when he was appointed Acting Public Relations Director. Ray was posted to Helsinki, Finland, as Canadian Secretary for the World Peace Council in 1978. He was Vice President of the Canadian Peace Congress until the mid 1980's. A long standing student/adherent of Marxist and Leninist writings and a powerful supporter of the Soviet Union, he was at various times elected to leading committees of the Communist Party of Canada. He terminated his membership in 1998. In 1992, he became a pioneer founding editor of Northstar Compass, a journal of "Friendship, Solidarity and Peace With the Soviet People". He remained Associate Editor until his death. Ray devoted his entire working life to extensive activity in the fields of organization, trade unionism and the Peace movement. He was the author of hundreds of news items, magazine articles, briefs before governmental bodies, and statements on behalf of the working people with whom he kept total identification. On occasion he would say, half humorously... "I never wrote or spoke a single word or syllable on behalf of the capitalist class, or its minions... I spoke and lived only as a member of the working class". In his final years, he engaged in researching and writing a manuscript titled "Globalization and Armageddon in the Workplace" subtitled "A Worker's Memoir and Survey of 20th Century". Failing health and advancing age prevented it's completion although the major part of it is now in the York University Archives as the "Ray Stevenson Fonds", Inventory #167. Private Service and Cremation will take place. His ashes will be scattered in his native Manitoba at the site of his first school. Donations to Northstar Compass, 280 Queen Street West, Toronto, M5V 2A1, or to a charity of your choice would be appreciated by family.