H. Avard Loomer

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H. Avard Loomer
66th Mayor of Saint John, New Brunswick
In office
June 22, 1969 – July 18, 1969
Preceded byJoseph A. Macdougall
Succeeded byJames E. Calvin
Personal details
Born
Henry Avard Loomer

(1915-08-09)August 9, 1915
Stellarton, Nova Scotia
DiedJuly 18, 1969(1969-07-18) (aged 53)
Toronto, Ontario
SpouseIrene Stevens Currie
Children1

Henry Avard Loomer (August 9, 1915 – July 18, 1969) was a Canadian manufacturing businessman and municipal politician who served as the mayor of Saint John, New Brunswick for just 26 days from June 22 to July 18, 1969, where he died in office.

Life and career[edit]

Henry Avard Loomer was born on August 9, 1915, in Stellarton, Nova Scotia to parents Brett Baxter Loomer and Mabel Josephine Potter.[1] He worked as a liquor manufacturer in Saint John, New Brunswick,[2] serving in a firm for manufacturing agents as its president.[3]

In early June of 1969, Loomer was elected mayor of Saint John, defeating the preceded Joseph A. Macdougall in the municipal election.[4] He was sworn into office on June 22, 1969.[5] As mayor, he was featured in an article about Saint John's urban renewal project by The New York Times, where he shared an optimistic view on the future of Saint John and its port, being "confident that [Saint John] is in an idea position to attract container shipments."[6] His term in office was short-lived, serving as mayor for only 26 days until his death.[5]

Personal life[edit]

On September 27, 1941, Loomer became married to Irene Stevens Curie. At the time, he lived in Saint John.[7] They had one son, who died in 2022.[8] On July 18, 1969, Loomer died at a hospital in Toronto, Ontario from a heart attack, two days after being admitted there for a physical examination.[9][10] Following his death, his office was taken over by then-deputy mayor Arthur L. Gould,[11] until James E. Calvin was elected on October 6, 1969.[9]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Nova Scotia Births, Marriages, and Deaths". Nova Scotia Archives. 20 April 2020. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  2. ^ "Province-run Bars Proposed". UPI. The Hamilton Spectator. 18 January 1961. p. 40. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  3. ^ "N.B. Offered Novel Plan For Bistros". The Canadian Press. The Montreal Star. 18 January 1961. p. 30. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  4. ^ "Voters toss out four mayors". Canadian Press. The Gazette. 10 June 1969. p. 2. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Saint John mayor named". Canadian Press. The Hamilton Spectator. 7 October 1969. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  6. ^ Forgeron, Harry V. (13 July 1969). "St. John Renewal Is Providing Offices, Apartments and Plants". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  7. ^ "Vital Statistics from Government Records (RS141)". Provincial Archives of New Brunswick. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  8. ^ "Christopher Robert Loomer". McCall Gardens Funeral and Cremation Service. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Undertaker named Saint John mayor". The Canadian Press. The Toronto Star. 7 October 1969. p. 13. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  10. ^ "Saint John mayor dies". The Canadian Press. The Hamilton Spectator. 19 July 1969. p. 2. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  11. ^ "Obituary of Arthur L. Gould". Brenan's Paradise Row Funeral Home. Retrieved 30 April 2024.