Colonel Hon. John McDermid to speak
Colonel The Honourable John H. McDermid, P.C. will be speaking at out club about The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin, Halton Regiment) at Monday's meeting. John is well-known to most of us. He is a former Cabinet Minister and MP for Brampton-Georgetown riding.
John began his varied career as a radio and television announcer at the old CFJB Brampton Radio Station, working evenings and weekends and putting himself through school and continued in broadcasting until 1965. At that time he joined the Ontario Association of Real Estate Boards as Assistant Executive Director responsible for public relations and marketing. In 1973 he became the Chief of Staff for the Ontario Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, the head political adviser on his staff.
In 1979, he was nominated to run for the Progressive Conservative party in the general election and was elected M.P. for Brampton-Georgetown. He held his seat through three more elections until his retirement in 1993. During his time in Parliament, he served as opposition critic for Youth, Immigration and Indian and Northern Affairs.
In 1998, Prime minister Brian Mulroney, appointed John Minister of State for Housing and Minister of State for International Trade. This was followed by the appointment to Minister of State Finance and Privatization, where he was responsible for all government privatizations including Air Canada and Petro Canada. He also has responsibilities and the junior Finance Minister, to oversee banks, trust companies and insurance companies as well as handling all government borrowing.
John retired in 1993 and entered the golf business with his wife, Sandra Post-McDermid. In 1997, he founded a custom golf club fitting and manufacturing business that he recently sold to an employee. He served on the Board of Directors of the Professional Clubmakers Society for three years, the last year as President. The Society has 1200 members in 30 countries and certifies its members in club building, fitting and repair.
He continues to work with his wife at the Sandra Post Golf School, works with the Lorne Scots, plays golf at the Devil's Pulpit and helps politically where he can. He lives in Caledon, Ontario with his wife Sandra and their three cats.