Howard McCurdy grew up in Southwestern Ontario before moving to the Windsor, Ontario, area.
30 Facts About Howard McCurdy
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Howard McCurdy did his undergraduate work at what is known as the University of Windsor and doctoral degree at Michigan State University.
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Howard McCurdy became a tenured professor at the University of Windsor and eventually became a department head.
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In 1984, McCurdy entered federal politics when he won a seat in the House of Commons.
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Howard McCurdy was the second Black Canadian to serve in parliament and the first for the New Democratic Party of Canada.
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Howard McCurdy lost his seat during a Liberal Party sweep of Ontario ridings in the 1993 federal election.
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Howard McCurdy moved to Amherstburg, Ontario, when he was 9 and encountered racism for the first time when he tried to join the Cub Scouts and was excluded, being told to form a Black-only troop.
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Howard McCurdy later traced his activism back to his experiences with discrimination at this young age.
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Howard McCurdy studied at the University of Western Ontario, where he received a Bachelor of Arts, and later at Assumption University, where he received a Bachelor of Science.
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Howard McCurdy was awarded a Master of Science and a Ph.
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Howard McCurdy was the head of the Biology Department from 1973 to 1979.
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Howard McCurdy authored more than 50 scientific papers and served on the editorial boards of Bacteriological Reviews and the Canadian Journal of Microbiology.
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Howard McCurdy defeated controversial Ward 3 incumbent alderman, Don Clarke.
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Howard McCurdy represented Ward 3 for two terms, the first term was for two years, and the second term was for three years, before going into federal politics.
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Howard McCurdy resigned from City Council on 24 September 1984, with a little over a year left in his term.
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Howard McCurdy only resigned after he was officially declared the winner of the recent federal election for the local electoral district by Elections Canada.
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When Ed Broadbent stepped down as the federal NDP leader, Howard McCurdy decided to run.
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Howard McCurdy finished fifth on the first ballot and decided drop-off the ballot for the second.
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Howard McCurdy moved his delegates over to fellow Windsor MP, Stephen Langdon, and then decided to eventually endorse Audrey McLaughlin, who would go on to win.
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Ontario Premier Bob Rae and some members of his cabinet attended the event, fuelling speculation that Howard McCurdy was going to get a prestigious Ontario appointment.
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Howard McCurdy was a vice-president of the NDP and sat on the party's federal council.
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Howard McCurdy was more interested in seeing the party renew itself, than worry about a leadership convention, and supported the idea that she stay on until the renewal process was completed.
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Howard McCurdy did attempt to get back into elected politics but at the provincial level in 1995.
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Howard McCurdy was backed by Premier Rae and the central party already published pamphlets with his name on them.
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The unexpected happened, as Howard McCurdy only received 53 votes and was defeated by Rousseau's 58 votes.
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In 2003, Howard McCurdy supported Bill Blaikie's campaign for NDP leader.
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In later life, Howard McCurdy was dealing with health issues, including more than one form of cancer.
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Howard McCurdy died on 20 February 2018, at the age of 85 and was survived by his wife Brenda, four children, and 10 grandchildren.
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In 2012, Howard McCurdy was made a member of the Order of Ontario.
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On 19 November 2012, Howard McCurdy was designated a Member of the Order of Canada with investiture into the order occurring on 3 May 2013.