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12 Facts About John Godfrey

1.

John Godfrey's father, Senator John Morrow Godfrey, was a Canadian pilot, lawyer and politician.

2.

John Godfrey served as president of the University of King's College from 1977 to 1987, and founded the university's prestigious Bachelor of Journalism program.

3.

John Godfrey died at his home in Toronto on December 18,2023, one day before his 81st birthday.

4.

John Godfrey was elected to the House of Commons of Canada as the Liberal member of Parliament for the Toronto area riding of Don Valley West in the 1993 election, and was re-elected in each subsequent vote until his retirement from federal politics in 2008.

5.

The gesture received extensive media coverage including in the United States, where John Godfrey was featured on the CBS program 60 Minutes.

6.

From 1996 to 2004, John Godfrey served as a parliamentary secretary under Prime Minister Jean Chretien.

7.

On February 3,2006, CBC Newsworld's Don Newman announced on air that John Godfrey was planning a run for the Liberal Party leadership.

8.

On October 20,2006, John Godfrey announced his support for Bob Rae for the federal Liberal leadership.

9.

John Godfrey made the announcement at the National Press Club, on the occasion of a speech by Rae on the environment.

10.

John Godfrey announced in November 2007 his intention to resign his parliamentary seat on July 1,2008 and would leave earlier if an election were called before that date.

11.

John Godfrey left politics to become Headmaster of the Toronto French School, an independent school in the Lawrence Park area with two campuses in Toronto.

12.

John Godfrey held the position from 2008 until resigning in June 2014.