17 Facts About Walter Dinsdale

Walter Dinsdale served as a Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament from 1951 until his death, and is known for the work he did with people with disabilities.

Walter Dinsdale received a Master of Arts degree from the University of Toronto in 1951.

Walter Dinsdale enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force on 21 November 1941, to fight in the Second World War.

Walter Dinsdale trained at CFB Borden in Belleville and at No 2 Service Flying Training School in Ottawa, graduating in 1942.

Walter Dinsdale arrived in Europe on 29 December 1942 and ended his military career in 1945 at the end of the Second World War.

Walter Dinsdale was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross during World War II for his service as a de Havilland Mosquito night-fighter pilot with the Royal Canadian Air Force, having destroyed four enemy aircraft, including the first Mistel composite "piggyback" aircraft.

Walter Dinsdale downed V-1 flying bombs, using the wing-tip of the de Havilland Mosquito to knock them off-course.

Walter Dinsdale was a Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament from 1951 until his death in 1982, being first elected in a 1951 by-election with an upset victory to take a seat previously held by the Liberals.

Walter Dinsdale was originally hesitant about running in the by-election, and was fired by Brandon College soon after his nomination.

Walter Dinsdale held Brandon-Souris from 1952 until his death in 1982, winning 11 consecutive election victories.

Walter Dinsdale then joined the Cabinet of John Diefenbaker as Minister of Northern Affairs and National Resources from 1960 to 1963.

Walter Dinsdale was acting Minister of Mines and Technical Surveys for a few months in 1961.

Walter Dinsdale worked tirelessly for many causes, including First Nations, international human rights, immigrant Canadians and most notably disabled persons.

Walter Dinsdale was vice-chair of the Special Committee on the Disabled, whose work led to many improvements in services for disabled Canadians, and worked with many international governments and organizations to improve the lives of the disabled everywhere, and in 1981 was Canada's delegate to the United Nations for the International Year of Disabled Persons.

Walter Dinsdale was awarded a Doctor of Laws degree by Brandon University and a Doctor of Humanities degree from Richmond College in Toronto for his works with disabled people.

Walter Dinsdale died from kidney failure in 1982, after suffering a stroke about two months before his death.

Walter Dinsdale married Lenore Gusdal, and had 5 children: Gunnar, Greg, Elizabeth, Eric and Rolf.