City of Oshawa mourns the passing of Ed Broadbent
On behalf of Oshawa City Council, Mayor Dan Carter expresses his deepest sorrow on the passing of Ed Broadbent, a Canadian political icon born and raised in Oshawa with long-standing service to our community and across our nation.
Flags have been lowered to half-mast at City Hall and City facilities to honour the memory of Mr. Broadbent. Community members are invited to sign a City condolence book online or in-person at Oshawa City Hall – Service Oshawa, Delpark Homes Centre or South Oshawa Community Centre.
Mr. Broadbent was born in Oshawa in 1936 and raised in our city. After graduating first in his class in philosophy at the University of Toronto in 1959, he did postgraduate studies at the London School of Economics and obtained his doctorate in political science from the University of Toronto in 1966.
Mr. Broadbent was elected to Parliament as the NDP Member for Oshawa in 1968 and served as the MP until 1989. From 1975 to 1989, he was also Leader of the New Democratic Party.
Between 1979 and 1990, he was Vice-President of the Socialist International. From 1990 to 1996, he was the founding President of the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development in Montreal.
In June 2023, the City officially opened Ed Broadbent Waterfront Park. The naming of the Park honours the numerous contributions Mr. Broadbent made to public service, Canadians and especially his commitment and service to the residents, workers and businesses of Oshawa. The Park features a Garden of Human Rights honouring Mr. Broadbent’s dedication and extensive work as a champion and advocate for human rights. During his time in Ottawa, Mr. Broadbent’s focus was on Indigenous rights, women’s equality, child poverty, ethics in government and tax equality. He was invested as a Member of the Privy Council (1982), Officer of the Order of Canada (1993), and Companion of the Order of Canada (2002).
“This is a moment of great sadness for Oshawa and all Canadians who have been inspired by Mr. Broadbent’s service to our nation and our city,” said Mayor Dan Carter. “While we feel his loss deeply, we will continue to remember his immense contributions to our community; we will honour Mr. Broadbent’s legacy and remember him as a champion for Canadians and an advocate for human rights.”