Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.

John Alexander "Jack" Young

Male 1919 - 1999  (80 years)


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  • Name John Alexander "Jack" Young 
    Born 17 Jan 1919  Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Elected Office 1966  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    councillor - Kitchener Council 
    Elected Office 1973  , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Waterloo Region Chairman 
    Military WW2 - medical corps 
    Public Service 1973  Waterloo Regional Heritage Foundation, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Name Jack Young 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-131026P 
    Died 18 Jul 1999  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I131026  Generations
    Last Modified 6 Apr 2024 

    Family Belva Irene Tracey,   b. 25 Dec 1913, Flos Township, Simcoe Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 23 Oct 2003, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 89 years) 
    Married 1943 
    Last Modified 7 Apr 2024 
    Family ID F23376  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • Jack (John) A. Young, politician and businessman; born January 17, 1919 in Toronto, died July 18, 1999 in his 80th year.

      Jack Young grew up on his uncle's farm in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. During the Great Depression he worked at a Muskoka resort in the summer and as a menswear clerk and short-order cook in the winter.

      Young served in a medical corps overseas and suffered serious lung injuries during a bombing in 1943. His injuries resulted in tuberculosis. As a result, he was sent to the Freeport Sanatorium outside Kitchener to convalesce. As occupational therapy, Young was taught to make belts. In 1943, after his release from the hospital he married Belva Irene Trace. They had two children - a son and a daughter - and settled in the community to raise their family.

      In 1949 he formed Custom Leather Products Ltd. with two partners. Young bought out his partners in 1959. In 1971, he sold the company.

      Young served as a school trustee and chairman of the Kitchener School Board from 1963-64. In 1966 he was elected to Kitchener City Council and served until 1969. As a member of the Progressive Conservative Party, he ran in the 1968 federal election, but was defeated by Liberal Keith Hymmen. In 1969 he was elected chairman of the Waterloo County Area Planning Board.

      On June 30, 1972, Ontario Lieutenant-Governor Ross Macdonald signed the Regional Municipality of Waterloo Act into law. On July 13, Jack was chosen by the Province of Ontario as the first Regional Chairman. He was appointed for a four and half year term - charged with establishing the new Regional Municipality of Waterloo. Jack's skilful negotiating allowed competing and disparate interests to be directed into a common purpose for the benefit of the entire Region. He served as Regional Chairman until 1978. After his retirement from politics, he did some consulting work. As senior advisor on U.S. Affairs for the Ministry of Industry and Trade, he was involved in promoting Ontario business world-wide on behalf of the Provincial Government.


      Region of Waterloo website www.regionofwaterloo.ca

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 17 Jan 1919 - Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsElected Office - councillor - Kitchener Council - 1966 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsElected Office - Waterloo Region Chairman - 1973 - , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsPublic Service - 1973 - Waterloo Regional Heritage Foundation, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 18 Jul 1999 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth