Shirley Dysart
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The Honourable Shirley Dysart CM |
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|---|---|
 |
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| New Brunswick Leader of the Opposition | |
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In office 1985 – May 4, 1985 |
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| Preceded by | Ray Frenette |
| Succeeded by | Frank McKenna |
| MLA for Saint John North | |
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In office November 18, 1974 – October 23, 1978 |
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| Succeeded by | District abolished |
| MLA for Saint John Park | |
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In office October 23, 1978 – September 11, 1995 |
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| Preceded by | Robert J. Higgins |
| Succeeded by | District abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Shirley Theresa Britt 1928 Boston, Massachusetts, United States |
| Died |
(aged 88) Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse(s) | H. Eric Dysart |
| Children | 1 |
Shirley Theresa Dysart CM (née Britt, 1928 – December 14, 2016) was an American-born Canadian teacher and a politician in the province of New Brunswick.
She attained a number of "firsts" in New Brunswick politics. She was the first female Liberal in serve in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick, the first woman to serve as the leader of a party in the provincial Legislature (1985), the first woman to be Minister of Education (1987–1991) and first woman to be Speaker (1991–1995).
Shirley Theresa Britt was born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, the eldest of eight children born to Leslie John Britt and Mary Agnes (née Donovan) Britt. She often cared for her younger siblings while her parents worked.
The family relocated to New Brunswick, Canada, and Shirley attended its public school system and then St. Vincent’s High School in Saint John, New Brunswick. Upon graduating she studied at the New Brunswick Teachers' College and the University of New Brunswick. She was awarded a Beaverbrook Scholarship and studied at the University of London.
After graduating college, Dysart taught at her high school alma mater, St. Vincent’s High School in Saint John. In 1967 she became a member of the school board for District 20. She later served as chair of the board for three years, the first woman to hold the position.
In 1974 the leader of the Liberal Party, Bob Higgins, suggested she run for a seat in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick; she won the seat of Saint John North, becoming the first female Liberal, and second female of any party, to serve in the Legislative Assembly. In 1976, she served on the Bi-Centennial Celebration Committee for the Province of New Brunswick.
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