It is always an honour to stand in this proud Legislature, and today, it is my honour, on behalf of Ontario’s New Democrats, to pay tribute to Joe Dickson.

Joe was a loving husband and dear father and grandfather. He leaves behind his wife, friend and partner of 56 years, Donna Dickson; his two grown children, Jim Dickson and Joanna Dickson-Jones; their spouses, Elaine Dickson and David Jones; his five adoring grandchildren, Madeline, Grace, Carys, Audrey and Fynn—I’m sure they’re watching today—and his brothers and sisters, Ellen Spence, Ed Dickson, Marg Osborne, Judy Reid, Mary Westlake, Christine Dickson, Paul Dickson and Veronica Brown; and loving extended family, friends and former colleagues who miss him greatly and are assuredly watching today.

We are pleased to be joined by his wife, Donna Dickson; son, Jim Dickson; sisters-in-law Sandrae Haslam and Debbie Allen; and, of course, his friend and former Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, David Warner.

Hi, Donna.

Louis Joseph Dickson, or Joe, was born March 26, 1940, into a large Catholic family in Ajax and grew up to serve Ajax and be its biggest fan. Joe’s mother, Mary, had grown up in Pickering Village and his father, Lou, was an RCAF World War II veteran who set down roots in Ajax. Joe was raised and educated there and loved sports growing up, a love that led him to establish Ajax minor basketball at age 16, and he later helped establish the Ajax senior hockey league. He started his own printing business, Dickson Printing, at age 18, and never stopped sponsoring and supporting local sports teams from when it opened its doors in 1969. President of Dickson Printing for 48 years, Joe was a committed and successful small business owner through the ups and downs and many changes across his community, and often spoke from experience with a local business perspective.

Joe began his career of public service in 1970, when he served as a Catholic school board trustee for two terms and kept his faith and family close during his many years of public service. He was first elected to Ajax council in 1983, serving until 1990, and returned to council chambers from 1992 to 2006. He loved serving ward 2 but was known well beyond his ward. He once described his story and success like this: “It all comes down to being the oldest of 10 children and having two wonderful parents. We were always helping one another—that’s what it was all about.”

Joe was a volunteer and community man. Ajax Civic Award winner and committed town enthusiast, Joe Dickson was fondly called “Mr. Ajax” and is well remembered by generations of Ajax neighbours. Joe founded and chaired many charitable organizations and initiatives and loved volunteering. From when he first started Ajax minor basketball at 16 all the way through the annual charity golf tournament that he and his wife, Donna, organized and sponsored for 25 years, Joe never stopped giving back to his hometown community.

On a personal note, I served as one of Durham region’s seven MPPs with Joe Dickson from 2014 to 2018, and when MPPs from across Durham region came together at the provincial volunteer service awards night, it was very special to see how many of the long-time volunteers in Ajax and Pickering knew Joe personally.

It wasn’t only his constituents who recognized Joe for his work, however. In 2002, he had been awarded the Queen Elizabeth 50th anniversary medal for service to his community and Canada. It was just part of who Joe was: kind, generous and connected.

Nearly everyone in his hometown had a connection to Joe, whether through sports or one of his many volunteering endeavours, whether they were featured in his magazine, or from his apples. Children who remember that Joe Dickson gave them apples around town grew up to vote for Joe as adults. They knew him and they knew where to find him, and they elected him.

Joe won a provincial seat on the McGuinty Liberals’ ticket to serve Ajax–Pickering in 2007 and held the seat until 2018. When Joe was asked why he was running, he said it was “to become the town’s best communicator with Ajax residents and to continue to focus on my residents, just as I have done the last eight elections.”

Joe Dickson served this Legislature in many roles, from deputy government whip early on to various portfolios as parliamentary assistant. One of the things that Joe was most proud of was the expansion of the Ajax Pickering Hospital, which he worked for many years to see happen, to better serve his community.

On a personal note, before I was elected, the very first protest I ever organized was outside Joe Dickson’s office, to protest Bill 115. True to form, Joe Dickson came out to talk with us and was disappointed he hadn’t known we were coming because, as he told us, he would have had hot chocolate for us.

He was an excellent connector. He was a strong and committed bridge between his home community and his place here in the provincial Legislature. When so many get caught up in the sparkle of Queen’s Park, Joe stayed firmly rooted in his community.

Joe Dickson passed away on April 7, 2022, surrounded by those he loved and who dearly loved him. Friends from across the community shared their remembrances and memories. They remember him as one-of-a-kind, hard-working and thoughtful, and one of the finest people you could ever meet. Messages online highlight that Joe truly cared about his community and was extremely well thought of.

As Joe’s children shared after his passing, “Joe was a lover of life, family, friends and mostly Donna. Safety was always first with Joe, although anything with a fast engine made Dad happiest: boats, racing cars, snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles and his prized 1969 Dodge RT Charger he ordered new so that he had a ‘safe ride’ for wife and kids as he started his own family. Fish and chips on Fridays, a daily coffee, and a refreshing Crown-and-Coke after a long week’s work helped him keep grounded.”

Joe Dickson has left behind his family, a long community career and a legacy of neighbourhood connections and warm, sincere relationships. Ajax, Pickering and Ontario are grateful to Joe Dickson for his life of service, invested heart and commitment to the town and people he loved.