Flags lowered for alumnus Keith Norton

(February 4, 2010)

The Queen's flags are lowered in honour of alumnus and University Councillor Keith Norton, Arts'61, Law'69, who died earlier this week of cancer. He was 69.

Norton was Kingston's MPP between 1975 and 1985 and served as a Conservative cabinet minister managing several senior portfolios including health, education, environment and social services. After his political career, Norton was head of both the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal and Ontario's human rights commission. He championed gay rights, the rights of the disabled and he fought against age discrimination.

Norton was an involved member of the Queen's community. In addition to being an active member of University Council, he served as Director of Queen's Legal Aid from 1973 until 1975, and more recently on the panel that reviewed the Intergroup Dialogue program. He also conducted a review of Queen's Harassment/Discrimination Complaint Policy and Procedure in 2007.

A memorial service is being held in Toronto at Trinity-St. Paul’s United Church, 427 Bloor St. West, at 2 p.m. on February 10.

Watch for a feature news story on the life and work of Keith Norton to be published on the Queen's Law website later this month.