MPP Hon Dave Levac - Brant

We thank the Lord for the Honorable Dave Levac today.  Thank you Lord for his true heart for service... to the generation of kids he taught, to his city, and to his province.  But most importantly thank you Lord for his years of being a good husband to Rosemarie and father to his children.  We pray for great rewards in the Levac home in his coming next stage of life. Amen

Dave Levac was born in and has lived in Brant all his life.

He has worked tirelessly for Brant. He started volunteering as early as grade school and continued through high school, Catholic Youth Organization and church youth groups. He became a leader and organizer at a very young age.

Dave began his career as an elementary school teacher in 1977. Later he implemented an award winning conflict resolution program for his students at St. Mary’s School. In 1989 Dave became a principal. He was named OECTA (Ontario English Catholic Teaching Association) Distinguished Teacher in 1994.

He also developed a second career as a community leader and organizer, founding and leading the Friends of the Firefighters (raising over $150,000 for Brantford and Brant County fire fighters), and founded and Chaired the Walter Gretzky CNIB Celebrity Golf Tournament, Thank-A-Vet Luncheon and Walk of Fame. Dave has also volunteered with many organizations, including President of the CNIB and the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Vice Chair United Way Campaign, Honourary Chair of the MS Super Walk and the Parkinson Society of Canada.

Levac received the Canada 125 Medal in 1993, and was named Brantford's Citizen of the Year in 1997. He also served as co-ordinator of Queen Elizabeth II's Royal Visit to Brantford in 1997. He was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002 the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal in 2012. He has also been awarded an Ontario Service Award and the YMCA Canada Peace Medal.

Locally, Dave has delivered many results to his community, including a new MRI, a Family Health Team, a Birthing Centre at BGH, a Detox Centre, funding to assist with the clean-up of Greenwich-Mohawk brownfield, $16 million for the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre, over $14 million for business growth and job creation and over $30 million in investments for the Brantford campuses of Wilfrid Laurier and Nipissing Universities.

Dave was appointed the Parliamentary Assistant for Community Safety and Correctional Services and Energy and Infrastructure and has served as Chief Government Whip.

After being re-elected in 2011 Dave considered new opportunities to serve the legislature and decided to run for Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. He was elected Speaker on only the second ballot, a resounding vote of confidence from all sitting MPPs.

Dave was re-elected as Speaker after last year’s Provincial election. He has been heralded by most MPPs and political commentators as one of the most effective Speakers in recent memory, presiding with dignity and integrity. Once the current government completes its mandate in 2018, Dave will become the longest serving elected Speaker in Ontario history!