MONTREAL – Warren Allmand, a former McGill University hockey player who went on to serve as a long-time Liberal Member of Parliament and cabinet minister, passed away on Dec. 7. He was 84.
 
The native of Montreal, who oversaw the abolition of Canada's death penalty in 1976, had been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour last March.
 
Born William Warren Allmand on Sept. 19, 1932, he grew up in the Great Depression, an experience that saw him develop a sense of social justice early in life. He earned a bachelor's degree from St. Francis Xavier University in 1954, then attended McGill, graduating in 1957 with a bachelor of civil law degree. He played three years of varsity hockey with the Redmen, was a member of the McGill Newman Club (a Catholic student community inspired by Cardinal Newman) and served as faculty of education chairman in 1956-57.
 
He was elected as an MP for the riding of N.D.G in 1965 and served nine terms before retiring prior to the 1997 federal election. Allmand also served on Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau's cabinet, as minister of both Indian affairs and consumer affairs.  He later became head of the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development before returning to politics in 2005 as a Montreal city councillor to see the city's charter of rights put into action.
 
While serving as solicitor-general of Canada In the early 1970s, Allmand approved a request from Ted Tevan, the legendary late Montreal sport radio personality, backed by Montreal Expos general manager Jim Fanning, which made national news when prisoners from Leclerc Institute – a medium-security penal institution – were permitted to play a charity baseball game against a Montreal junior team at Jarry Park. It marked the first time in Canadian penal history that convicts had been let out of prison to play a sporting event.
 
In the 1957 Old McGill Yearbook, Allmand chose a Latin phrase – "Quaecumquae sunt vera" – to be posted under his grad photo. The term which serves as the official StFX motto, is translated as "Whatsoever things are true". It was a biblical reference, taken from the letter of Paul to the Philippians (Chapter 4, Verses 4-9).
 
Allmand is survived by his wife, Rose, his son Patrick and his daughters Julie and Robin. Visitation will be held on Dec. 17 and Dec. 18 from 1:30 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at Collins Clarke MacGillivray White — 5610 Sherbrooke St. W. Church service will be held on Dec. 19, 2016 at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick's Basilica – 460 René Lévesque St. W. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations in Warren's memory to the N.D.G. Food Bank.
 
SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Communications Officer, McGill Athletics & Recreation
(514) 398- 7012  
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca