Dale Kirby

Dale Kirby MHA (born May 19, 1971) is a Canadian politician and university professor, who was elected to the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly in the 2011 provincial election.^[1]

Kirby represents the provincial district of St. John's North. He was President of the New Democratic Party of Newfoundland and Labrador from 2010 to 2011.^[2] Kirby is a Liberal member of the House of Assembly, having left the NDP Caucus after a high-profile, public dispute with NDP leader Lorraine Michael.^[3]

Early life

Kirby was born in St. Lawrence on the Burin Peninsula. He was raised on a small farm in Lord's Cove where generations of his family have worked in inshore fishing industries. Kirby began working at an early age at Kirby's Store, later Kirby's Kwik-Way, a family-run grocery and convenience store. He graduated from St. Joseph's Academy in 1989.

University studies and student activism

Kirby earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degrees from Memorial University of Newfoundland before completing a doctorate in higher education theory and policy studies at the University of Toronto. While at university, he held a number of elected student union positions at the local, provincial, and national levels. As chairperson of the Newfoundland and Labrador component of the Canadian Federation of Students in the 1990s, Kirby led a successful campaign to freeze college and university tuition fees in Newfoundland and Labrador.^[4]

Academic career and honours

In 2006, Kirby was appointed an Assistant Professor of post-secondary education studies in the Faculty of Education at Memorial University of Newfoundland. He was promoted to the position of Associate Professor in 2011. Prior to joining Memorial University, he worked as a senior advisor on education policy in the Ontario Public Service.^[2]

Kirby is nationally-recognized for his work as a professor, researcher, and consultant on student access and participation in college and university and in the area of online learning.^[5] In recognition of his contributions and advocacy, the Canadian Council on Learning named him a Minerva Scholar in 2007.^[6] In 2011, he received the R. W. B. Jackson Award from the Canadian Educational Researchers Association as well the Best Research Paper Award at the 2011 European Distance and E-Learning Network Annual Conference.^[7][8]

Swearing-in ceremony

Kirby was sworn at Government House by Lieutenant Governor John Crosbie on November 9, 2011.^[9] He did not attend the original swearing-in ceremony on October 27, 2011 because he was previously scheduled to deliver a keynote address at an international conference on e-learning in Cartagena, Colombia on the same day.^[10]

Academic status

As per the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly Act, Kirby was not required to discontinue his academic appointment at Memorial University of Newfoundland during his term of office as a member of the provincial legislature.^[11] Following the election, Kirby took leave of absence from his position at the university.^[12]

Electoral history

References

v t e Current members of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly Progressive Conservative Marshall Brazil F. Collins S. Collins Cornect Cross Crummell Dalley Davis Dinn Dunderdale Forsey French Granter Hedderson Hunter Hutchings Jackman Johnson Kent King Little Littlejohn McGrath O'Brien K. Parsons Peach Perry Pollard Russell Shea Sullivan Verge Wiseman Liberal Ball Bennett Dempster Edmunds Joyce Kirby Lane Mitchelmore Osborne A. Parsons Slade New Democrat Michael Murphy Rogers