Colin W. G. Gibson

Colin William George Gibson (16 February 1891 – 3 July 1974) was a Canadian politician, land surveyor and lawyer.

Career He graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario in 1911 (cadet # 805), where Kenneth Stuart, a future Commander of the Canadian Army, was a fellow cadet. He served with the Royal Fusiliers of the British Army in 1914 and graduated from the University of Toronto in 1915 where he was a Member of Alpha Delta Phi. He was lieutenant-colonel of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry from 1929 to 1934. He practiced law from 1919. He was a founding member of the Royal Military College of Canada ex-cadet club in Hamilton, Ontario in 1930. He became Commandant of Hamilton Garrison from 1935 to 1939.

As Member of Parliament for Hamilton West, he was reelected three times from 1940.03.26 to 1950. He was first elected as the Liberal Member of Parliament for Hamilton West in 1940, with 55.9% of the vote in a two candidate race. Following his election, he was appointed as Minister of National Revenue (1940.07.08 - 1945.03.07). Near the end of his first term, he was also appointed as the acting and later permanent Minister of National Defence for Air (1945.03.08 - 1946.12.11). He served as Secretary of State (1948.11.15 - 1949.03.31) and (1946.12.12 - 1948.11.14). He was Minister for Mines and Resources (1949.04.01 - 1950.01.17).

Following his re-election with 40.2% of the vote (in a three-way, four-party race), he continued as Minister of National Defence for Air (1945.01.11 - 1945.03.07). He was made the Secretary of State for Canada from December 12, 1946, to March 31, 1949, and Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources (Canada) from April 1, 1949, to January 17, 1950.

He was re-elected in 1949 (with 43.5% of the vote). He resigned from both cabinet and parliament upon his appointment as Puisne judge of the Supreme Court of Ontario. He died in 1974.

Family Gibson was the son of Major General Sir John Morison Gibson, former Attorney General of Ontario. His son, Colin D. Gibson, held the riding of Hamilton—Wentworth from 1968 to 1972.

Legacy The Gibson Medal at the Royal Military College of Canada is awarded to the top graduating student in the Arts Division.