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Sheila Finestone

1927 – 2009

Canadian politician

Politician Political analystAdministrator
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About Sheila Finestone

Lived 1927 – 2009 (aged 82). Sheila Finestone was a Canadian politician, political analyst and administrator.

Sheila Abbey Finestone (January 28, 1927 – June 8, 2009) was a Canadian Member of Parliament for Mount Royal and Senator from Montarville, Quebec.

Early life Born in Montreal, Quebec, the daughter of Minnie Cummings Abbey and Monroe Abbey, a lawyer and onetime president of The Canadian Jewish Congress. She was the niece of Nathan Cummings and Maxwell Cummings. Sheila received a Bachelor of Science degree from McGill University in 1947 and married Alan Finestone (1923–1997). They had four sons: David (born 1950), Peter (born 1951), Maxwell (born 1954) and Stephen (born 1956).

Career From 1977 to 1980, Finestone was president of the Fédération des femmes du Québec. In 1984 she was elected as a Liberal Member of Parliament for the Montreal riding of Mount Royal. She was reelected in the 1988, 1993 and 1997 elections.

Finestone was sworn to the Privy Council in November 1993 as Secretary of State (Multiculturalism and Status of Women). She was appointed to the Senate of Canada in August 1999 and left in 2002 at the mandatory retirement age of 75. She was a board member of the Canadian Landmine Foundation.

Award In 2008, Finestone won the Distinguished Service Award of the Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians, "presented annually to a former parliamentarian who has made an outstanding contribution to the country and its democratic institutions". Finestone was unable to attend due to illness, so her son Peter accepted on her behalf.

Death Finestone died of cancer on June 8, 2009, in Ottawa.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Education
McGill University
Positions held
Minister for Women, Gender Equality and Youth, Member of the House of Commons of Canada, Member of the Senate of Canada
Also known as
Sheila Abbey Finestone

People in Sheila Finestone's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Sheila Finestone's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Sheila Finestone?

Canadian politician (1927-2009)

When was Sheila Finestone born?

Sheila Finestone was born on 28 January 1927 in Montreal.

When did Sheila Finestone die?

Sheila Finestone died on 8 June 2009 in Ottawa.

What was Sheila Finestone's occupation?

Sheila Finestone was a politician, political analyst and administrator.

What nationality was Sheila Finestone?

Sheila Finestone was Canadian.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Sheila Finestone

· Wikidata: Q3481750

· DBpedia: Sheila Finestone

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Sheila Finestone. https://biography.guide/sheila-finestone/

MLA: "Sheila Finestone." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/sheila-finestone/.

Chicago: "Sheila Finestone." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/sheila-finestone/.

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