Civitas Award 2016

Garfield Dunlop

As the Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Simcoe North from 1999 to 2015, Garfield has been an outstanding advocate for the communities in his riding for decades, and for Lakehead University’s Orillia campus since it was first proposed in 2003.

A long-serving and popular Coldwater-based politician, Garfield resigned from the legislature in 2015 to provide a vacancy so that Progressive Conservative leader Patrick Brown could seek a seat in the legislature. 

After attending elementary and secondary school in Simcoe North, and university in Waterloo, Garfield entered the family business, Glen Dunlop Plumbing, Heating and Supplies Ltd. in 1971. In 1980, Garfield began his career in politics when he was elected Councillor for the Village of Coldwater. From 1982 until 1994, he was Reeve of the village. In 1994, after the County of Simcoe was restructured, Garfield was elected Deputy Mayor of the Township of Severn, where he served until the 1999 provincial election. He was Warden of Simcoe County in 1998. In his role as an MPP, Garfield served as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education; Critic for Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Reform; Education; and Training, Colleges and Universities.

Garfield was instrumental in the founding of Lakehead’s Orillia campus. His expertise and determination was critical in helping Lakehead’s senior administration successfully open the Orillia campus in 2006.  For the past decade he has provided the Lakehead community with exceptional leadership and service. His timely support has been vital to the growth of the campus – whether it was offering advice on local issues, supporting student projects, working to establish lobby days as an annual event at Queen’s Park, or providing guidance on special government projects and opportunities. His friendship, dedication, and support have made him a true anchor of Lakehead University’s Orillia campus.