‘A man of dignity’ The Honourable David Onley 28th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
The Honourable David Onley — Trailblazer and Broadcaster
Discovered at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto
On my walk at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, I found the grave of the Honourable David Onley, a remarkable figure in Ontario’s history.
Born in Midland, Ontario, David’s family moved to Toronto in 1957. At just three-and-a-half years old, David contracted polio, requiring medical care beyond what his small town could offer. Despite this challenge, he forged a remarkable path.
Long before his appointment as the 28th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, David dreamed of a career in media broadcasting. He once said, “My dream job was always to get into media broadcasting but there was no one in the Canadian or U.S. media with a disability.” Citytv recognized his talent and hired him as their weather specialist. From there, he became the first news anchor on Breakfast Television and later served as an education specialist and NASA correspondent.
David Onley’s career broke barriers and set new standards for inclusion in Canadian media and public service.
A champion for the disabled, The Honourable David Charles Onley died in Toronto on January 14, 2023. He was 72.
1950-2023
Toronto Police Services carrying the casket of The Hon. David Onley from the funeral home to the funeral coach in preparation for the visitation at Queen’s Park.
Queen’s Park, Canadian Armed Forces preparing for the casket to arrive.
*All photos taken and owned by Phil Crawford expect the studio/Queen Elizabeth photo of Hon. David Onley.
