Rob Oliphant
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Robert (Rob) Oliphant (born in 1956 in Sault Ste. Marie) is a United Church minister and a Canadian politician.
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[edit] Personal Life
Born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie, Oliphant studied Commerce and Finance at the University of Toronto, graduating in 1978, with a Bachelor of Commerce. While at university he rowed on the Men’s Varsity Rowing Crew, was involved in music and student politics.
Oliphant lives in Cabbagetown, Toronto with his husband, Marco Fiola, a Professor of Applied Linguistics at Ryerson University. Oliphant married Fiola in 2005, soon after same sex marriage was legalized in Canada. In lieu of wedding gifts, guests were asked to make donations to the Capital Campaign of the The 519 Church St. Community Centre, a community centre in the Toronto gay district, and Eglinton St. George’s United Church, the parish where he is the lead minister. Oliphant also asked local same-sex couples wedded by him to make donation to the 519 rather than paying fees.
Upon graduating from U of T, he returned to Sault Ste. Marie and worked at Algoma Steel as an accountant in computer systems development.
[edit] Pastoral Career
Oliphant was sponsored as a candidate for ministry by his home church, Central United Church in Sault Ste, Marie, ON.
Oliphant remained in Sault Ste. Marie for two years before entering the Vancouver School of Theology at the University of British Columbia. After completing his studies at UBC, Oliphant was ordained as a United Church Minister in 1984. Oliphant has been stationed in diverse communities such as Newfoundland, Quyon, in rural Quebec, downtown Montreal, Toronto, and Whitehorse, Yukon.
Since 1999 Oliphant has been Lead Minister at Eglinton St. George’s United Church in Toronto, one of the largest congregations in the United Church of Canada. In 2004, he was given an award for 18 years of continuous work in Interfaith Dialogue.
[edit] Political Career
Oliphant worked as a senior advisor in the Ontario government. In 1989, he was asked by David Peterson to work in a senior role in the then-Premier’s office. He subsequently went on to serve as Executive Assistant and Chief of Staff to two ministers, Mavis Wilson, former Ontario Responsible for Women's Issues, and Christine Hart, Minister of Culture and Communications.
Oliphant has worked on many campaigns at both the federal and provincial levels, and has held official positions in the party. He was an active young Liberal serving as President of the University of Toronto Liberal Club, Chair of "Youth for Peterson," and served on the Executive of the Ontario New (Young) Liberals. In anticipation of a federal election in 1978, Oliphant was part of a group of young Liberals who trained in Tour Operations for Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau. He has worked in campaigns in Sault Ste. Marie, for candidates including Terry Murphy, Alex Sinclair, and the Hon. Ron Irwin, in Toronto, for Margaret Campbell, the Hon. Roy MacLaren, the Hon. Carolyn Bennett, the Hon. Allan Rock and several others, and in Yukon, for former Council of Yukon First Nations Grand Chief Shirley Adamson. During the 2006 federal leadership race, Oliphant was an advisor to Michael Ignatieff’s campaign.
In December 2006, Globe and Mail floated Oliphant's name as a possible local contender for the federal Liberal nomination for Toronto Centre should Bill Graham decide not to seek re-election.[1] The Globe further reported in January 2007 that Oliphant is hosting exploratory meetings in the riding. [2] However, Oliphant announced on February 27 2007 that he would not pursue this bid, deferring to former Premier Bob Rae who has declared as a Liberal candidate in this riding. [3]
[edit] Community Services
Some of the directorates and committees Oliphant has been a member of are:
- The Sorrento Centre, Sorrento, BC
- Centre Dialogue, Montreal, QC,
- Woodgreen Red Door Family Shelter, Toronto
- Co-Chair, General Council Standing Committee on Sexism, United Church of Canada
- Chair, Economic Justice and Social Well-Being Committee, United Church of Canada
- Nakai Theatre Ensemble, Whitehorse
- Chair, Yukon Human Rights Commission.
He is currently a member of:
- Advisory Committee of Eva’s Phoenix, Toronto ON
- Community Liaison Committee at Fred Victor Centre, Toronto ON
- Ontario Board of Funeral Services
- Founding member, Affirm Canada
[edit] References
- ^ Liberals take aim at Toronto Centre, Globe and Mail, December 9, 2006
- ^ Liberals ready to rumble, Globe and Mail, January 20, 2007
- ^ [widely circulated e-mail communication]
