Evelyn Gigantes | |
---|---|
Ontario MPP | |
In office 1990–1995 |
|
Preceded by | Richard Patten |
Succeeded by | Richard Patten |
Constituency | Ottawa Centre |
In office 1985–1987 |
|
Preceded by | Michael Cassidy |
Succeeded by | Richard Patten |
Constituency | Ottawa Centre |
In office 1975–1981 |
|
Preceded by | Paul Frederick Taylor |
Succeeded by | Bob MacQuarrie |
Constituency | Carleton East |
Personal details | |
Born |
Evelyn Adelaide Peach 1 November 1942 Yarmouth, Nova Scotia |
Political party | New Democrat |
Spouse(s) | Terry Gigantes (div.) John Sifton |
Children | 2 |
Occupation | radio and television broadcaster |
Evelyn Adelaide Gigantes (born 1 November 1942) is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. She served as a New Democratic Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario on three occasions between 1975 and 1995, and was a prominent cabinet minister in the government of Bob Rae.
Gigantes was born in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia and raised in Aylmer, Quebec. Her father, Earle Peach, was an author who wrote a book called "Memories of a Cape Breton childhood". She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Carleton University. She worked as a radio and television broadcaster before entering political life, and was for a time an interviewer with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and host of her own current affairs show in Ottawa. During her time out of political office, she was a member of a City of Ottawa Municipal Energy Planning Project, and served as a representative on women's issues for the National Union of Provincial Government Employees. Gigantes has a daughter, Clea, from a first marriage and a son, Matthew, with her second husband, John Sifton.
Gigantes ran for the Ontario legislature in a by-election held on 30 September 1974. She was defeated by Progressive Conservative Paul Frederick Taylor in the Ottawa area riding of Carleton East, losing by 240 votes. The following year, however, she defeated Taylor by 281 votes in the provincial election of 1975. During her first term she was the NDP's critic for energy and later, education.