Name Dale Kirby Succeeded by riding dissolved Role Canadian Politician | Preceded by first member Residence St. John's, Canada Occupation University Professor | |
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Party Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador | ||
Dear jack mp ryan cleary speaks with mha dale kirby about the legacy of jack layton
Dale Kirby MHA (born May 19, 1971) is a Canadian politician who was first elected to the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly in the 2011 provincial election.
Contents
- Dear jack mp ryan cleary speaks with mha dale kirby about the legacy of jack layton
- Inside the Classroom Dale Kirby on inclusive education
- Early life
- University studies and student activism
- Academic career and honours
- Swearing in ceremony
- Academic status
- References
First elected in 2011 to represent the electoral district of St. John's North as a member of the Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party, Kirby left the NDP caucus after a high-profile, public dispute with NDP leader Lorraine Michael, and later joined the Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal Party. He was reelected in the 2015 provincial election as a Liberal in the new district of Mount Scio.
He currently serves as Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development in the Executive Council of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Inside the Classroom: Dale Kirby on inclusive education
Early life
Kirby was born in St. Lawrence on the Burin Peninsula. He was raised on a small farm in Lord's Cove where generations of his family have worked in inshore fishing industries. Kirby began working at an early age at Kirby's Store, later Kirby's Kwik-Way, a family-run grocery and convenience store. He graduated from St. Joseph's Academy in 1989.
University studies and student activism
Kirby earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degrees from Memorial University of Newfoundland before completing a doctorate in higher education theory and policy studies at the University of Toronto. While at university, he held a number of elected student union positions at the local, provincial, and national levels. As chairperson of the Newfoundland and Labrador component of the Canadian Federation of Students in the 1990s, Kirby led a successful campaign to freeze college and university tuition fees in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Academic career and honours
In 2006, Kirby was appointed an assistant professor of post-secondary education studies in the Faculty of Education at Memorial University of Newfoundland. He was promoted to the position of associate professor in 2011. Prior to joining Memorial University, he worked as a senior advisor on education policy in the Ontario Public Service.
Kirby is a professor, researcher, and consultant on student access and participation in college and university and in the area of online learning. In recognition of his contributions and advocacy, the Canadian Council on Learning named him a Minerva Scholar in 2007. In 2011, he received the R. W. B. Jackson Award from the Canadian Educational Researchers Association as well the Best Research Paper Award at the 2011 European Distance and E-Learning Network Annual Conference.
Swearing-in ceremony
Kirby was sworn at Government House as Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development by Lieutenant Governor Frank Fagan on December 14, 2015.
Academic status
Kirby is on a full leave of absence from his position as associate professor of education at Memorial University of Newfoundland.