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VAUGHAN LAWSON BAIRD
Date of Passing: Aug 17, 2013
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or MemoryVAUGHAN LAWSON BAIRD It is with deep regret that we announce the passing of Vaughan Lawson Baird, CM, QC, LLD, on Saturday, August 17, 2013 at his beloved home of Bel-Ami in Ste-Agathe, Manitoba. Vaughan was just shy of his 86th birthday. He is survived by his sister, Elsie Hughes; nieces and nephews Barbara Menard, Kathryn Desai, Hugh and Michael Munro, Joanne Boyne, James Baird, Janis, Shawn and Jeffrey Hughes, and Susan Cunningham; and the many grand-nephews and nieces who were an increasing source of delight for him in his later years. He was predeceased by sister Barbara Munro; brothers Samuel Lawson, James Harold and Jack Douglas; and niece Irene Baird Fast. The youngest sigon of Nova Scotia emrants Samuel Garnet Baird and Elsie Katherine Lawson, Vaughan was born in Winnipeg and earned a BA at the University of Manitoba in 1949, and a law degree at Dalhousie University in 1952. His life-long passion for art, history, politics, and the French language was no doubt nourished by his post-graduate studies in French Civilization at the Sorbonne in Paris. In 1987, his academic distinctions were crowned by an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Winnipeg. Vaughan's 31 years as a partner in the law firm of Newman MacLean were bracketed by practice with Pitblado Hoskin at the start of his career, and Baker Zivot and Pullan Guld, respectively, towards the end. Appointed Queen's Counsel in 1966, one of his most signal achievements as a lawyer was the successful challenge of the constitutionality of Manitoba's English-only legislation in Bilodeau v. AGM, a multi-year struggle that began in May 1980 and wound its way to a June 1984 hearing in the Supreme Court of Canada alongside the Reference re Manitoba Language Rights. He subsequently argued before the Supreme Court at an additional special hearing of the Reference in 1991. Further underscoring Vaughan's commitment to constitutional language rights was his pride in having served as a defence attorney in a separate matter that was the first French-only trial to be heard in Manitoba in some 90 years. The combative - some would say "pugnacious" - spirit that served Vaughan so well as a lawyer and litigator also served him well in sports, where he distinguished himself during his university years in swimming, diving and boxing. However good an athlete he may have been, it was as a sports administrator, fundraiser and official that Vaughan made his most enduring mark. His particular devotion to diving led him to establish, in 1968, the Canadian Amateur Diving Association, now known as Diving Canada, of which he was at the time of his death the Honorary President. At the same time that he asserted diving's independence from swimming, he helped to unite those two disciplines with water polo and synchronized swimming under the umbrella of the Aquatic Federation of Canada. Vaughan's role as a chef de mission for Canada's national diving team took him throughout Europe and the Soviet Union. A member of the Canadian Olympic Association and board member of the Commonwealth Games Association of Canada, the Amateur Swimming Union of the Americas (ASUA) and the Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA), Vaughan also judged diving at the Olympic, Commonwealth, and Pan American Games and various World competitions from 1964 to 1990. As a member of two of the committees planning the 1967 Pan Am Games in Winnipeg, Vaughan waged a year-long campaign to obtain federal funding to put a roof over Pan Am Pool. His local contributions to sport also included his involvement in the founding of the Manitoba Sports Federation, which evolved into Sport Manitoba, and the creation of a sports lottery organization that, under his guidance, eventually grew into the Western Canada Lottery Corporation. Always a great lover and patron of the arts, Vaughan was especially fond of painting and sculpture, and buildings and parks all over Winnipeg have been embellished with works that he donated. A perfect union of his predilections for art, aquatic sports and history was formed when, at the request of Mayor Stephen Juba, he founded the Aquatic Hall of Fame and Museum of Canada in the context of the 1967 Pan Am Games. The curation and upkeep of the hall's rich collection of aquatics-related art and memorabilia was one of his most cherished projects, and he continued to tend to it through to his final days. An incurable optimist imbued with an infectious joie de vivre, Vaughan generally met life's adversities with a shrug of the shoulders and one of his favourite sayings: C'est la vie. When it came to matters of principle, however, no one was more tenacious. As an active member and executive of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, he was a leading proponent of the One Member, One Vote approach to electing party leaders and was gratified to see his efforts rewarded by the slow but steady march in that direction by his and other political parties in Canada and Britain. A three-time recipient of the Queen's Jubilee Medal who was decorated by the Government of Peru for his 23-year service as an Honorary Consul, Vaughan earned many more honours and awards over the course of his lifetime, most of them acknowledging his contributions to sport. He was inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in 1984 and appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 1992. Although Vaughan had no descendants of his own, he served as the chronicler of the Baird family history and his greatest gift to the family's far-flung members was maintaining and, in some cases, restoring their connections. The family would like to extend special thanks to Thérèse and Albert Dorge of Ste-Agathe and, above all, Kathryn Desai of Winnipeg, for their care and attention to Vaughan over the years. A private celebration of Vaughan's life for family and close friends will be held at his home on the river in which he swam his entire life. For further information, please contact Wojcik's Funeral Chapel and Crematorium at 204 - 586-8668. Wojcik's Funeral Chapel & Crematorium, 1020 Main Street, Winnipeg, 204 - 586 - 8668, wojciksfuneralchapel.com.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 31, 2013
Condolences & Memories (11 entries)
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On behalf of the Dusl family, Montreal, I wish to extend our belated condolences to Vaughan's family and salute his memory. His passing is a great loss to many - the family, friends, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Sports and Arts. A close friend since my arrival to Canada in 1969 and the best man at our wedding, a lifelong mentor, Vaughan was an extraordinary person who will remain in our hearts and minds. Our common interests – politics, sports, culture and travel – were always on the menu, whenever we met. Simply, it was a privilege and a pleasure to have had known him and to be included among his friends. - Posted by: George C. Dusl (friend) on: Mar 26, 2014
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What an outstanding man with so many talents!!!! He was such a supporter of Aquatic Art and worked so hard to support Beulah Gundling. I cherish his friendship and had so much fun at his house. We loved having him in our home and our trips together. He was so proud showing us The Swimming Hall. It was his joy!!!!! He loved our dog, Happy. His home was the best museum in the world!!!! We love you and miss you Vaughan. So glad we had such good phone conversations even though we were miles apart. Wonderful memories!!! - Posted by: Jane Bell (Friend) on: Mar 14, 2014
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HE WAS SOMEONE I SHALL NEVER FORGET. WE MET, GETTING ON THE THAI BOAT TO THE FLOATING MARKET ABOUT 40 YEARS AGO. HE TAUGHT ME THE TRUE APPRECIATION OF ART AND SHOWED ME AN ENTHUSIASM FOR LIFE THAT I NEVER SAW BEFORE. HE KNEW MY CHILDREN AND WAS SO KIND TO ALL OF THEM. I WILL MISS HIM DEEPLY. WITH LOVE, DR ANDREW CARVER 1040 17TH ST NW WASHINGTON, DC 20036 202 296 2424 - Posted by: DR ANDREW CARVER (GOOD FRIEND) on: Jan 22, 2014
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I am sorry to hear of Mr. Baird's passing. He was always so generous in mentoring and reaching out to new members of the Toastmasters club that we both attended. He is fondly remembered. - Posted by: Christine Esselmont () on: Dec 15, 2013
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Vaughan was instrumental in forming the Ste-Agathe CDC incorporating in the Province of Manitoba, the first CDC to be Incorporated in Manitoba. I chaired the Corporation for nearly 10 years and Vaughan faithfully attended all meetings contributing enormously to developing Ste-Agathe. - Posted by: Jeannot Robert, Ste-Agathe,MB (Friend and Committe member with Vaughan) on: Oct 11, 2013
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Diving has lost a true friend....the Aquatic Hall of Fame which used to be housed at Pan-Am Pool was an absolute treasure for Winnipeg...as a young diver I spent hours looking at the amazing artifacts and stories that lined the walls. It was an inspirational and aspirational monument for everyone at the pool. It would be a great testament to his memory if it could be restored to the Pan-Am Pool for the next generation of athletes. Vaughn wasn't only involved in national diving events. He made a point to attend even the small, local events and was always so supportive of even the newest divers. He always made a point to know everybody's name. I continued to experience his kind reputation when I practiced law. He was a great man and I extend my condolences to his family. - Posted by: Daron (Werthman) Dolynchuk (Former PADC diver) on: Sep 10, 2013
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I would also like to mention that Vaughan was instrumental in forming the Ste Agathe Community Development Corporation. After a number of informal meetings Vaughan suggested that we incorporate, which we did and he voluntarily contributed his legal knowledge for the setup. Consequently, as many will acknowledge ,he had a million ideas for projects and development. I was fortunate to work with Vaughan as the first president of the corporation and will always remember his drive and devotion to any cause that he found worthy. Thank you Vaughan, we will miss you. - Posted by: Norman Barnabe (friend) on: Sep 03, 2013
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Vaughn was integral to amateur sport in this province, not only in the sport of diving, for which he was inducted in 1984, but through his legal groundwork for the MB Sports Federation (now Sport MB) and for his passion, the Canadian Aquatic Hall of Fame. He was also a founding member of the Canadian Assoc. for Sport Heritage. Our sympathies to his family and friends, he will be missed. - Posted by: Rick Brownlee (MB Sports Hall of Fame) on: Aug 31, 2013
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I write on behalf of the whole Bowles family, and in particular on behalf of my mother, Frances, to extend our condolences to Vaughan's family and salute his memory. My parents, Richard and Frances, were friends of Vaughan's for decades and in recent years Vaughan arranging for mom to attend the Ste. Agathe Fall Supper with him has been a highlight of the Bowles Family year. Last fall, Vaughan was away the dinner was missed but several months ago we talked and made plans for this year. Among the many Baird/Bowles connections is a shared love of Ste Agathe where my parents have long had a country home a couple of miles south of Vaughan. After dad died, 25 years ago, Vaughan, through his many contacts in the community, and his own attentive watchfulness, made it easy for mom, who is 15 years his senior, to continue to visit "the farm" and keep it up. For this the Bowles will be forever grateful to Vaughan. Vaughan was equally as comfortable talking to Royalty as he was with his clients, his neighbours at Ste. Agathe, or his friends. He could hold his own with titled academics, or discuss crop yields this year with equal facility. Vaughan's secret was that he was truly equally interested in everyone. No matter who he met up with Vaughan's face lit up with genuine delight. The Bowles family will miss Vaughan, but the memory of that warm smile of welcome will keep him alive in our hearts. - Posted by: Sheldon Bowles (Friend ) on: Aug 31, 2013
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A life long mentor and friend - had a city councillor/solicitor relationship during the centennial years. "Always take the high road" was good advice from one Scot to another. Losing someone is never easy but this one really hurts. Merci mon bel ami. - Posted by: george marshall (friend) on: Aug 31, 2013
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A great loss to the family and Winnipeg. - Posted by: Gwen Grant (Friend of the family) on: Aug 31, 2013
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