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History
Dr. John Ferguson Godfrey was born December 19, 1942 in Toronto to Senator John Morrow Godfrey and Mary Burwell. Godfrey graduated from Upper Canada College in 1960 and went on to attend Neuchâtel Junior College in Switzerland in 1961. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Trinity College (University of Toronto) in 1965, a Master of Philosophy degree from Balliol College (Oxford) in 1967, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from St. Antony’s College (Oxford) in 1975.
In 1970, Godfrey became a history professor at Dalhousie University. During this time, he worked with Dr. David Crook on developing a method of teaching History 100 to non-history majors, using lectures, videos, rap sessions and happenings, and dividing historical events from 1870-1970 into ten thematic decades.
Dr. Godfrey was Don of Chapel Bay at the University of King’s College from 1971-1976 and went on to serve as President and Vice-Chancellor of King’s College from 1977-1987. In 1988, he became the editor of Financial Post, a position he held until 1991. Godfrey also served as Chairman of the Art Gallery of Dalhousie and was a member of the National Film Board of Canada, the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews, the Halifax Board of Trade, and the National Board of C.U.S.O. He was active in many other associations.
In the early 1980s, Dr. Godfrey ran unsuccessfully as a provincial Liberal candidate for Halifax-Citadel. He ran and won in Toronto's Don Valley riding in 1993 and served as Parliamentary Secretary under Jean Chrétien from 1996-2004. In 2004, Godfrey was appointed Minister of State for Infrastructure and Communities by Paul Martin, a portfolio he held until 2006. That year, Godfrey announced he was running for the Liberal leadership, but he withdrew due to health problems and announced his support for Bob Rae. In 2008, Godfrey resigned his seat.