ELLIS PRICE MORNINGSTAR

Welland’s Voice at Queen’s Park Mourned by Many

[Welland Tribune, 28 February 1982]

Joe Barkovich

Tribune Reporter

Ellis Price Morningstar, who represented Welland Riding in the provincial legislature through six elections in a 24-year career, died Sunday in Welland County General Hospital. He was in his 80^th year.

The popular politician who became well-known for the enduring slogan, “My door is always open,” began his political career in 1934 when elected to Crowland Township council, seeking elected office only after much persuasion from friends.

He was elected to the legislature in 1951 and announced his retirement prior to the September 1975 campaign.

On the local scene, he enjoyed immense personal popularity. He went on to become a reeve of Crowland Township and a warden of Welland County. He had a 44-year career at Page Hersey.

One of the hallmarks of his active political career which continued into his retirement from elected office were the Saturday morning meetings with constituents in the basement of his 97 Alberta Street home. There, often with shirt sleeves rolled above his elbows, Mr. Morningstar sat and listened to the constituents’ concerns, frequently taking notes in efforts to help them with their problems. As many persons will attest, he did.

What Mr. Morningstar came to regard as a highlight of his lengthy career occurred a few years ago when the Welland Chamber of Commerce organized an Ellis Morningstar Appreciation Night.

Much to the delight of hundreds in attendance, Premier William Davis, one of several prominent guests, said a special portfolio had been created for Mr. Morningstar, a back bencher throughout his career: “He was the Minister of Community Singing,” said Mr. Davis. Hearing that, Mr. Morningstar needed no further prompting to break out with his traditional favourite, “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.”

If anything, Mr. Morningstar was among the last of a vanishing breed of politician. He made the occasional speech in the legislature, extolling the assets and highpoints of his home riding, but it was here that the bulk of his work was done, with, and for the people he represented. Mr. Morningstar nurtured and maintained valuable connections in the corridors of political power, but his strengths were to be found at the grass roots, local level.

During his career at Page Hersey he came to know many of Welland’s workingmen and their families, the contacts becoming part of the bedrock of his political support. He was supervisor of the firm’s galvanizing department when he was elected to the legislature. When the house was in session, Mr. Morningstar would be at his job at the Page at 6 a.m. for a few hours. Before boarding a train daily for Queen’s Park.

He served under three premiers: Leslie frost, John Robarts and William Davis. And for many years supporters honored him at the ruling level with the always successful Morningstar jamboree.

Many major undertakings occupied his time while an MPP. Notably, was his dogged and successful representation, backed by Welland city council and the Chamber of Commerce, to have Niagara College located in Welland.

Throughout his years in Toronto, he campaigned for highway and access improvements for his riding. An early achievement was the West Side Road, federally assisted, between Welland and Port Colborne.

Highway 58 improvements between Thorold Road and Highway 406 was yet another undertaking he had advocated. Long before the canal bypass project was announced, he pleaded for additional crossings of the old canal to serve Welland and Port Colborne. With the bypass revealed, he interested himself in pressing for tunnels under the relocated channel.

His services and support were given to officials responsible for construction of many local projects, including Welland County General Hospital and its Centennial Wing, the Extendicare Unit, and growth and expansion at Sunset Haven.

But one of his greatest satisfactions was the province’s decision to create a provincial park in the Short Hills district of Effingham, another of his advocacy projects.

He was not one to stay retired from active life for a lengthy period of time. Shortly after he stepped down from provincial politics, he was appointed chairman of the Central Housing Authority, a post he held at the time of his death.

He was well liked, and likable.

Said Premier Davis, shortly after his minister of community singing had retired: “I haven’t met, I can’t think of anyone who has taken the cause and concern of his constituents more seriously and more genuinely.”