J. Russell Perry

PERRY, J. RUSSELL, federal public servant and service station operator; b. 1 June 1915 in Palmer Road, son of William T. Perry and Evelyn Poirier; m. Rosetta Gallant, and they had seven children, David, Donald, Marina, Joanne, Peggy, Betty Ann, and Paula; Roman Catholic; d. 23 January 1981 in Charlottetown. Perry, a Liberal, was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in the general election of 1970 for 1st Prince. He was re-elected in the general elections of 1974, 1978, and 1979. On 15 March 1976, he was appointed as Speaker, and served from 6 June 1978 to 29 June 1979. Perry was a member of several select standing committees including those on fisheries, transportation, and tourism. While Perry served l'1 Prince, the Mill River Golf Course, five new schools, the first Regional Services Centre in the province, a veterinary clinic, a grain elevator, and numerous housing projects were built by government. He felt his greatest accomplishment in politics was his involvement in a development at Tignish Run, where he provided assistance to 40 homeowners, enabling them to secure title to their land. With these titles clear, the homeowners could apply to the government for the Home Improvement Grants available. Perry received his early education at the local school and later attended Summerside High School and St. Dunstan's College. After being discharged from the Armed Forces following the Second World War, he served for 12 years as a protection officer with the federal Department of Fisheries in the Tignish area. He later operated a service station. He and his family lived for a time in Nail Pond, and in 1956 they moved to Tignish. Perry was a member and chairman of the Tignish Village Commission, and chairman of the Tignish Consolidated School District. He was a member and president of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 6 and president of the Prince Edward Island Air Cadet League, as well as a director of the National Air Cadet League. Russell Perry died 23 January 1981 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Rosetta Perry was the daughter of John A. Gallant and Jane Handrahan. She died in Alberton on 27 February 2002.