View source for Eugene Whelan

{{Short description|Canadian politician}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=September 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{lead rewrite|date=February 2014}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = [[The Honourable]]
| name             = Eugene Whelan
| honorific-suffix = {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|PC|OC|CD|PAg|size=100%}} {{post-nominals|list=[[Doctor of Laws|LLD (h.c.)]]|size=100%}}
| image            = Whelan-portrait.jpg
| caption          = 
| office           = [[Minister of Agriculture (Canada)|Minister of Agriculture]]
| primeminister    = [[Pierre Trudeau]]
| term_start       = 3 March 1980
| term_end         = 29 June 1984
| predecessor      = [[John Wise (Ontario)|John Wise]]
| successor        = [[Ralph Ferguson]]
| primeminister1   = Pierre Trudeau
| term_start1      = 27 November 1972
| term_end1        = 3 June 1979
| predecessor1     = [[Bud Olson]]
| successor1       = John Wise
| office2          = [[Senate of Canada|Senator]] for South Western Ontario
| appointed2       = [[Jean Chrétien]]
| term_start2      = 9 August 1996
| term_end2        = 11 July 1999
| riding3          = [[Essex (federal electoral district)|Essex]] 
<br />{{small|([[Essex (federal electoral district)|Essex—Windsor]]; 1972–1984)}}
| parliament3      = Canadian
| term_start3      = 25 June 1968
| term_end3        = 3 September 1984
| predecessor3     = ''Riding re-created''
| successor3       = [[Steven W. Langdon|Steven Langdon]]
| riding4          = [[Essex South (federal electoral district)|Essex South]]
| parliament4      = Canadian
| term_start4      = 18 June 1962
| term_end4        = 24 June 1968
| predecessor4     = [[Richard Thrasher]]
| successor4       = ''Riding dissolved''
| birth_name       = Eugene Francis Whelan
| birth_date       = {{birth date|1924|7|11|df=y}}
| birth_place      = [[Amherstburg, Ontario]], Canada
| death_date       = {{death date and age|2013|2|19|1924|7|11|df=y}}
| death_place      = Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada
| restingplace     = St. John the Baptist Cemetery, Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada
|restingplacecoordinates = {{Coord|42|6|35.52|N|83|5|00.43|W|display=inline}}
| party            = [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]]
| spouse           = {{marriage|Elizabeth Pollinger|1960}}
| children         = 3, including [[Susan Whelan|Susan]]
| residence        = 
| alma_mater       = 
| occupation       = Farmer
| profession       = 
| signature        = Whelan-sig.png
}}

'''Eugene Francis''' "'''Gene'''" '''Whelan''' {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|PC|OC|CD|PAg|size=100%}} {{post-nominals|list=[[Doctor of Laws|LLD (h.c.)]]|size=100%}} (11 July 1924 – 19 February 2013) was a [[Canadians|Canadian]] [[politician]], sitting in the [[House of Commons of Canada|House of Commons]] from 1962 to 1984, and in the [[Senate of Canada|Senate]] from 1996 to 1999. He was also [[Minister of Agriculture (Canada)|Minister of Agriculture]] under [[Pierre Trudeau]] from 1972 to 1984, and became one of Canada's best-known politicians.<ref name = "CPbio">{{cite news|title = Former Liberal cabinet minister Eugene Whelan dead at 88|url = https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/former-liberal-cabinet-minister-eugene-whelan-dead-at-88/article8878489/ |date = February 20, 2013|publisher = [[The Globe and Mail]]|access-date = February 20, 2013}}</ref> During his career, he would meet [[Queen Elizabeth II]], help Canada beat U.S. president [[Richard Nixon]] to the punch in "opening up" China, and play a catalyzing role in the [[revolutions of 1989|fall of the Iron Curtain]] and the end of the [[Cold War]].<ref name = "Wilhelm">{{cite web|author = Trevor Wilhelm|title = 'He's just a great Canadian. Definitely one of the best' |url = https://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/eugene-whelan-dead-at-88|date = February 20, 2013|publisher = [[Windsor Star]]|access-date = November 29, 2021}}</ref> In an editorial immediately following his death, the ''[[Windsor Star]]'' said:

{{blockquote|
:He was folksy, flamboyant and colourful. He was the farmer in the iconic green Stetson. He was blunt and rough around the edges. At times he was the antithesis of all things [[politically correct]].

:And, while nobody said it in so many words, he was also the guy who made being minister of agriculture seem almost sexy. Perhaps that's because being in a Pierre Trudeau government was sexy in itself. Regardless, Whelan is likely the only MP to hold that post and have his name remembered because of it.<ref>{{cite web|title = Editorial: Eugene Whelan was one-of-a-kind politician|url = https://windsorstar.com/opinion/editorials/star-editorial-eugene-whelan-was-one-of-a-kind-politician|date = February 21, 2013|publisher = [[Windsor Star]]|access-date = November 29, 2021}}</ref>
}}

Whelan was always known as a die hard [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]]. He loved to boast,

{{Blockquote|
The Conservatives have the right wing, the NDP have the left wing. The Liberals have two wings and that's why we can fly.<ref name = "MartinObit" />
}}

When he announced that he was running for the [[1984 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election|Liberal leadership]] in 1984, he said:

{{Blockquote|
I don't think there is any politician that is as well known in the world as I am.<ref name = "CBCobit" />
}}

==Early years==
Eugene Whelan was born in [[Amherstburg, Ontario]],<ref name="parl"/> the middle of nine children born to Irish-Canadian farmers Charles B. Whelan and Frances L. Kelly.<ref name = "MartinObit">{{cite web|author = Sandra Martin|title = Man in the green Stetson brought verve and sass to public life during Trudeau era|url = https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/man-in-the-green-stetson-brought-verve-and-sass-to-public-life-during-trudeau-era/article9277732/|publisher = [[The Globe and Mail]]|date = March 2, 2013|access-date = November 29, 2021}}</ref><ref name = "WSobit">{{cite web|title = Eugene WHELAN: Obituary|url = http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/windsorstar/obituary.aspx?n=eugene-whelan&pid=163210540&fhid=6773|publisher = [[Windsor Star]]|access-date = February 22, 2013}}</ref> He was educated in [[Windsor, Ontario|Windsor]] and [[Walkerville, Ontario|Walkerville]]. At 16, Whelan quit school and worked for a time as a [[welder]] and [[tool and die maker]]<ref name = "MartinObit" /> before returning to farming.<ref name = "Torstar-funeral">{{cite web|title = Eugene Whelan's contribution to Canada remembered at funeral|url = https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/02/23/eugene_whelans_contribution_to_canada_remembered_at_funeral.html|publisher = [[Toronto Star]]|date = February 23, 2013|access-date = February 24, 2013}}</ref>

In 1960, Whelan married Elizabeth Pollinger and they had a family. One daughter went into politics (see Family below). His brother [[Edward Charles Whelan]] made his life in [[Saskatchewan]]. He also went into politics, being elected and serving in the [[Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan]].

==Political career==
[[File:Gray-whelan-martin-elect-1962.jpg|thumb|left|Whelan (centre), pictured with fellow MPs [[Herb Gray]] and [[Paul Martin Sr.|Paul Martin]] in 1962.]]
Whelan entered municipal politics at age 21<ref name = "Wilhelm" /> and surprisingly won an election to the [[separate school]] board of [[Anderdon Township, Ontario|Anderdon Township]],<ref name = "Torstar-funeral" /> which administered Catholic schools. He was next elected as councillor and eventually [[reeve (Canada)|reeve]] of the township council,<ref name="parl"/> becoming [[chairman|warden]] of the [[Essex County, Ontario|Essex County]] council in 1962.<ref name="johnson">{{cite book |title=The Canadian Directory of Parliament 1867-1967 |last=Johnson |first=J.K. |year=1968 |publisher=Public Archives of Canada}}</ref> He ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Ontario assembly [[1959 Ontario general election|in 1959]].

During that time, he supported himself as a [[farmer]] and became active in farm issues and groups. He became a director and president of the Harrow Farmer's Co-operative, served on the boards of [[United Co-operatives of Ontario]] and the [[The Co-operators|Co-operators Insurance Company]], and was a founding member of the Ontario Wheat Producers' Marketing Board and the [[Ontario Federation of Agriculture]].<ref name = "CAHF" />

Whelan first won a seat in the [[House of Commons of Canada|House of Commons]] in the [[1962 Canadian federal election|1962 election]], representing the southwestern [[Ontario]] riding of [[Essex (federal electoral district)|Essex]], and held it until his retirement in 1984.<ref name="parl">{{Canadian Parliament links|ID=8465|nolist=yes}}</ref> Whelan ran to succeed Trudeau at the [[1984 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election|1984 Liberal leadership convention]], but came in last.<ref name = "CBCobit" /> In 1996, Whelan was appointed to the [[Senate of Canada|Senate]] by [[Jean Chrétien]], and served in the chamber until he reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 in 1999.<ref name="parl"/>

===Minister of Agriculture===
In 1972, Whelan was appointed as [[Minister of Agriculture (Canada)|Minister of Agriculture]] in the [[Cabinet of Canada|cabinet]] of [[Pierre Trudeau]], and held the position until Trudeau's retirement in 1984, except during the 1979-1980 [[Joe Clark]] government.<ref name="parl"/>

He once recalled a time when his qualifications for Minister were questioned:
{{Blockquote|
I remember one time when I was out West, someone asked me what the hell I knew, coming from [[Ontario]], about being minister of agriculture and I said I knew just as much as [[Allan Blakeney]], premier of [[Saskatchewan]] who was born in [[Nova Scotia]], or [[Don Getty]] in [[Alberta]] who was born in [[Quebec]], or [[Bill Vander Zalm]] in [[British Columbia|B.C.]] who came from [[Netherlands|Holland]]. The fact is that I came from the most diversified farming region in the country, and we were diversified farmers ourselves. We had it all and I was an agriculture minister who really had hands on experience.<ref>{{cite web|title = Eugene Whelan was IP in a political crop|author = Lee Hart|url = http://bloggn.grainews.ca/lee_hart/2013/02/eugene-whelan-was-ip-in-a-poli.html|publisher = Grainews|date = February 20, 2013|access-date = February 23, 2013|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130305094912/http://bloggn.grainews.ca/lee_hart/2013/02/eugene-whelan-was-ip-in-a-poli.html|archive-date = March 5, 2013}}</ref>
}}

As Minister, Whelan promoted the extension of national [[marketing board]]s {{emdash}} first implemented with the creation of the [[Canadian Dairy Commission]] in 1970 {{emdash}} to eggs in 1972, turkey in 1974, and chicken in 1978.<ref name = "AFExpress">{{cite web|title = Trudeau's iconic ag minister Eugene Whelan, 88|url = http://www.albertafarmexpress.ca/news/trudeaus-iconic-ag-minister-eugene-whelan-88/1002085181/|publisher = Alberta Farmer Express|date = 20 February 2013|access-date = 21 February 2013}}</ref> These were placed under the supervision of the [[National Farm Products Council]]. For those commodities not under supply management, he fought to maintain a level playing field in world markets at a time when other countries strongly subsidized such products. He was successful in getting the Canadian government to increase its support for farmers, through amendments to the ''Agricultural Stabilization Act''<ref>''Agricultural Stabilization Act'', R.S.C. 1970, c. A-9, as amended by S.C. 1974-75-76, c. 63</ref><ref name = "FIPA">since replaced by the [http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/F-3.3/FullText.html ''Farm Income Protection Act''], S.C. 1991, c. 22</ref> and the introduction of the ''Western Grain Stabilization Act''.<ref name = "AFExpress" /><ref name = "FIPA" /><ref>''Western Grain Stabilization Act'', S.C. 1974-75-76, c. 87</ref> In 1977, the ''Advance Payments for Crops Act'' was passed,<ref>[http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-49/FullText.html ''Advance Payments for Crops Act''], now R.S.C., 1985, c. C-49</ref> which guaranteed loans to producers requiring advance payments for perishable crops. He opened markets in the [[Soviet Union]] for Canadian wheat, and established legislation to protect fruit and vegetable growers from processor bankruptcies.<ref name = "CAHF" /> He also restricted the powers of the [[Canadian Wheat Board]], allowing private-sector feed grain trading and inter-provincial movement of feed.<ref name = "AFExpress" />

Whelan's English was rough-hewn, and his French was non-existent. He openly acknowledged this, exclaiming:
{{Blockquote|
Canada has two official languages and I don't speak none of them.<ref name = "MartinObit" />
}}

Whelan was one of Pierre Trudeau's best constitutional campaigners. However, in 1976 angry Quebec dairy farmers threw diluted milk on Whelan after cabinet refused to approve dairy subsidies to compensate
farmers in a collapsed world market. Whelan said this refusal contributed to the success of the [[Parti Québécois]] in rural ridings [[1976 Quebec general election|that fall]].<ref>{{cite book|title = Serving Agriculture: Canada's Ministers of Agriculture, 1867-1997|year = 1998|url = https://archive.org/stream/servingagricultu00mcgr/servingagricultu00mcgr_djvu.txt|access-date = February 21, 2013|publisher = [[Internet Archive]]|isbn = 9780662639961}}</ref>

His green [[stetson]] hat became well-known and Whelan was seen as an ardently vociferous advocate for the agricultural sector, with a habit for plain-spokenness (which occasionally got him in trouble).<ref name="eggs">{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/1974-28-million-rotten-eggs |title=28 million rotten eggs |publisher=CBC |year=1974 |access-date=2021-11-29}}</ref> In response to complaints voiced over the cost of food, when he wanted to stress the average farmer's narrow profit margin, he said:

{{Blockquote|
The cost of cars, fur coats, housing, booze, travel goes up and who gets excited? Nobody, because they don't buy these things every day. Potatoes go up a few cents and my God, everybody's crying.<ref name="CPbio" />
}}

===Catalyst for Russian ''perestroika''===
During his last term as Minister of Agriculture, Whelan became good friends with [[Alexander Nikolaevich Yakovlev|Aleksandr Yakovlev]], then the USSR's Ambassador to Canada, as both men were ardent agriculturalists. The relationship became so close that Pierre Trudeau called him in to get assurance that Whelan had not divulged any national secrets, as the minister was a member of the Cabinet defence committee.<ref>{{cite web|author = Gord Henderson|title = Eugene Whelan: Patriot with a passion|date = February 20, 2013|url = http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2013/02/20/eugene-whelan-patriot-with-a-passion/|publisher = [[Windsor Star]]|access-date = February 21, 2013|archive-date = 23 February 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130223034452/http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2013/02/20/eugene-whelan-patriot-with-a-passion/|url-status = dead}}</ref> When [[Mikhail Gorbachev]], then Soviet Minister of Agriculture, came to Canada in 1983, Yakovlev connected Gorbachev with Whelan, who arranged a three-week tour across Canada for both Soviet officials, accompanied personally by Whelan.

In 2013 [[Jean Chrétien]] recalled Whelan introducing Gorbachev to Canadian life when the tour came to Windsor:

{{blockquote|
:'He came to Windsor and introduced him to the life of a Canadian,' Chretien said. 'He was amazed at the food processing in Canada, to have all the food available so quickly. Later on, they were driving and he was marvelling to see two cars in front of every house.'

:The group stopped in front of one blue-collar home.

:'Gorbachev said, "Do you know them?" And Gene said, "I don't know them, but they know me,"' Chretien recalled. 'So they knocked on the door and went into the house. Gorbachev was very impressed by that.'<ref>{{cite web|title = Chretien, Trudeau, Gray: Whelan was fun, straight-talking |date = February 21, 2013|url = https://windsorstar.com/news/chretien-trudeau-gray-whelan-was-fun-straight-talking|publisher = [[Windsor Star]]|access-date = November 29, 2021}}</ref>
}}

At the end of that tour, the Whelans hosted a farewell reception for Gorbachev at their Amherstburg home on the evening of 19 May 1983. Whelan was delayed in arriving. In what has since been called "the walk that changed the world", Yakovlev and Gorbachev walked in a nearby orchard, strolled among saplings and past fields of corn, soy and wheat, had an earnest discussion, and resolved that the old ways in the USSR had to end.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/insight/2010/03/28/how_glasnost_grew_in_ontario.html|title = How glasnost grew in Ontario|author = Brett Popplewell|publisher = [[Toronto Star]]|date = March 28, 2010|access-date=November 29, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author= David Hoffman|author-link= David E. Hoffman|title= The Dead Hand: The Untold Story of the Cold War Arms Race and its Dangerous Legacy|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=JQGHqScEFtoC&pg=PA184 |year= 2009|publisher= [[Random House]]|location= New York|isbn= 978-0-385-52437-7|page= 184}}</ref>

According to Yakovlev, this was where ''[[perestroika]]'' was born, with 80% of its features discussed while visiting Whelan's farm.<ref name = "Wilhelm" /><ref>{{cite web|title = Whelan-Gorbachev meeting put Russia on path to democracy|date = June 13, 2008|url = http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=033ebc79-955a-4fd7-81b6-bd20dc6f5543|publisher = [[Windsor Star]]|access-date = February 20, 2013|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140613212122/http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=033ebc79-955a-4fd7-81b6-bd20dc6f5543|archive-date = June 13, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author= Christopher Shulgan|title= The Soviet Ambassador: The Making of the Radical Behind Perestroika|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=X98FMsXXbtYC&pg=PT205 |year= 2008|publisher= [[McClelland and Stewart]]|location= Toronto|isbn= 978-0-7710-7997-9|page= 267}}</ref>

In an interview years later, Yakovlev recalled:
{{blockquote|
At first we kind of sniffed around each other and our conversations didn't touch on serious issues. And then, verily, history plays tricks on one, we had a lot of time together as guests of then Liberal Minister of Agriculture Eugene Whelan in [[Canada]] who, himself, was too late for the reception because he was stuck with some striking farmers somewhere. So we took a long walk on that Minister's farm and, as it often happens, both of us [Yakovlev and Gorbachev] suddenly were just kind of flooded and let go. I somehow, for some reason, threw caution to the wind and started telling him about what I considered to be utter stupidities in the area of foreign affairs, especially about those [[SS-20]] missiles that were being stationed in [[Europe]] and a lot of other things. And he did the same thing. We were completely frank. He frankly talked about the problems in the internal situation in [[Russia]]. He was saying that under these conditions, the conditions of dictatorship and absence of freedom, the country would simply perish. So it was at that time, during our three-hour conversation, almost as if our heads were knocked together, that we poured it all out and during that three-hour conversation we actually came to agreement on all our main points.<ref>{{cite web|title = Shaping Russia's Transformation: A Leader of Perestroika Looks Back - Interview with Aleksandr Yakovlev|url = http://conversations.berkeley.edu/content/alexander-yakovlev|publisher = Institute of International Studies at the University of California, Berkeley|date = November 21, 1996|access-date = February 21, 2013}}</ref>
}}

==Broadcasting==
Whelan was once host of the ''Agricultural Hour'' on [[CFRA]] in Ottawa.<ref>{{cite web|title = Former minister, CFRA personality Eugene Whelan passes away|author = Chris Holski|url = http://www.cfra.com/?cat=1&nid=90145|publisher = [[CFRA]]|date = February 20, 2013|access-date = February 23, 2013}}</ref>

==International appointments==
He served as president of the United Nations [[World Food Council]] from 1983 to 1985.<ref name = "CPbio" /> Whelan was appointed as Canadian [[Ambassador (diplomacy)|ambassador]] to the UN [[Food and Agriculture Organization]] (FAO) in [[Rome]]. [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada]] leader [[Brian Mulroney]] promised to rescind the appointment if he became [[Prime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister]]. Mulroney won the [[1984 Canadian federal election|1984 election]], and recalled Whelan as one of his first acts of office.<ref name = "CPbio" />

Whelan also actively participated in the [[Agri-Energy Roundtable]] (AER), an international non-governmental organization which forged a dialogue between food-surplus and energy-surplus nations, their private sectors, and multilateral agencies. Working with US Senator [[Jennings Randolph]] (D-WV) - a noted humanitarian- and [[Lord Harry Walston|Lord Walston]] of the United Kingdom and others, Whelan helped the AER to gain [[United Nations]] recognition in 1985. Whelan joined AER's Committee of Honor and rose to become AER's vice chairman. As such he presided at a number of international conferences in the late 1980s.

==Honours==
:* In 1967, awarded the [[Canadian Centennial Medal]] as a sitting MP.
:* In 1977, awarded the Canadian version of the [[Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal]] as a sitting MP.
:* On 27 November 1972, Whelan was sworn in as a Member of the [[Queen's Privy Council for Canada]], giving him the honorific prefix "[[The Honourable]]" and the [[List of post-nominal letters in Canada|Post Nominal Letters]] "PC" for life.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/index.asp?lang=eng&page=information&sub=council-conseil&doc=members-membres/hist-chronolog-eng.htm#a1971-1980 |title=Members of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada |website=www.pco-bcp.gc.ca |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421033911/http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/index.asp?lang=eng&page=information&sub=council-conseil&doc=members-membres/hist-chronolog-eng.htm |archive-date=2012-04-21}}</ref>
:* In 1976, he was made honorary colonel of the 21st (Windsor) Service Battalion.<ref name = "WSobit" />
:* In 1983, he received an honorary [[Doctor of Laws]] from the [[University of Windsor]].<ref>{{cite web|title = Honorary Degree by Convocation|url = http://web4.uwindsor.ca/units/senate/main.nsf/cf50c73c23e058b985256db30060a59e/a48b1946c9406f4d852577ca006997f8/$FILE/Honorary%20Degree%20by%20Convocation.pdf|publisher = [[University of Windsor]]|access-date = February 20, 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110220045145/http://web4.uwindsor.ca/units/senate/main.nsf/cf50c73c23e058b985256db30060a59e/a48b1946c9406f4d852577ca006997f8/$FILE/Honorary%20Degree%20by%20Convocation.pdf|archive-date = February 20, 2011|url-status = dead}}</ref>
:* In 1986, the Freedom Award from the [[Windsor–Detroit International Freedom Festival]].<ref name = "WSobit" />
:* In 1987, he was made an Officer of the [[Order of Canada]], giving him the [[List of post-nominal letters in Canada|Post Nominal Letters]] "OC" for life.<ref>{{cite web|title = Order of Canada citation|url = https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/146-2921|access-date = November 29, 2021}}</ref>
:* In 2001, induction into the [[Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame]].<ref name = "CAHF">{{cite web|title = Hon. Eugene F. Whelan|url = https://www.cahfa.com/en-us/inductees/hon-eugene-f-whelan|publisher = Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame|access-date = November 29, 2021|archive-date = 29 November 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211129073840/https://www.cahfa.com/en-us/inductees/hon-eugene-f-whelan|url-status = dead}}</ref>
:* In 2001, induction into the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web|title = Hon. Eugene F. Whelan|url = http://www.oahf.on.ca/Whelan.html|publisher = Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame|access-date = February 21, 2013|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://archive.today/20130407141353/http://www.oahf.on.ca/Whelan.html|archive-date = April 7, 2013}}</ref>
:* Honorary life member of the Agricultural Institute of Canada and the Ontario Institute of Agrologists.<ref name = "WSobit" />
:* In 2002, he was awarded the Canadian version of the [[Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gg.ca/honour.aspx?id=43612&t=6&ln=Whelan | title=Recipients | date=11 June 2018 }}</ref>
:* In 2012, he was awarded the Canadian version of the [[Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gg.ca/honour.aspx?id=105009&t=13&ln=Whelan|title = Recipients|date = 11 June 2018}}</ref>
:* He was awarded the [[Canadian Forces' Decoration]] for 12 years service in the [[Canadian Forces]] as an [[Colonel (Canada)|Honorary Colonel]] of [[31 Service Battalion|21 (Windsor) Service Battalion]]. This gave him the [[List of post-nominal letters in Canada|Post Nominal Letters]] "CD" for life.

*In 1984, the Woodslee soil substation of [[Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada]]'s Greenhouse and Processing Crops Research Centre, located at [[Woodslee, Ontario]], was renamed as the Honourable Eugene F. Whelan Experimental Farm.<ref>{{cite web|title = Greenhouse and Processing Crops Research Centre: 100 years of agricultural research excellence|url = http://www4.agr.gc.ca/AAFC-AAC/display-afficher.do?id=1300816518055&lang=eng|publisher = [[Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada]]|access-date = February 21, 2013}}</ref>
*In 2008, the Whelan ancestral home,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ctmhv.com/The_Village/village_picture_10.htm |title=Village Picture 10 |publisher=Ctmhv.com |access-date=2013-06-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414033704/http://www.ctmhv.com/The_Village/village_picture_10.htm |archive-date=2015-04-14 }}</ref> where Eugene was born, was relocated for preservation to the [[Canadian Transportation Museum and Historical Village]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ctmhv.com/ |title=ctmhv.com/ |publisher=ctmhv.com/ |date=2011-09-04 |access-date=2013-06-14}}</ref> in [[Essex, Ontario]].<ref>{{cite web|title = New addition at CTMHV|author = Jennifer Cranston|url = http://images.ourontario.ca/Partners/efp/EFP0106185_003.pdf|publisher = Essex Free Press|date = July 30, 2008|access-date = November 29, 2021|page=3}}</ref>

==Family==
Whelan and his wife Elizabeth had three daughters. [[Susan Whelan]] went into politics and was elected to the House of Commons in [[1993 Canadian federal election|1993]] in her father's old [[electoral district (Canada)|riding]]. In 2001 she was appointed as Minister of International Trade in Chrétien's cabinet. She was dropped from Cabinet with the change of administrations when [[Paul Martin]] became prime minister.<ref>{{Canadian Parliament links|ID=15251|2=Susan Whelan|nolist=yes}}</ref>

==Death and funeral==
He died at his home in Amherstburg on February 19, 2013, following complications from [[heart disease]] and [[colon cancer]].<ref name = "MartinObit" /><ref name = "CBCobit">{{Cite news |title = Former agriculture minister Eugene Whelan dead at 88 |url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/former-agriculture-minister-eugene-whelan-dead-at-88-1.1365656 |date = February 20, 2013 |publisher = [[CBC News]]|access-date = February 20, 2013}}</ref> His funeral was held on February 23, 2013, at St. John The Baptist Church in Amherstburg, and he was buried in the church cemetery. [[Jean Chrétien]], [[Herb Gray]] and [[Remo Mancini]] were among the people that gave eulogies at the service.<ref>{{cite web|title = Chretien lightens mood at Whelan funeral|url = http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2013/02/23/hundreds-attend-eugene-whelans-funeral/|author = Rebecca Wright|publisher = [[Windsor Star]]|date = February 23, 2013|access-date = February 24, 2013}}</ref>

==Electoral record==
===Essex South===
{{Canadian election result/top|CA|1962|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|WHELAN, Eugene| 11,397 |48.7%|+13.6%}}
{{CANelec|CA|PC|[[Richard Thrasher|THRASHER, Richard D.]]|  10,409 |44.4%|-16.8%}}
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|CERVIN, Val        |  1,342 |5.7%|+2.0%}}
{{CANelec|CA|Unknown|BACKER, Jack        | 284 |1.2%|+1.2%}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes| 23,432|100.0%|}}
{{Canadian election result/gain|CA|Liberal|+15.4%}}
|}

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|1963|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|WHELAN, Eugene F.| 12,947 |50.7%|+2.0%}}
{{CANelec|CA|PC|[[Richard Thrasher|THRASHER, Richard Devere]]|12,178 |47.7%|+3.3%}}
{{CANelec|CA|Social Credit|BACKER, Jack         | 419|1.6%|-4.1%}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes| 25,544|100.0%|}}
{{Canadian election result/hold|CA|Liberal|-0.6%}}
|}

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|1965|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|WHELAN, Eugene F. | 12,887 |53.1%|+2.4%}}
{{CANelec|CA|PC|[[Richard Thrasher|THRASHER, Richard D.]]|  10,072 |41.5%|-6.2%}}
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|BERTRAND, Donald E.|1,329 |5.4%|+3.8%}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes| 24,288|100.0%|}}
{{Canadian election result/hold|CA|Liberal|+4.3%}}
|}

===Essex-Windsor===
{{1980 Canadian federal election/Essex—Windsor}}
{{1979 Canadian federal election/Essex—Windsor}}
{{1974 Canadian federal election/Essex—Windsor}}
{{1972 Canadian federal election/Essex—Windsor}}
{{1968 Canadian federal election/Essex}}

== Archives ==
There is a Eugene F. Whelan [[fonds]] at [[Library and Archives Canada]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Eugene F. Whelan fonds, Library and Archives Canada| date=25 November 2016 |url=http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.redirect?app=fonandcol&id=3729179&lang=eng}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book|author1= Eugene Whelan|author2= Rick Archbold|title= Whelan: The Man in the Green Stetson|url= https://archive.org/details/whelanmaningreen0000whel/page/322|year= 1986|publisher= Irwin Publishing|location= Toronto|isbn= 0-7725-1621-9|page= [https://archive.org/details/whelanmaningreen0000whel/page/322 322]}}
* {{cite web|title = Eugene F. Whelan fonds|url = http://collectionscanada.gc.ca/pam_archives/index.php?fuseaction=genitem.displayItem&lang=eng&rec_nbr=3729179|publisher = [[Library and Archives Canada]]|access-date = February 20, 2013|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://archive.today/20130407140938/http://collectionscanada.gc.ca/pam_archives/index.php?fuseaction=genitem.displayItem&lang=eng&rec_nbr=3729179|archive-date = April 7, 2013}}
* {{cite web|title = Photos: Senator Eugene Whelan|url = http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2013/02/19/senator-eugene-whelan/ |date = February 20, 2013|publisher = [[Windsor Star]]|access-date = February 20, 2013}}
* {{cite web|title = Photos: Eugene Whelan: The Early Years|url = http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2013/02/20/photos-eugene-whelan-the-earlier-years/|date = February 20, 2013|publisher = [[Windsor Star]]|access-date = February 21, 2013}}
* {{cite web|title = Photos: Hundreds Bid Farewell To Eugene Whelan|url = http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2013/02/23/photos-hundreds-bid-farewell-to-eugene-whelan/|date = February 23, 2013|publisher = [[Windsor Star]]|access-date = February 24, 2013|archive-date = 24 February 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130224134222/http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2013/02/23/photos-hundreds-bid-farewell-to-eugene-whelan/|url-status = dead}}

{{CA-Ministers of Agriculture}}
{{First Trudeau Ministry}}
{{Second Trudeau Ministry}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Whelan, Eugene}}
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