The day Jim Bradley was tapped to run for the Ontario Liberal Party in St. Catharines, a group of party faithful jeered and stormed out of the nomination meeting.

Bradley, at age 22, was 24 years younger than his opponent for the nomination, the respected city alderman Mackenzie Chown. Passions were high among local Liberals in the auditorium at Laura Secord Secondary School.

“It’s a fix,” some delegates yelled. “You’ve destroyed the party.” Others countered crying, “You’re supposed to be Liberals … Join the Conservative Party.”

“For about 10 minutes the hall was filled with shouting as the delegates battled with words,” reported The Standard on April 6, 1967.

It’s hard to imagine the scene today for a candidate who would go on to become the elder statesman for the Ontario Liberals, an

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