Author Stephen G McKenna said his grandfather, Patrick Grandcourt Kerwin, led quite a remarkable life. McKenna has written a book about the Sarnia native who would go on to be Canada's tenth Chief Justice. Patrick Grandcourt Kerwin, was born on Essex Street Sarnia in 1889. He was the son of a Great Lakes shipping captain, who also owned a liquor store on Front Street, which now houses Carlson Wagonlit Travel. McKenna said his grandfather attended SCITS and put himself through law school in Toronto by playing the piano in silent films. He said Patrick Kerwin went on to practice law in Guelph, eventually ending up on the Supreme Court of Canada in 1935 and helped bring an end to institutionalized racism. "A certain fellow from London, Ontario wanted to buy a cottage on Lake Huron but the association said you can't unless you're Christian and caucasian," said McKenna. "It ended up in the Supreme Court and my grandfather was among those that decided this has to stop. When that case was won by the fellow, who finally did buy the cottage, it made a lot of province's start looking at their laws." McKenna said a number of years ago, he returned to Sarnia with a different perspective. "Just seeing where the building was, where his father owned the liquor store shortly before he died, where the family lived, it was fun to sort of walk in his footsteps," said McKenna. The book of Kerwins life, 'Grace and Wisdom', is available at the Book Keeper in Sarnia's Northgate Plaza.
Photo courtesy of Stephen G McKenna.
