John “Jack” Alexander Young

Jack Young was born in Toronto and raised in Saskatchewan. He served overseas during the Second World War in the medical corps, suffering serious lung injuries during a bombing in 1943. While he was recuperating at the Freeport Hospital in Kitchener, he was taught leatherworking as part of his occupational therapy program

In 1949, Young formed Custom Leather Products Ltd., which he sold in 1974. Today, Custom Leather is the largest and one of the oldest men’s belt manufacturers in Canada.

Young served as a trustee on the Waterloo Township School Board from 1949 to 1950 and then with the Kitchener School Board from 1960 to 1966, serving two terms as Chairman.

In 1965 Young was elected to Kitchener City Council and re-elected from 1967 to 1969. In the late 1960s he served on the Kitchener and Area Planning Board. He was elected Chair of the Waterloo County Area Planning Board in 1969.

In 1972, Young was appointed by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario as the first Regional Chairman of the new Regional Municipality of Waterloo for a four and a half year term. He was elected chair by Regional Council in 1976 and served until 1978.

At a time of change, when previously existing municipal structures were reconfigured, including dissolution and amalgamation, Young recognized the importance of local identity and traditions. He felt that regional government had a responsibility to ensure that local heritage was preserved. In 1973, he initiated the Waterloo Region Heritage Foundation as a not-for-profit organization. Funded by an annual grant from the Region of Waterloo, the Foundation promotes and encourages interest in the heritage and culture of Waterloo Region.

In 1988, Waterloo Regional Council established a biennial award in Young’s name to recognize a person in Waterloo Region who best exemplifies the high standards of political and civic life exhibited by Young.

After leaving local politics, Young served as a Consultant and Senior Advisor on US affairs with the Ontario Ministry of Industry and Trade from 1979 to 1986; Chairman, President and CEO of Ontario International Corporation from 1980 to 1986; and was Principal Partner in JA Young & Associates, consulting on international trade, municipal affairs and corporate services.

Photograph by Belair, Kitchener.