Dorian Baxter

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His Grace

Dorian Arthur Baxter
The Federation of Independent Anglican Churches of North America
Orders
Ordination15 May 1983
Personal details
Birth nameDorian Baxter
Born (1950-04-03) 3 April 1950 (age 69)
Mombasa Island, Kenya
NationalityCanadian
Children2
Alma materYork University, University of Toronto

Dorian Baxter (born 3 April 1950) is a self-proclaimed Anglican Archbishop and perennial candidate in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada.

Background[edit]

Baxter was baptized and confirmed by the first Black Bishop of Mombasa in Mombasa Cathedral.[citation needed] His father, Arthur Baxter, was a major in the British Army and his mother, Ena Baxter, was a corporal. From 1962 to 1967, he competed in the Amateur Boxer in Kenya National Championships, but failed to gain a medal. In 1966, he became the Kenya National Backstroke Champion.[1] Baxter came to Canada, landing on 28 March 1968, moving to Toronto.

Education and ministry[edit]

He obtained his B.A. from York University in humanities and his master's degree in divinity from the University of Toronto. He has been an educator for over 30 years, commencing his career as a classroom teacher with the York County Board of Education in 1970 (Roy H. Crosby Public School, Markham). In 1972, he was invited by the headmaster of St. George's College, Jack Wright, to join the staff. Baxter taught Grades 4 through to 10, coached the school swim teams, and ran the Independent Schools Athletic Association (Swimming) in Ontario.[citation needed]

In 1980 Baxter resigned after a quarrel with the headmaster, who attempted to fire Baxter before the end of the school year. Over 400 parents protested and Baxter was immediately reinstated and an apology letter was written to him by the Headmaster.[citation needed]

At the end of the school year, he resigned and entered Wycliffe College of the Toronto School of Theology at the University of Toronto. He was ordained at St. James' Cathedral on 15 May 1983 after serving as Head of Divinity, elected by the student body at the college. He served as a priest with the Anglican Church of Canada at St. Paul's Church in Thunder Bay, Ontario and as priest-in-charge of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Manitouwadge, Ontario. He then was an associate professor at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.[citation needed]

In 1996 Baxter began incorporating the music and look of Elvis Presley into his services. That year, he won the Canadian Showstopper at the Collingwood Elvis Festival. In 1997 he won the Grand Champion of Showstoppers at that same festival. After that year, festival founder Billy Cann was ousted and control given to the town's business groups, a decision which Baxter objected to before Collingwood Town Council. Baxter joined Cann to establish a competing Elvis festival in Orillia and has since refused to return to the Collingwood festival.[2]

In 1998, Bishop Ronald Ferris of the Diocese of Algoma removed Baxter from his parish and revoked his license to perform Anglican weddings because of his use of Elvis in Anglican services, saying it was "in poor taste".[citation needed] In 2002, the church revoked his invitation to be the keynote preacher at a Masonic service in a Toronto Anglican church. Baxter has said he found this particularly difficult, as he has been a Freemason for more than 25 years and was Worshipful Master of his lodge in 1980. Baxter attended the service anyway.[3]

Baxter says that the controversy re: Collingwood originated when the media reported that Yvonne Prince had falsely told reporters he performed weddings and funerals dressed as Elvis, which he denies doing. Instead, he says, he performs the services in traditional clerical garb and changes into the Elvis clothes for the reception. He is now fully recognized federally and provincially as the Archbishop of the Federation of Independent Anglican Churches of North America. As the governing authority of this federation, Baxter legally performs weddings himself and licenses his own priests and bishops to perform such weddings.[citation needed]

In 2003, he set up an independent church, Christ the King Graceland Independent Anglican Church of Canada, in Newmarket, Ontario, where he continues to conduct services using Presley's music, with his signature Elvis pompadour and sideburns. Baxter was consecrated on 9 March 2003 in Newmarket by the Rt. Rev'd Christopher Andrew Jukes of Calgary, Alberta, who at that time was a bishop in the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches, using the traditional ordinal of the Book of Common Prayer (1962 Canada). He also established the Federation of Independent Anglican Churches of North America with himself as self-styled archbishop; this organisation was incorporated by Federal Canadian Letters Patent on 1 October 2003.[3]

Political life[edit]

Baxter has run for federal Parliament four times in the riding of Newmarket-Aurora, under the Progressive Canadian Party banner. In the 2004 federal election, he received 1,079 votes, placing last out of five candidates. In the 2006 election he received 729 votes, and in the 2008 election he received 1,004 votes. He placed fifth out of six candidates in both 2006 and 2008. In the 2011 election, he received 1,001 votes, placing fifth out of six candidates, surpassing only Yvonne Mackie of the Animal Alliance Environment party. Baxter also ran in the 2010 by-election in the riding of Vaughan, finishing seventh of out eight candidates with 110 votes. He ran in the by-election for Markham—Thornhill on 3 April 2017. He placed a surprising fourth out of seven candidates, ahead of the Green Party of Canada candidate.

He founded NAPPA (The National Association for Public and Private Accountability)[4] on the heels of his unprecedented successful lawsuit against the Durham Region Children's Aid society. (See judgement by Justice Somers, 22 March 1994. Baxter versus Durham Region Children's Aid Society).[5]

Baxter serves as official Padre to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 426.[citation needed]

Electoral record[edit]

Canadian federal by-election, February 25, 2019: York—Simcoe
Resignation of Peter Van Loan
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Scot Davidson 8,929 53.91 Increase3.66
Liberal Shaun Tanaka 4,811 29.04 Decrease8.72
New Democratic Jessa McLean 1,244 7.51 Decrease1.38
Progressive Canadian Dorian Baxter 634 3.83 --
Green Mathew Lund 451 2.72 Decrease0.37
People's Robert Geurts 314 1.90 --
Libertarian Keith Dean Komar 95 0.57 --
Independent John The Engineer Turmel 64 0.39 --
National Citizens Alliance Adam Suhr 22 0.13 --
Total valid votes/Expense limit 16,564 99.43
Total rejected ballots 95 0.57 +0.09
Turnout 16,659 20.03 -43.23
Eligible voters 83,179
Conservative hold Swing +6.19
Source: Elections Canada[6]
2018 Ontario general election: Newmarket—Aurora
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Christine Elliott 24,813 47.71 +10.29
New Democratic Melissa Williams 12,405 23.85 +12.34
Liberal Chris Ballard 11,840 22.76 -21.18
Green Michelle Bourdeau 1,859 3.57 -0.53
Independent Dorian Baxter 447 0.86 -0.9
Trillium Bob Yaciuk 212 0.41 +0.25
Libertarian Lori Robbins 192 0.37 -0.74
None of the Above Denis Van Decker 185 0.36
Ontario Moderate Party Denis Gorlynskiy 60 0.12
Total valid votes 52,013 100.0  
Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal Swing -1.95
Source: Elections Ontario[7]
Canadian federal by-election, April 3, 2017: Markham—Thornhill
Resignation of John McCallum
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Mary Ng 9,856 51.53 −4.19
Conservative Ragavan Paranchothy 7,501 39.22 +6.91
New Democratic Gregory Hines 671 3.51 −7.21
Progressive Canadian Dorian Baxter 566 2.96
Green Caryn Bergmann 426 2.23 +0.98
Libertarian Brendan Thomas Reilly 118 0.62
Independent Above Znoneofthe 77 0.40
Total valid votes/Expense limit 19,125 100.0   –  
Total rejected ballots -
Turnout 27.51
Eligible voters 69,838
Liberal hold Swing −5.55
2015 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Kyle Peterson 25,508 45.18 +21.47 –
Conservative Lois Brown 24,057 42.61 −11.45 –
New Democratic Yvonne Kelly 4,806 8.51 −7.28 –
Green Vanessa Long 1,331 2.36 −2.03 –
Progressive Canadian Dorian Baxter 762 1.35 –
Total valid votes/Expense limit 56,464 100.00   $219,391.75
Total rejected ballots 257 0.45 –
Turnout 56,721 68.25 –
Eligible voters 83,108
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +16.46
Source: Elections Canada[8][9][10]
2014 Newmarket Mayoral Election [11] Vote[12] %
Tony Van Bynen (X) 10,816 54.01
Chris Campbell 7,804 38.97
Dorian Baxter 1,407 7.03
2014 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Chris Ballard 22,942 43.80 +8.18
Progressive Conservative Jane Twinney 19,510 37.25 -9.99
New Democratic Angus Duff 6,092 11.63 -2.73
Green Andrew Roblin 2,167 4.14 +1.37
Canadians' Choice Dorian Baxter 925 1.77
Libertarian Jason Jenkins 579 1.11
Trillium Bob Yaciuk 164 0.31
Total valid votes 52,379 100.00
Liberal gain from Progressive Conservative Swing +9.09
Source: Elections Ontario[13]
Canadian federal by-election, November 25, 2013: Toronto Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Chrystia Freeland 17,194 49.38 +8.37 $ 97,609.64
New Democratic Linda McQuaig 12,640 36.30 +6.09 99,230.30
Conservative Geoff Pollock 3,004 8.63 −14.01 75,557.39
Green John Deverell 1,034 2.97 −2.05 21,521.10
Progressive Canadian Dorian Baxter 453 1.30   –    
Libertarian Judi Falardeau 236 0.68 +0.18 –    
Independent Kevin Clarke 84 0.24   560.00
Independent John "The Engineer" Turmel 56 0.16   –    
Independent Leslie Bory 51 0.15   633.30
Online Party Michael Nicula 43 0.12   200.00
Independent Bahman Yazdanfar 26 0.07 −0.12 1,134.60
Total valid votes/Expense limit 34,821 100.0   –   $ 101,793.06
Total rejected ballots 177 0.51 +0.12
Turnout 34,998 38.20 −24.73
Eligible voters 91,612    
Liberal hold Swing +1.94
By-election due to the resignation of Bob Rae.
Source(s)
"November 25, 2013 By-elections". Elections Canada. 26 November 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
"November 25, 2013 By-election – Financial Reports". Retrieved 9 May 2014.


Canadian federal by-election, March 19, 2012: Toronto—Danforth
Death of Jack Layton
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Craig Scott 19,210 59.44 −1.36 $ 82,847.22
Liberal Grant Gordon 9,215 28.51 +10.89 86,016.54
Conservative Andrew Keyes 1,736 5.37 −8.95 73,735.56
Green Adriana Mugnatto-Hamu 1,517 4.69 −1.77 57,955.38
Progressive Canadian Dorian Baxter 208 0.64 –   1,473.73
Libertarian John C. Recker 133 0.41 –   2,433.05
Independent Leslie Bory 77 0.24 –   898.69
Canadian Action Christopher Porter 75 0.23 –   3,163.57
Independent John Turmel 57 0.18 –   –    
United Brian Jedan 55 0.17 –   130.18
Independent Bahman Yazdanfar 36 0.11 –   622.86
Total valid votes/Expense limit 32,319 100.00     $ 86,821.95
Total rejected ballots 150 0.46 −0.13
Turnout 32,469 43.58 −21.32
New Democratic hold Swing −6.1
Source(s)
"By-election March 19, 2012 – Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
"Financial Reports: Candidate's Electoral Campaign Return – March 19, 2012 By-election". Retrieved 29 October 2014.
2011 Canadian federal election: Newmarket—Aurora
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Lois Brown 31,600 54.29 +7.56
Liberal Kyle Peterson 13,908 23.90 −10.39
New Democratic Kassandra Bidarian 8,886 15.27 +6.80
Green Vanessa Long 2,628 4.52 −3.71
Progressive Canadian Dorian Baxter 998 1.71 −0.18
Animal Alliance Yvonne Mackie 182 0.31  
Total valid votes 58,202 100.00
Total rejected ballots 219 0.37
Turnout 58,421 64.01
Eligible voters 91,275
2008 Canadian federal election: Newmarket—Aurora
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Lois Brown 24,873 46.73 +8.68
Liberal Tim Jones 18,250 34.29 −11.93
New Democratic Mike Seaward 4,508 8.47 −1.12
Green Glenn Hubbers 4,381 8.23 +3.46
Progressive Canadian Dorian Baxter 1,004 1.89 +0.65
Christian Heritage Ray Luff 211 0.40  
2006 Canadian federal election: Newmarket—Aurora
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Belinda Stronach 27,176 46.22 +5.14
Conservative Lois Brown 22,371 38.05 −4.37
New Democratic Ed Chudak 5,639 9.59 −0.34
Green Glenn Hubbers 2,805 4.77 +0.30
Progressive Canadian Dorian Baxter 729 1.24 −0.86
Canadian Action Peter Maloney 79 0.13  
2004 Canadian federal election: Newmarket—Aurora
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Belinda Stronach 21,818 42.42 −2.43
Liberal Martha Hall Findlay 21,129 41.08 −9.48
New Democratic Ed Chudak 5,111 9.93 +6.18
Green Daryl Wyatt 2,298 4.47
Progressive Canadian Dorian Baxter 1,079 2.10 –
Total valid votes 51,435 100.00 –
Change is from redistributed 2000 results. Conservative change is from the total of Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative votes.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Connelly, Charlie (7 January 2007). "In Elvis we trust". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  2. ^ "Hail to the King: Elvis festival celebrates 15th anniversary". Simcoe.com / Metroland Media Group. 22 July 2009. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
  3. ^ a b [1][permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Canada Court Watch - Promoting Accountabily, Transparency and the Administration of Justice for All Canadians". Canadacourtwatch.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  5. ^ "CTV News - Elvis-impersonating preacher rocks Ont. church". Web.archive.org. 28 January 2010. Archived from the original on 28 January 2010. Retrieved 12 October 2017.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
  6. ^ "February 25, 2019 By-elections Election Results". Elections Canada. 28 February 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  7. ^ "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. p. 6. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  8. ^ "Voter Information Service - Who are the candidates in my electoral district?". Elections.ca. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  9. ^ "Elections Canada Online - Preliminary Candidates Election Expenses Limits". Web.archive.org. 15 August 2015. Archived from the original on 15 August 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2017.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
  10. ^ "Election Night Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  11. ^ "2014 Registered Candidates". Newmarket.ca. Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  12. ^ Simon, Chris (27 October 2014). "Newmarket Mayor Tony Van Bynen, Regional Councillor John Taylor convincingly win re-election". Newmarket Era. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  13. ^ Elections Ontario. "General Election Results by District, 053 Newmarket-Aurora". Archived from the original on 14 June 2014. Retrieved 13 June 2014.

External links[edit]

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