Frank McKenna

Early life

Born January 19, 1948, Frank McKenna was raised in a large family as one of eight children. During his formative years, he lived with his grandparents in Apohaqui, New Brunswick, next door to his parents (his family was so large, it could not be fully housed solely in his parents’ home). McKenna attended Sussex High School before studying Political Science and Economics at St. Francis Xavier University. After a brief postgraduate stint at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario and working as an assistant to federal Cabinet minister Allan MacEachen, he pursued the discipline of law at the University of New Brunswick. Frank McKenna married Julie Friel in 1972 while still attending law school. The couple has three children.

After earning his law degree, McKenna began practicing in Chatham, New Brunswick, gaining provincial attention as the defence lawyer for famed boxer Yvon Durelle in a high-profile murder case. This early legal success helped establish him as a respected figure in his community and laid the groundwork for a transition into politics.

Career

Frank McKenna was elected to the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly in 1982 and became that province’s Liberal Party leader in 1985. In 1987, he won all 58 legislative seats in the province, only the second such sweep in Canadian history. During his ten years as premier, he focused on job creation, encouraging small business development, attracting investment, and boosting the confidence and productivity of New Brunswick residents. Known for innovative strategies like starting a province-wide toll-free line to the premier’s office (1-800-MCKENNA) and a robust communications approach, McKenna modernized New Brunswick’s government operations and maintained sustained public popularity throughout his term before leaving office in 1997, ten years to the day of first being elected, as he had publicly pledged to do.

After exiting politics, McKenna moved to Cap-Pélé, New Brunswick, near the city of Moncton, and returned to the law. He joined the firms McInnes Cooper and Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt as counsel. He was also appointed to several corporate boards, including acting as interim chairman of the board of CanWest Global Communications. During this period of time, alongside his son, he also bought Glenwood Kitchen Ltd., a company dealing in high-end custom cabinetry based in Shediac, New Brunswick.

In 2005, he was appointed Canadian Ambassador to the United States, whereupon he resigned his counsel positions, as well as all his positions on corporate boards. After assuming this new diplomatic role, Frank McKenna advocated for cross-border understanding and trade while navigating the sensitive diplomatic issues of the day. It is thought that his previous association with then-U.S. President George W. Bush through the Carlyle Group was a factor in his appointment to the ambassadorship. His term as ambassador ended in 2006.

Following his foray into international diplomacy, Frank McKenna joined TD Bank Group as Deputy Chair, became Chair of Brookfield Corporation, and served on several additional corporate boards, including that of Canadian Natural Resources, all the while remaining a prominent voice on economic development in Atlantic Canada.

Net Worth

Information about Frank McKenna’s net worth is not currently available to the public.