Gene Zwozdesky

Gene Zwozdesky
Zwozdesky at a charity function in June 2013
12th Speaker of the Alberta Legislative Assembly[1]
In office May 23, 2012 – June 11, 2015
Preceded by	Ken Kowalski
Succeeded by	Bob Wanner
MLA for Edmonton Mill Creek
In office 1997–2015
Preceded by	New District
Succeeded by	Denise Woollard
MLA for Edmonton Avonmore
In office 1993–1997
Preceded by	Marie Laing
Succeeded by	District Abolished
Personal details
Born	(1948-07-24) July 24, 1948 Nipawin, Saskatchewan
Political party	Progressive Conservative
Other political affiliations	Liberal (1993-1998)
Spouse(s)	Christine Zwozdesky
Residence	Edmonton
Occupation	Teacher

Gene Zwozdesky, MLA (born July 24, 1948) is a politician and was the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada from 2012 to 2015.

Early life

Zwozdesky was born in Saskatchewan and came to Alberta at the age of two. He lived in Grand Centre, Hinton and Sangudo before moving to Edmonton, where he has lived since 1963. He obtained bachelor's degrees in arts and education from the University of Alberta. Before becoming involved in politics, Zwozdesky worked as a teacher, administrator, professional musician, and businessman. Zwozdesky joined the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers in 1963, and danced in the troupe for six years before becoming the musical director, composing and conducting Shumka's music for twenty-five years;^[2] he also served in the same role for the Cheremosh Ukrainian Dance Company. He was involved in various other cultural organizations, was the executive director of the Alberta Cultural Heritage Foundation and the Alberta Ukrainian Canadian Centennial Commission, and has served on various voluntary boards.^[3]

Political career

Zwozdesky was first elected in the 1993 Alberta general election as the Alberta Liberal Party's candidate, defeating incumbent Marie Laing of the Alberta New Democratic Party. He was re-elected to the new riding of Edmonton Mill Creek in the 1997 Alberta general election.

In July 1998, he left the Liberal Party caucus and sat as an Independent member after a dispute over fiscal policy. He joined the governing Progressive Conservatives a month later. In the 2001 Alberta general election, he won by a generous margin over the Liberal challenger Bharat Agnihotri.

Zwozdesky was appointed to the cabinet as Minister of Community Development; after being re-elected in the 2004 Alberta general election, he was appointed Minister of Education.

On December 15, 2006, Zwozdesky was replaced in Premier Ed Stelmach's cabinet by Ron Liepert. He again joined the Alberta Cabinet on June 27, 2007 as Associate Minister for Capital Planning. In 2008, he was the Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Deputy Government House Leader. He was also co-chair of the Advisory Council on Alberta-Ukraine Relations, co-chair of the Cabinet Policy Committee on Public Safety and Services, and a member of the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing.^[3]

Zwozdesky has won numerous awards from cultural and arts organizations, as well as the 2005 Alberta Centennial Medal.^[3]

Zwozdesky was re-elected in the 2012 provincial election as an incumbent PC candidate.

Electoral record

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gene Zwozdesky.

• Alberta Legislative Assembly biography Gene Zwozdesky
• Edmonton Mill Creek political history, CBC News