Gene Zwozdesky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gene Zwozdesky
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Zwozdesky at a charity function in June 2013
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| 12th Speaker of the Alberta Legislative Assembly | |
| In office May 23, 2012 – June 11, 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Ken Kowalski |
| Succeeded by | Bob Wanner |
| MLA for Edmonton-Mill Creek | |
| In office 1997–2015 |
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| Preceded by | New District |
| Succeeded by | Denise Woollard |
| MLA for Edmonton-Avonmore | |
| In office 1993–1997 |
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| Preceded by | Marie Laing |
| Succeeded by | District Abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 24, 1948 Nipawin, Saskatchewan |
| Died | January 6, 2019 (aged 70) Edmonton, Alberta |
| Political party | Progressive Conservative |
| Other political affiliations |
Liberal (1993–1998) |
| Spouse | Christine Zwozdesky |
| Children | 2 |
| Residences | Edmonton, Alberta |
| Occupation | Teacher |
Eugene Zwozdesky (born July 24, 1948 – died January 6, 2019) was an important Canadian politician from Alberta. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta (MLA) for many years, from 1993 to 2015. He also served as the Speaker of the Assembly from 2012 to 2015.
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Early Life and Education
Eugene Zwozdesky was born on July 24, 1948, in Nipawin, Saskatchewan. His parents, Alec and Anna Zwozdesky, were Ukrainian-Canadian. When he was two years old, his family moved to Alberta.
He lived in different towns like Grand Centre, Hinton, and Sangudo. In 1963, he moved to Edmonton, where he lived for the rest of his life. After high school at Victoria Composite High School, he studied at the University of Alberta. He earned two bachelor's degrees: one in arts and one in education.
Before becoming a politician, Zwozdesky had many jobs. He worked as a teacher and an administrator. He was also a professional musician and a businessman.
Political Career Highlights
Gene Zwozdesky started his political journey in 1993. He was first elected as an MLA in the 1993 Alberta general election. He ran as a candidate for the Alberta Liberal Party. He won against the person who held the seat before him, Marie Laing.
He was re-elected in 1997 for a new area called Edmonton-Mill Creek. In July 1998, he decided to leave the Liberal Party. He became an Independent member for a short time. This happened after he disagreed with the party's money policies. A month later, he joined the Progressive Conservatives, which was the party in power.
In the 2001 Alberta general election, he won his seat again by a large number of votes.
Serving in the Cabinet
After being re-elected, Zwozdesky was asked to join the cabinet. The cabinet is a group of top advisors to the Premier. He became the Minister of Community Development. After winning the 2004 Alberta general election, he was given a new role as the Minister of Education.
In 2006, he was replaced in the cabinet by another politician. But he rejoined the cabinet in 2007 as the Associate Minister for Capital Planning. In 2008, he became the Minister of Aboriginal Relations. He also helped lead the government's business in the Assembly.
Zwozdesky also co-chaired the Advisory Council on Alberta-Ukraine Relations. He was also part of other important committees. He received many awards for his work in culture and arts. In 2005, he was given the Alberta Centennial Medal.
He was re-elected in the 2012 provincial election. However, in the 2015 Alberta general election, he lost his seat to Denise Woollard from the Alberta New Democratic Party.
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
From 2012 to 2015, Gene Zwozdesky held a very important role. He was the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. The Speaker is like a referee in the Assembly. They make sure that debates follow the rules and that everyone gets a chance to speak. It's a job that requires fairness and respect for all members.
Personal Life and Legacy
Beyond politics, Gene Zwozdesky was deeply involved in arts and culture. In 1963, he joined the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers. He danced with the group for six years. Later, he became their musical director. He composed and conducted music for Shumka for 25 years. He also worked with the Cheremosh Ukrainian Dance Company.
He was part of many other cultural groups. He was the executive director of the Alberta Cultural Heritage Foundation. He also led the Alberta Ukrainian Canadian Centennial Commission. He volunteered on many different boards.
Gene Zwozdesky was married to Christine, and they had two children. He passed away from cancer on January 6, 2019, at the age of 70. His life showed a strong commitment to public service and cultural heritage.
Images for kids
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Zwozdesky at a charity function in June 2013
