Len Mitzel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Len Mitzel
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| MLA for Cypress-Medicine Hat | |
| In office November 22, 2004 – April 23, 2012 |
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| Preceded by | Lorne Taylor |
| Succeeded by | Drew Barnes |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 18, 1946 Lethbridge, Alberta |
| Died | March 19, 2017 (aged 71) Medicine Hat, Alberta |
| Political party | Progressive Conservative |
| Spouse | June |
| Children | 2 |
| Residences | Etzikom, Alberta |
Leonard Wendelin Mitzel (born February 18, 1946, died March 19, 2017) was a Canadian politician. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, representing the area called Cypress-Medicine Hat. He belonged to the Progressive Conservative political party.
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Early Life and Work
Len Mitzel was born in Lethbridge, Alberta. He grew up on a farm near a small place called Hoping, close to Foremost, Alberta.
After high school, he worked for Alberta Transportation for seven years. He started as a surveyor, helping to measure land for roads. He became a leader for two teams that helped plan and build big highways in southern Alberta.
Later, he went to the University of Lethbridge to study engineering. In 1977, his father passed away. Len then returned to Foremost to take over and manage the family farm.
Political Career
Before becoming a provincial politician, Len Mitzel was involved in local government. He served as a councillor for the County of Forty Mile No. 8 for 15 years. For 12 of those years, he was the Reeve, which is like being the mayor of a rural county.
At the same time, he was on the board of the Palliser Health Region for six years. He was the chair of this board for four years, helping to guide health services in the area.
Serving in the Legislature
Len Mitzel was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in 2004. He won with 55 percent of the votes in his area, Cypress-Medicine Hat.
As an elected official, he worked on many important committees. He led studies on railway crossings and reviewed health facilities. He also helped lead a review of ambulance services.
He was re-elected in the 2008 provincial election, winning 63 percent of the votes. During this term, he was the Deputy Chair of Committees. He also chaired the Legislative Offices Committee and was part of a special committee to find an Ethics Commissioner.
Key Initiatives and Roles
While in office, Len Mitzel worked hard on several projects. He often spoke about the need for a border crossing between Montana and Alberta at Wild Horse to be open 24 hours a day. He also supported developing a new transportation route on the east side of Alberta.
He was a big supporter of the Canadian Centre for Unmanned Vehicle Systems at Defence R&D Canada in Suffield. This centre works with drone technology.
Len Mitzel also held important roles in cross-border relations. He chaired the Montana-Alberta Bilateral Advisory Council. He was Alberta's representative for the Pacific Northwest Economic Region. He also represented Alberta on the Canadian/American Border Trade Alliance.
In the 2012 Alberta Provincial Election, Len Mitzel lost his seat. Drew Barnes, a candidate from the Wildrose Party, won the election in his area.
Personal Life and Community Involvement
Len Mitzel and his wife, June Cole Mitzel, lived in Etzikom, Alberta. They were very active in their community. They helped start and volunteered as curators for the Etzikom Museum and the Canadian National Historic Windmill Centre.
For his work with the museum and promoting tourism, Len Mitzel received the Lyle Flynn Award for Tourism Promotion for South East Alberta. He also won a TIALTA Small Attractions Award.
He received several awards for his community involvement. These included a 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal in 1992, the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002, and an Alberta Centennial Medal in 2005.
Len Mitzel was also the chair of the South East Alberta Water Task Force. This group won an Emerald Award for their work in cleaning up old water wells.
Len Mitzel was a father of two children and a grandfather to seven grandchildren. He enjoyed music, theatre, hunting, trail riding, and playing golf.
He passed away on March 19, 2017, in Medicine Hat, Alberta, at the age of 71, after battling cancer.
