Link Byfield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Link Byfield
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Byfield in 2011
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| Born |
Eric Linkord Byfield
December 5, 1951 |
| Died | January 24, 2015 (aged 63) St. Albert, Alberta, Canada
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| Political party | Wildrose (2008–2015) |
| Spouse(s) | Joanne Byfield |
| Children | 4 |
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| Awards | Alberta Centennial Medal (2005) |
Eric Linkord Byfield (born December 5, 1951 – died January 24, 2015) was a Canadian writer and politician. He was known for his work as a newspaper columnist and for helping to start a political party in Alberta.
Contents
A Career in Journalism
Link Byfield spent eighteen years as an editor and publisher for a magazine called Alberta Report. This magazine is no longer published.
He was one of six children. His father, Ted Byfield, was also a well-known writer. Link became a columnist, which means he wrote regular articles giving his opinions. He wrote for the Calgary Sun and his articles also appeared in other major newspapers like the Calgary Herald and the National Post.
Advocating for Good Government
Link Byfield started a group called the Citizens Centre for Freedom and Democracy. This group worked to influence government decisions. It was a "lobby group" that aimed to encourage "responsible government." This means they tried to make sure the government made good choices for the people.
Becoming a Senator-in-Waiting
In 2004, Link Byfield decided to run in an election to become a "senator-in-waiting." In Canada, senators are appointed, but Alberta sometimes holds elections to show who the people would like to see appointed.
He ran as an independent candidate, meaning he was not part of a major political party. He was one of only two independent candidates in that election. Byfield won one of the four available spots. He received over 236,000 votes. This made him the first independent senator-in-waiting elected in Alberta. In 2005, he was given the Alberta Centennial Medal for his contributions.
Provincial Politics in Alberta
Link Byfield played a part in creating the Wildrose Party of Alberta in 2007. This new party later joined with another group in 2008.
He ran as a candidate for the Wildrose Alliance Party in the 2008 provincial election. He tried to win a seat in the area of Whitecourt-Ste. Anne, but he was not successful.
Before the 2012 election, the party changed its name back to just the Wildrose Party. Byfield ran again, this time in the area of Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock. He came very close to winning, losing by less than 5% of the votes.
His Final Years
Link Byfield passed away on January 24, 2015, at the age of 63. He died from liver and esophageal cancer. He passed away in the Sturgeon Community Hospital in St. Albert, Alberta.
He was survived by his father, his wife Joanne, his four children, and his four siblings. Later that year, a special event was held in Calgary to honor him. He was remembered as an important person in the conservative movement in Western Canada.
