Heather Klimchuk

Canadian politician

The Honourable
Heather Klimchuk
Klimchuk at the 2014 Tour of Alberta
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Edmonton-Glenora
In office
March 3, 2008 – May 5, 2015
Preceded byBruce Miller
Succeeded bySarah Hoffman
Personal details
Born (1958-08-10) August 10, 1958 (age 65)
Calgary, Alberta
Political partyProgressive Conservative
SpouseWade Klimchuk
Residence(s)Edmonton, Alberta
OccupationReal Estate Agent, Politician
PortfolioMinister of Human Services

Heather May Klimchuk ECA (born August 10, 1958) is a Canadian politician who was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta representing the constituency of Edmonton-Glenora as a Progressive Conservative, from 2008 to 2015. She was Minister of Human Services from 2014 until defeated in the 2015 provincial election.

Political career

Before being elected in the 2008 Alberta General Election, Klimchuk also ran the 2001 and 2004 election campaigns of former Edmonton-Glenora MLA Drew Hutton.[1]

She was narrowly elected as MLA for Edmonton-Glenora in the 2008 election over Alberta Liberal Party incumbent Bruce Miller by 96 votes, less than 1% of votes cast. In the 2011 PC leadership election Klimchuk supported Gary Mar,[2] who was defeated by Alison Redford. Klimchuk was re-elected by a more comfortable margin in the 2012 election and was named Minister of Human Services on September 15, 2014 in the first cabinet of Jim Prentice.[3] She has previously served as Minister of Culture and Community Services and Minister of Service Alberta.[4][5][6] Klimchuk was defeated in the 2015 Alberta general election as the Alberta NDP won every seat in Edmonton.[7]

She was considered to be part of the progressive or Red Tory wing of the PC Party.[8]

Personal life

Klimchuk has a long family history with the PC Party. Her father worked on Premier Peter Lougheed's first electoral campaign and was a classmate of Joe Clark's at law school.[8] Her public service experience prior to serving as a Member of the Legislature includes working as a researcher and writer for both Premier Lougheed and Premier Don Getty.She also assisted with the initiation of the Alberta Seniors´ information phone line.

In the 1980s Klimchuk worked as a hair model, often entering competitions.[9]

Post-politics she became Director of Alberta Ballet.[9]

Klimchuk holds a bachelor of arts (special) from the University of Alberta in political science. She and her husband, Wade, have two children: Kyrsten and Keifer.[3]

Election results

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2008 Alberta general election: Edmonton-Glenora
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Heather Klimchuk 4,604 39.90% 11.22%
Liberal Bruce Miller 4,508 39.07% 3.94%
New Democratic Arlene Chapman 1,743 15.11% -15.81%
Green Peter Johnston 408 3.54% 1.47%
Wildrose Alliance Elden Van Hauwaert 275 2.38% –
Total 11,538 – –
Rejected, spoiled and declined 36 20 2
Eligible electors / turnout 27,266 42.46% -14.11%
Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal Swing -1.69%
Source(s)
Source: "31 - Edmonton-Glenora, 2008 Alberta general election". officialresults.elections.ab.ca. Elections Alberta. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
The Report on the March 3, 2008 Provincial General Election of the Twenty-seventh Legislative Assembly. Elections Alberta. July 28, 2008. pp. 294–297.
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2012 Alberta general election: Edmonton-Glenora
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Heather Klimchuk 6,183 38.24% -1.66%
New Democratic Ray Martin 4,143 25.62% 10.52%
Wildrose Alliance Don Koziak 2,732 16.90% 14.51%
Liberal Bruce Miller 1,670 10.33% -28.74%
Alberta Party Sue Huff 1,441 8.91% –
Total 16,169 – –
Rejected, spoiled and declined 119 55 6
Eligible electors / turnout 29,262 55.68% 13.23%
Progressive Conservative hold Swing 5.89%
Source(s)
Source: "34 - Edmonton-Glenora, 2012 Alberta general election". officialresults.elections.ab.ca. Elections Alberta. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
2015 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Sarah Hoffman 12,403 68.5
Progressive Conservative Heather Klimchuk 3,137 17.3
Wildrose Don Koziak 1,381 7.6
Liberal Karen Sevcik 542 3.0
Alberta Party Chris Vilcsak 445 2.5
Green David Parker 199 1.1

References

  1. ^ "Minister determined to make a difference". Archived from the original on 2014-10-06. Retrieved 2014-09-27.
  2. ^ "mla support in the alberta pc leadership contest (july 14, 2011) - daveberta.ca – Alberta Politics". 14 July 2011. Archived from the original on September 26, 2014. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Legislative Assembly of Alberta". Archived from the original on 2014-12-21. Retrieved 2014-12-21.
  4. ^ "Alberta Cabinet swearing-in ceremony - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  5. ^ "Premier promotes Verlyn Olson and Greg Weadick to cabinet". February 17, 2011.
  6. ^ Parrish, Julia (2012-05-08). "Premier Alison Redford unveils new cabinet". Edmonton. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  7. ^ "NDP sweep Edmonton ridings". edmontonjournal. Archived from the original on 2021-11-27. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
  8. ^ a b "Minister determined to make a difference". Archived from the original on 2014-10-06. Retrieved 2014-09-27.
  9. ^ a b "Heather Klimchuk: No shortage of people to celebrate during Pride Month". Edmonton Journal. June 19, 2019.


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