Bill Diachuk
Encyclopedia
Bill Wasyl Diachuk was a municipal and provincial politician from Alberta
, Canada
. He began his political career in Edmonton municipal politics serving two separate stints as a separate school trustee. The first was from 1962 to 1964 and the second from 1966 to 1971. He moved his political career to the provincial level where he served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
sitting with the governing Progressive Conservative caucus from 1971 to 1986.
Separate School Board. He won a seat in the 1962 Edmonton municipal election
holding the third and final seat in plurality out of five candidates . He was defeated running for a second term in office in the 1964 Edmonton municipal election
finishing eighth out of ten candidates. He attempted a return to the board in the 1966 municipal election
this time winning the fifth place seat out of ten candidates. He was re-elected to his third term in the 1968 Edmonton municipal election
again winning the fifth place seat out of twelve candidates.
Diachuk ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature in the 1971 Alberta general election
. He won the new electoral district of Edmonton-Beverly defeating incumbent Social Credit MLA Lou Heard
. He also defeated future MLA Barrie Chivers
who finished third out of fourth in the race. He vacated his school trustee seat after winning the provincial election.
Diachuk ran for re-election in the 1975 Alberta general election
. He faced four other candidates and ended up winning a higher plurality and a substantially better margin of victory. He would run for his third term in office in the 1979 Alberta general election
. His margin of victory would shrink as he faced a hotly contested challenge from New Democrat candidate Gene Mitchell and two other candidates.
After the election Premier Peter Lougheed
appointed Diachuk to the provincial cabinet. He became a Minister without Portfolio Responsible for occupational health and safety.
Diachuk ran for his fourth term in office in the 1982 Alberta general election
. He won a personal record for his highest popular vote. Despite having a ministerial portfolio he was nearly defeated by New Democrat candidate Winston Gereluk.
He would keep his portfolio when Don Getty
became Premier in November of 1985. Diachuk ran for a fifth term in office in the 1986 general election
. The election saw his popular vote collapse compared to his 1982 results. He was defeated by New Democrat candidate Ed Ewasiuk
in a landslide.
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He began his political career in Edmonton municipal politics serving two separate stints as a separate school trustee. The first was from 1962 to 1964 and the second from 1966 to 1971. He moved his political career to the provincial level where he served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
Legislative Assembly of Alberta
The Legislative Assembly of Alberta is one of two components of the Legislature of Alberta, the other being the Queen, represented by the Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta. The Alberta legislature meets in the Alberta Legislature Building in the provincial capital, Edmonton...
sitting with the governing Progressive Conservative caucus from 1971 to 1986.
Political career
Diachuk ran for election to the City of EdmontonEdmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
Separate School Board. He won a seat in the 1962 Edmonton municipal election
Edmonton municipal election, 1962
The 1962 municipal election was held October 17, 1962 to elect five aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and three trustees to sit on each of the public and separate school boards. The electorate also decided two plebiscite questions...
holding the third and final seat in plurality out of five candidates . He was defeated running for a second term in office in the 1964 Edmonton municipal election
Edmonton municipal election, 1964
The 1964 Edmonton municipal election was held October 14, 1964 to elect a mayor and twelve aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and seven trustees to sit on each of the public and separate school boards....
finishing eighth out of ten candidates. He attempted a return to the board in the 1966 municipal election
Edmonton municipal election, 1966
The 1966 municipal election was held October 19, 1966 to elect a mayor and twelve aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and seven trustees to sit on each of the public and separate school boards...
this time winning the fifth place seat out of ten candidates. He was re-elected to his third term in the 1968 Edmonton municipal election
Edmonton municipal election, 1968
The 1968 municipal election was held October 16, 1968 to elect a mayor and twelve aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and seven trustees to sit on each of the public and separate school boards. The electorate also decided three plebiscite questions....
again winning the fifth place seat out of twelve candidates.
Diachuk ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature in the 1971 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1971
The Alberta general election of 1971 was the seventeenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on August 30, 1971 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. He won the new electoral district of Edmonton-Beverly defeating incumbent Social Credit MLA Lou Heard
Lou Heard
Louis "Lou" Wesley Heard was a provincial politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta twice. The first stint was from 1948 to 1952 and the second was from 1959 to 1971 sitting with the Social Credit caucus in government both times.-Early life:Louis...
. He also defeated future MLA Barrie Chivers
Barrie Chivers
Barrie Chivers is a former Canadian politician and current lawyer. He served briefly as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1990 to 1993 sitting with the official opposition Alberta New Democrats.-Legal career:...
who finished third out of fourth in the race. He vacated his school trustee seat after winning the provincial election.
Diachuk ran for re-election in the 1975 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1975
The Alberta general election of 1975 was the eighteenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on March 25, 1975 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. He faced four other candidates and ended up winning a higher plurality and a substantially better margin of victory. He would run for his third term in office in the 1979 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1979
The Alberta general election of 1979 was the nineteenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on March 14, 1979 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. His margin of victory would shrink as he faced a hotly contested challenge from New Democrat candidate Gene Mitchell and two other candidates.
After the election Premier Peter Lougheed
Peter Lougheed
Edgar Peter Lougheed, PC, CC, AOE, QC, is a Canadian lawyer, and a former politician and Canadian Football League player. He served as the tenth Premier of Alberta from 1971 to 1985....
appointed Diachuk to the provincial cabinet. He became a Minister without Portfolio Responsible for occupational health and safety.
Diachuk ran for his fourth term in office in the 1982 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1982
The Alberta general election of 1982 was the twentieth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on November 2, 1982 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. He won a personal record for his highest popular vote. Despite having a ministerial portfolio he was nearly defeated by New Democrat candidate Winston Gereluk.
He would keep his portfolio when Don Getty
Don Getty
Donald Ross Getty, OC, AOE is a retired Canadian politician who served as the 11th Premier of Alberta between 1985 and 1992. A member of the Progressive Conservatives, he served as Energy Minister and Federal and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister in the government of Peter Lougheed before...
became Premier in November of 1985. Diachuk ran for a fifth term in office in the 1986 general election
Alberta general election, 1986
The Alberta general election of 1986 was the twenty-first general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on May 8, 1986 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. The election saw his popular vote collapse compared to his 1982 results. He was defeated by New Democrat candidate Ed Ewasiuk
Ed Ewasiuk
Ed William "Eddie" Ewasiuk was a labour activist, a city councilor in Edmonton, Alberta and a NDP Member of the Legislative Assembly in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.-Early life:...
in a landslide.