Clarence Copithorne
Encyclopedia
Clarence Copithorne was a provincial level politician from Alberta
, Canada
. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
from 1967 to 1975 sitting as an Independent and later with the Progressive Conservative caucus in both opposition and government. During his time in office he served as a cabinet minister in the government of Peter Lougheed
from 1971 to 1975.
. He ran in the electoral district of Banff-Cochrane
as an independent candidate and won defeating two other candidates in a hotly contested race, including future MLA Roy Wilson.
On April 15, 1971 Copithorne joined the Progressive Conservative caucus giving up his independent status. He ran for re-election in the 1971 Alberta general election
as a Progressive Conservative candidate. He increased his popular vote and held the district defeating two other candidates. His win would help the Progressive Conservatives form government that year.
After the election Premier Peter Lougheed
rewarded Copithorne by appointing him to the Executive Council of Alberta
to serve as the Minister of Highways and Transport.
Copithorne helped develop a plan to create Kananaskis Country in his district.
He retired from the Alberta Legislature and his cabinet position at dissolution in 1975.
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 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...
from 1967 to 1975 sitting as an Independent and later with the Progressive Conservative caucus in both opposition and government. During his time in office he served as a cabinet minister in the government of 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....
from 1971 to 1975.
Political career
Copithorne ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature in the 1967 Alberta general electionAlberta general election, 1967
The Alberta general election of 1967 was the sixteenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on May 23, 1967 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. He ran in the electoral district of Banff-Cochrane
Banff-Cochrane
Banff-Cochrane is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada. This riding is home to the popular tourist destination Banff National Park, environmental issues tend to dominate here....
as an independent candidate and won defeating two other candidates in a hotly contested race, including future MLA Roy Wilson.
On April 15, 1971 Copithorne joined the Progressive Conservative caucus giving up his independent status. He ran for re-election 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....
as a Progressive Conservative candidate. He increased his popular vote and held the district defeating two other candidates. His win would help the Progressive Conservatives form government that year.
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....
rewarded Copithorne by appointing him to the Executive Council of Alberta
Executive Council of Alberta
The Executive Council of Alberta is the cabinet of that Canadian province.Almost always made up of members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, the Cabinet is similar in structure and role to the Cabinet of Canada while being smaller in size...
to serve as the Minister of Highways and Transport.
Copithorne helped develop a plan to create Kananaskis Country in his district.
He retired from the Alberta Legislature and his cabinet position at dissolution in 1975.