George Topolnisky
Encyclopedia
George Topolnisky was a provincial level politician and teacher from Alberta
, Canada
. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
from 1971 to 1986 sitting with the governing Progressive Conservative caucus. During his time in office he served as a member of the Executive Council of Alberta
from 1971 to 1975 as a Minister without portfolio Responsible for rural development.
in 1956 and became politically active in 1959 as a party organizer.
Topolnisky ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature for the first time in the 1971 Alberta general election
. He defeated incumbent Social Credit MLA Michael Senych
to pickup the new electoral district of Redwater-Andrew for the Progressive Conservatives. His win helped the Progressive Conservatives gain enough seats to form government that year.
After the election Topolnisky was appointed to the Exeuctive Council by Premier Peter Lougheed
as a Minister Minister without portfolio Responsible for rural development.
Topolnisky ran for re-election as an incumbent cabinet minister in the 1975 Alberta general election
, he won a slightly higher popular vote easily keeping his seat. After the election the Premier did not renew Topolnisky's cabinet portfolio, he served in the assembly as a private member for the rest of his career.
In the run up to the 1979 general election
, Topolnisky faces two challengers for the Progressive Conservative nomination in his district. He won a first ballot victory on July 13, 1978. There were over 1,000 people in attendance at the nomination meeting. In the election itself Topolnisky rolled up a slightly bigger popular vote over his 1975 result to win his third term in office.
Topolnisky would run for his fourth term in the 1982 general election
. He would face a crowded field of candidates to win his highest popular vote. Michael Senych would attempt to make a comeback in that election as an Independent candidate but would be badly defeated finishing fourth. He retired from provincial politics at dissolution of the legislature in 1986.
In August 1997 George Topolnisky was awarded the Michael Luchkovich
Award given annually to Albertan parliamentarians of a Ukrainian origin to honor outstanding public service.
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 1971 to 1986 sitting with the governing Progressive Conservative caucus. During his time in office he served as a member of 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...
from 1971 to 1975 as a Minister without portfolio Responsible for rural development.
Political career
Topolnisky joined the Progressive ConservativesProgressive Conservative Association of Alberta
The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta is a provincial centre-right party in the Canadian province of Alberta...
in 1956 and became politically active in 1959 as a party organizer.
Topolnisky ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature for the first time 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 defeated incumbent Social Credit MLA Michael Senych
Michael Senych
Michael Senych was a teacher and politician on both the provincial and municipal level from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1963 to 1971.-Early life:Michael Senych was born on September 24, 1926 in Corbin, British Columbia, Canada...
to pickup the new electoral district of Redwater-Andrew for the Progressive Conservatives. His win helped the Progressive Conservatives gain enough seats to form government that year.
After the election Topolnisky was appointed to the Exeuctive Council by 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....
as a Minister Minister without portfolio Responsible for rural development.
Topolnisky ran for re-election as an incumbent cabinet minister 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 won a slightly higher popular vote easily keeping his seat. After the election the Premier did not renew Topolnisky's cabinet portfolio, he served in the assembly as a private member for the rest of his career.
In the run up to the 1979 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....
, Topolnisky faces two challengers for the Progressive Conservative nomination in his district. He won a first ballot victory on July 13, 1978. There were over 1,000 people in attendance at the nomination meeting. In the election itself Topolnisky rolled up a slightly bigger popular vote over his 1975 result to win his third term in office.
Topolnisky would run for his fourth term in the 1982 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 would face a crowded field of candidates to win his highest popular vote. Michael Senych would attempt to make a comeback in that election as an Independent candidate but would be badly defeated finishing fourth. He retired from provincial politics at dissolution of the legislature in 1986.
In August 1997 George Topolnisky was awarded the Michael Luchkovich
Michael Luchkovich
Michael Luchkovich was a teacher, author and Canadian federal politician...
Award given annually to Albertan parliamentarians of a Ukrainian origin to honor outstanding public service.