Gordon Beard
Encyclopedia
Gordon Wilbert Beard was a politician
in Manitoba, Canada
. He was a Progressive Conservative
member of the Manitoba Legislature from 1963 to 1968, and an independent member from 1969 to 1972.
Beard was educated at Neepawa schools, and worked in a variety of projects in northern Manitoba. He served as President of Norrec Ltd., and Secretary of Arctic Investments Ltd., as well as becoming President of the Northern Restaurants Association through a hotel project that he owned. He served in the Canadian Army from 1942 to 1945, attaining the rank of Sergeant.
Beard was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in January 1963, in a deferred race from the 1962 general election
. Running in the vast northern constituency of Churchill, he defeated Liberal
candidate Francis Bud Jobin by 197 votes. He was re-elected by a greater margin in the 1966 election
.
Beard resigned from the Progressive Conservative Party and stepped down as an MLA in 1968, complaining that the PC government was neglecting northern affairs. He later attended the Liberal Party
's nomination meeting for the by-election
that chose his successor. He ran as an independent in the 1969 election
, and narrowly defeated three other candidates to regain the Churchill riding.
For the next three years, Beard was a legitimately independent MLA -- siding with or against the NDP
government of Edward Schreyer
on a case-by-case basis. He died in 1972.
He had two children, Holly Christine Beard and William Fredrick Beard.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Manitoba, 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 was a Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba is the only right wing political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is also the official opposition party in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.-Origins and early years:...
member of the Manitoba Legislature from 1963 to 1968, and an independent member from 1969 to 1972.
Beard was educated at Neepawa schools, and worked in a variety of projects in northern Manitoba. He served as President of Norrec Ltd., and Secretary of Arctic Investments Ltd., as well as becoming President of the Northern Restaurants Association through a hotel project that he owned. He served in the Canadian Army from 1942 to 1945, attaining the rank of Sergeant.
Beard was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in January 1963, in a deferred race from the 1962 general election
Manitoba general election, 1962
Manitoba's general election of December 16, 1962 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It resulted in a second majority victory for the Progressive Conservative Party under the leadership of Dufferin Roblin...
. Running in the vast northern constituency of Churchill, he defeated Liberal
Manitoba Liberal Party
The Manitoba Liberal Party is a political party in Manitoba, Canada. Its roots can be traced to the late nineteenth-century, following the province's creation in 1870.-Origins and early development :...
candidate Francis Bud Jobin by 197 votes. He was re-elected by a greater margin in the 1966 election
Manitoba general election, 1966
The Manitoba general election held on June 23, 1966, was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It resulted in a third consecutive majority win for the Progressive Conservative Party led by Dufferin Roblin...
.
Beard resigned from the Progressive Conservative Party and stepped down as an MLA in 1968, complaining that the PC government was neglecting northern affairs. He later attended the Liberal Party
Manitoba Liberal Party
The Manitoba Liberal Party is a political party in Manitoba, Canada. Its roots can be traced to the late nineteenth-century, following the province's creation in 1870.-Origins and early development :...
's nomination meeting for the by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
that chose his successor. He ran as an independent in the 1969 election
Manitoba general election, 1969
The Manitoba General Election of June 25, 1969 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was a watershed moment in the province's political history. The social-democratic New Democratic Party emerged for the first time as the largest party in...
, and narrowly defeated three other candidates to regain the Churchill riding.
For the next three years, Beard was a legitimately independent MLA -- siding with or against the NDP
New Democratic Party of Manitoba
The New Democratic Party of Manitoba is a social-democratic political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is the provincial wing of the federal New Democratic Party, and is a successor to the Manitoba Co-operative Commonwealth Federation...
government of Edward Schreyer
Edward Schreyer
Edward Richard Schreyer , commonly known as Ed Schreyer, is a Canadian politician, diplomat, and statesman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 22nd since Canadian Confederation....
on a case-by-case basis. He died in 1972.
He had two children, Holly Christine Beard and William Fredrick Beard.