Larry Shaben
Encyclopedia
Lawrence "Larry" Ralph Shaben (March 20, 1935 – September 6, 2008) was a Canadian
politician
of Lebanese
descent and the first Muslim Cabinet Minister in Canada. He was also one of the first Muslims to be elected to higher office in North America. He held a seat in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
from 1975 to 1989 sitting with the governing Progressive Conservative Caucus. During his time in office he served as a cabinet minister in the governments of Premier Peter Lougheed
and Don Getty
occupying various portfolios from 1979 to 1989.
, Alberta
The family moved to Edmonton in the mid 1940s after North America's first mosque
was opened there.
Shaben went to Eastwood High School before going on to the University of Alberta
. He left university early to join the workforce. Shaben married Alma Saddy in 1960 and they had five children by 1966. He moved his family to High Prairie and bought a general store.
. He ran in the electoral district of Lesser Slave Lake as a candidate for the Progressive Conservative party. He won the electoral district defeating incumbent Dennis Barton and a third candidate by a wide margin to pick up the seat for his party. With his win Shaben was the first Arab
elected in Alberta and among the first Muslims elected to higher political office in North America.
Shaben ran for a second term in office in the 1979 Alberta general election
. He faced a tougher race, losing a little bit of his popular vote from the previous election against three other candidates including future MLA Dan Backs
. Shaben held his district and was returned to the Legislature.
After the election Premier Peter Lougheed appointed Shaben to the Executive Council of Alberta
. He became Minister of Utilities and Telephones. His appointment would make him the first Muslim cabinet minister in Canada. He would run for a third term in office in the 1982 general election
with ministerial advantage. Shaben would easily hold his district defeating the four other candidates with a much larger popular vote and margin of victory.
Lougheed shuffled his cabinet after the election. Shaben became the Minister of Housing. In 1984, Shaben survived a plane crash near High Prairie, Alberta
that killed fellow MLA and Alberta NDP leader Grant Notley
and five other passengers.
He held that portfolio after Don Getty
became Premier in 1985. Shaben would run a fourth term in office in the 1986 general election
. He would face a hotly contested fight against New Democrat candidate Bert Dube. Despite his popular vote dropping Shaben was able to hang onto his seat.
Getty made his first cabinet shuffle after the election and appointed Shaben to his final portfolio as Minister of Economic Development and Trade. He held that portfolio until he retired at dissolution of the Assembly in 1989.
In 2005 he was appointed a federal citizenship judge.
Shaben died on September 6, 2008 following a long bout with cancer. His funeral was attended by more than 1,000 people and numerous politicians including three provincial Premiers.
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...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
of Lebanese
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
descent and the first Muslim Cabinet Minister in Canada. He was also one of the first Muslims to be elected to higher office in North America. He held a seat in 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 1975 to 1989 sitting with the governing Progressive Conservative Caucus. During his time in office he served as a cabinet minister in the governments of 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....
and 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...
occupying various portfolios from 1979 to 1989.
Early life
Lawrence Ralph Shaben was born on March 20, 1935 in HannaHanna, Alberta
Hanna is a town in east-central Alberta, Canada.The town's main industries are agriculture, oil production, tourism, and coal mining. It is the centre of a large trading area called Short Grass County and is the home of approximately 200 businesses...
, Alberta
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...
The family moved to Edmonton in the mid 1940s after North America's first mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
was opened there.
Shaben went to Eastwood High School before going on to the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
. He left university early to join the workforce. Shaben married Alma Saddy in 1960 and they had five children by 1966. He moved his family to High Prairie and bought a general store.
Political career
Shaben got his first start in politics by serving on the municipal council for the town of High Prairie. He moved his career to the provincial level when he ran for a seat in the Alberta Legislature in the 1975 Alberta general electionAlberta 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 ran in the electoral district of Lesser Slave Lake as a candidate for the Progressive Conservative party. He won the electoral district defeating incumbent Dennis Barton and a third candidate by a wide margin to pick up the seat for his party. With his win Shaben was the first Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
elected in Alberta and among the first Muslims elected to higher political office in North America.
Shaben ran for a second 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....
. He faced a tougher race, losing a little bit of his popular vote from the previous election against three other candidates including future MLA Dan Backs
Dan Backs
Dan Backs is a politician and former member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. He was elected as a Liberal candidate in the 2004 provincial election, but was kicked out of the Liberal caucus by leader Kevin Taft, who cited concerns about Backs' ability to work as a member of a team...
. Shaben held his district and was returned to the Legislature.
After the election Premier Peter Lougheed appointed Shaben 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...
. He became Minister of Utilities and Telephones. His appointment would make him the first Muslim cabinet minister in Canada. He would run for a third term in office 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....
with ministerial advantage. Shaben would easily hold his district defeating the four other candidates with a much larger popular vote and margin of victory.
Lougheed shuffled his cabinet after the election. Shaben became the Minister of Housing. In 1984, Shaben survived a plane crash near High Prairie, Alberta
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...
that killed fellow MLA and Alberta NDP leader Grant Notley
Grant Notley
Walter Grant Notley was a provincial politician in Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1971 to 1984 and also served as leader of the Alberta NDP from 1968 to 1984....
and five other passengers.
He held that portfolio after 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 1985. Shaben would run a fourth 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....
. He would face a hotly contested fight against New Democrat candidate Bert Dube. Despite his popular vote dropping Shaben was able to hang onto his seat.
Getty made his first cabinet shuffle after the election and appointed Shaben to his final portfolio as Minister of Economic Development and Trade. He held that portfolio until he retired at dissolution of the Assembly in 1989.
Late life
Shaben was severely beaten by a hitch-hiker and wound up hospitalized in 1986. Following 9/11 Shaben became active in promoting greater tolerance and understanding of Muslims in Canada. He was later instrumental in establishing the Edmonton Islamic Academy and a Chair In Islamic Studies at the University of Alberta.In 2005 he was appointed a federal citizenship judge.
Shaben died on September 6, 2008 following a long bout with cancer. His funeral was attended by more than 1,000 people and numerous politicians including three provincial Premiers.