Mike Nickel
Encyclopedia
Mike Nickel is a politician in Alberta
, Canada
and a former municipal councillor in Edmonton
.
Nickel was born in Edmonton and attended the University of Alberta
, earning a Bachelor's degree in Political Science
and a Master's degree in Statistics
and Media Studies
. During his time at university, Nickel served as President of the University of Alberta Students' Union
from 1985 to 1986 and was active in the Delta Kappa Epsilon
fraternity.
In 1995, Nickel was a founding member of the Edmonton Stickmen, a group of young businessmen who were critical of then-mayor Jan Reimer
for what they saw as anti-business policies. Reimer was defeated in that election by Bill Smith
, against whom Nickel ran unsuccessfully in the 1998 and 2001 municipal elections, finishing second and third respectively.
In 2004, Nickel was elected to Edmonton's city council
from Ward 5. On City Council, he developed a reputation for opposing tax increases, Councilor pay increases, and a wide variety of regulation that he saw as interfering with the ability of businesspeople to make a living. He sought a second term in the 2007 election
, but was defeated by Don Iveson
and finished third of four candidates.
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...
and a former municipal councillor in Edmonton
Edmonton
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...
.
Nickel was born in Edmonton and attended 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...
, earning a Bachelor's degree in Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
and a Master's degree in Statistics
Statistics
Statistics is the study of the collection, organization, analysis, and interpretation of data. It deals with all aspects of this, including the planning of data collection in terms of the design of surveys and experiments....
and Media Studies
Media studies
Media studies is an academic discipline and field of study that deals with the content, history and effects of various media; in particular, the 'mass media'. Media studies may draw on traditions from both the social sciences and the humanities, but mostly from its core disciplines of mass...
. During his time at university, Nickel served as President of the University of Alberta Students' Union
University of Alberta Students' Union
The University of Alberta Students' Union is the student society that represents undergraduate students at the University of Alberta. Originally established in 1909, it is a non-profit corporation that operates under the authority of the Post-Secondary Learning Act...
from 1985 to 1986 and was active in the Delta Kappa Epsilon
Delta Kappa Epsilon
Delta Kappa Epsilon is a fraternity founded at Yale College in 1844 by 15 men of the sophomore class who had not been invited to join the two existing societies...
fraternity.
In 1995, Nickel was a founding member of the Edmonton Stickmen, a group of young businessmen who were critical of then-mayor Jan Reimer
Janice Rhea Reimer
Janice Rhea Reimer is a Canadian politician and the first female mayor of Edmonton, Alberta, having served in that capacity from 1989 until 1995...
for what they saw as anti-business policies. Reimer was defeated in that election by Bill Smith
Bill Smith (Alberta politician)
William Smith is a businessman, Canadian politician, and former mayor of Edmonton, Alberta.Smith was first elected in 1995 after defeating incumbent Mayor Jan Reimer and was re-elected in 1998 and 2001...
, against whom Nickel ran unsuccessfully in the 1998 and 2001 municipal elections, finishing second and third respectively.
In 2004, Nickel was elected to Edmonton's city council
Edmonton City Council
The Edmonton City Council is the governing body of the City of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.Members represent wards throughout the city, and are known as councillors. Until 2010, Edmonton was divided in six wards with two councillors representing citizens in each ward...
from Ward 5. On City Council, he developed a reputation for opposing tax increases, Councilor pay increases, and a wide variety of regulation that he saw as interfering with the ability of businesspeople to make a living. He sought a second term in the 2007 election
Edmonton municipal election, 2007
The 2007 Edmonton municipal election was held Monday, October 15, 2007 to elect a mayor and 12 councillors to the city council, eight of the nine trustees to Edmonton Public Schools, and four of the seven trustees to the Edmonton Catholic Schools...
, but was defeated by Don Iveson
Don Iveson
Don Iveson is a Canadian politician and a municipal councillor in Edmonton.-Early life:Don Iveson grew up in Edmonton's Parkallen neighbourhood, the only child of Margaret, an education professor at the University of Alberta, and Bob Iveson, a sculptor. As a child, Iveson loved books, both...
and finished third of four candidates.