Neil Stanley Crawford
Encyclopedia
Neil Stanley Crawford was a politician
and jazz
musician
from Alberta
, Canada
.
. He married Catherine May Hughes September 3, 1951. He graduated from the University of Saskatchewan
Law School in 1954, and practiced law in Edmonton
, Alberta during the 1950s and 1960s, before becoming involved in politics. Neil served as an Alderman
for the City
of Edmonton from 1966–1971.
between 1961 and 1963, and served as Young Progressive Conservative Association President from 1963 to 1964.
He had a jazz band composed of provincial MLAs called the Tory Blue Notes, and played trumpet
.
Crawford was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
for the first time in the 1971 Alberta general election
for the new district of Edmonton Parkallen. He served a total of five terms from 1971 to 1989 for the Progressive Conservatives
.
During his time in the assembly he served numerous portfolios in the cabinet. He was Minister of Health and Social Development, Minister of Labour, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Attorney General, Government House Leader, and lastly responsible for the government's Special Projects.
In December 1986 he held a press conference to announce he was afflicted with Lou Gehrig's Disease. He served out the rest of his term and retired in 1989.
He died on August 25, 1992. The Neil Crawford Centre, a Government of Alberta office complex in south Edmonton, is named in his honor. The Edmonton subdivision of Crawford Plains, as well as the Crawford Plains Elementary School are also named for him.
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
and jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
from 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...
, 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...
.
Early life
Neil was born in Prince Albert, SaskatchewanPrince Albert, Saskatchewan
Prince Albert is the third-largest city in Saskatchewan, Canada. It is situated in the centre of the province on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River. The city is known as the "Gateway to the North" because it is the last major centre along the route to the resources of northern Saskatchewan...
. He married Catherine May Hughes September 3, 1951. He graduated from the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
Law School in 1954, and practiced law 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...
, Alberta during the 1950s and 1960s, before becoming involved in politics. Neil served as an Alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
for the City
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
of Edmonton from 1966–1971.
Federal involvement
Neil was actively involved with federal politics. He served as an executive assistant to Prime Minister John DiefenbakerJohn Diefenbaker
John George Diefenbaker, PC, CH, QC was the 13th Prime Minister of Canada, serving from June 21, 1957, to April 22, 1963...
between 1961 and 1963, and served as Young Progressive Conservative Association President from 1963 to 1964.
He had a jazz band composed of provincial MLAs called the Tory Blue Notes, and played trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
.
Provincial politics
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...
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....
for the new district of Edmonton Parkallen. He served a total of five terms from 1971 to 1989 for the Progressive Conservatives
Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta
The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta is a provincial centre-right party in the Canadian province of Alberta...
.
During his time in the assembly he served numerous portfolios in the cabinet. He was Minister of Health and Social Development, Minister of Labour, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Attorney General, Government House Leader, and lastly responsible for the government's Special Projects.
In December 1986 he held a press conference to announce he was afflicted with Lou Gehrig's Disease. He served out the rest of his term and retired in 1989.
He died on August 25, 1992. The Neil Crawford Centre, a Government of Alberta office complex in south Edmonton, is named in his honor. The Edmonton subdivision of Crawford Plains, as well as the Crawford Plains Elementary School are also named for him.