Sheldon Chumir
Encyclopedia
Sheldon Chumir was a Canadian
lawyer
and Liberal Party politician from Alberta
.
Sheldon Chumir was born in Calgary
. He studied law at the University of Alberta
, graduating in 1963 with the gold medal. He continued his education as a Rhodes Scholar and earned a Bachelors of Letters degree from Oxford University in 1965.
Chumir began his professional career as a tax lawyer with the federal Department of Justice in Toronto. In 1971 he joined a Calgary law firm. In 1976 he launched his own private practice focusing on civil liberties cases, lectured on civil liberties and human rights at the University of Calgary
Law School and founded the Calgary Civil Liberties Association. At the same time he started a small oil and gas company, and co-founded the entertainment promotion firm Brimstone Productions.
In 1983 he ventured into politics by creating “Save Public Education” which ran a successful slate of candidates in a Calgary Board of Education election.
Sheldon Chumir was committed to community service and active leadership on public policy issues, particularly protection of civil liberties and human rights, a strong public education system and fairness for the powerless.
Chumir was called one of Alberta's New Mavericks by Jamie Komarnicki of the Calgary Herald
, who in Chumir's obituary described him as a "soft-spoken man with a quirky sense of humour [who] was a determined champion of public education and individual freedoms."
for the Alberta Liberal Party
defeating Progressive Conservative Brian Lee
. He was part of a group of four Liberal MLAs elected that election who brought the party back to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
for the first time since 1969. In the Assembly, he spoke forcefully on legal affairs, human rights, energy and finance.
Chumir was elected to a second term in the Legislative Assembly in 1989.
.
The Sheldon Chumir Foundation for Ethics in Leadership was created from a bequest by Mr. Chumir, who believed that ethical values are fundamental to a healthy society. He wanted the Foundation to encourage ethical action in the practical world of government, business and community through activities such as public discussion and research aimed at policy and law reform.
The Sheldon M. Chumir Centre, an eight story medical facility named in honor of Chumir, opened in Calgary in April 2008. The faclility includes an Urgent Care Centre, a Diagnostic Imaging department and the Southern Alberta HIV Clinic.
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...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and Liberal Party politician 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...
.
Sheldon Chumir was born in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
. He studied law at 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...
, graduating in 1963 with the gold medal. He continued his education as a Rhodes Scholar and earned a Bachelors of Letters degree from Oxford University in 1965.
Chumir began his professional career as a tax lawyer with the federal Department of Justice in Toronto. In 1971 he joined a Calgary law firm. In 1976 he launched his own private practice focusing on civil liberties cases, lectured on civil liberties and human rights at the University of Calgary
University of Calgary
The University of Calgary is a public research university located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1966 the U of C is composed of 14 faculties and more than 85 research institutes and centres.More than 25,000 undergraduate and 5,500 graduate students are currently...
Law School and founded the Calgary Civil Liberties Association. At the same time he started a small oil and gas company, and co-founded the entertainment promotion firm Brimstone Productions.
In 1983 he ventured into politics by creating “Save Public Education” which ran a successful slate of candidates in a Calgary Board of Education election.
Sheldon Chumir was committed to community service and active leadership on public policy issues, particularly protection of civil liberties and human rights, a strong public education system and fairness for the powerless.
Chumir was called one of Alberta's New Mavericks by Jamie Komarnicki of the Calgary Herald
Calgary Herald
The Calgary Herald is a daily newspaper published in the Canadian city of Calgary, Alberta.- History :The paper was first published on August 31, 1883 by Andrew Armour and Thomas Braden as The Calgary Herald, Mining and Ranche Advocate and General Advertiser. It started as a weekly paper with only...
, who in Chumir's obituary described him as a "soft-spoken man with a quirky sense of humour [who] was a determined champion of public education and individual freedoms."
Elective office
Chumir was elected in the 1986 Alberta general electionAlberta 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....
for the Alberta Liberal Party
Alberta Liberal Party
The Alberta Liberal Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada. Originally founded in 1905, when the province was created, it was the dominant political party until 1921 when it was defeated. It has never been in government since that time...
defeating Progressive Conservative Brian Lee
Brian Lee (Alberta politician)
Brian Craig Lee is an author and former politician.Brian Lee began his political career winning election to Calgary Municipal Council in 1977. At the time of his election he was the youngest member elected in Calgary history...
. He was part of a group of four Liberal MLAs elected that election who brought the party back to 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...
for the first time since 1969. In the Assembly, he spoke forcefully on legal affairs, human rights, energy and finance.
Chumir was elected to a second term in the Legislative Assembly in 1989.
Death and legacy
Chumir died in 1992 from lymphomaLymphoma
Lymphoma is a cancer in the lymphatic cells of the immune system. Typically, lymphomas present as a solid tumor of lymphoid cells. Treatment might involve chemotherapy and in some cases radiotherapy and/or bone marrow transplantation, and can be curable depending on the histology, type, and stage...
.
The Sheldon Chumir Foundation for Ethics in Leadership was created from a bequest by Mr. Chumir, who believed that ethical values are fundamental to a healthy society. He wanted the Foundation to encourage ethical action in the practical world of government, business and community through activities such as public discussion and research aimed at policy and law reform.
The Sheldon M. Chumir Centre, an eight story medical facility named in honor of Chumir, opened in Calgary in April 2008. The faclility includes an Urgent Care Centre, a Diagnostic Imaging department and the Southern Alberta HIV Clinic.