Gordon Kesler

Last updated
Gordon Kesler
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Olds-Didsbury
In office
February 17, 1982 –November 2, 1982
Preceded by Robert Curtis Clark
Succeeded by Stephen Stiles
Personal details
Born1945 (age 75–76)
Political party Western Canada Concept

Gordon Kesler (born 1945) is a former politician from Alberta, Canada.

Contents

Political career

Gordon Kesler's stunning victory in the February 1982 by-election for the Western Canada Concept received national media attention. Kesler was the first separatist politician elected in Canada outside of Quebec since the 1870s, although his activities were primarily related to opposing official bilingualism and the introduction of the metric system. [1] [2] [3]

After the win, Kesler became leader of the party. He won the Olds-Didsbury electoral district defeating Stephen Stiles of the Progressive Conservatives and Lloyd Quantz of Social Credit and three other candidates. [4]

During the 1982 general election, held only months later in November, Kesler lost his seat despite Western Canada Concept fielding a full slate. He had shifted districts to his home district of Highwood after promising to move to Olds-Didsbury if elected. The time he served was the second shortest between election and defeat in the legislature's history. Harry Alger from the Progressive Conservatives defeated him with a five thousand vote plurality. [5]

In a 1983 letter to the editor of the Alberta Report, Doug Christie, founder of the Western Canada Concept, accused Gordon Kesler of betraying separatism. Kesler and his party had been striving to distance themselves from the controversial Christie.

Electoral record

Alberta provincial by-election, February 17, 1982: Olds-Didsbury
Upon the resignation of Robert Curtis Clark on November 30, 1981
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Western Canada Concept Gordon Kesler4,01542.20—
Social Credit Lloyd Quantz2,66928.05-42.11
Progressive Conservative Stephen Stiles 2,39625.18-2.38
New Democratic Myrna Jarboe3083.24+1.57
Liberal George Leussink1261.32+0.72
Independent Adilsha Shivji90.09—
Total valid votes 9,514 100.00 —
Rejected, spoiled, and declined 19 — —
Eligible electors / Turnout 13,798 69.09 -4.29
Western Canada Concept gain from Social Credit Swing +42.16
Source(s)
Elections Alberta. "By-elections" . Retrieved April 30, 2018.
1982 Alberta general election : Highwood
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Progressive Conservative Harry Alger 7,81170.08%3.58%
Western Canada Concept Gordon Kesler2,00618.00%*
New Democratic William McCutcheon4654.17%0.51%
Independent R.L. Snell4363.91%
Independent Don Tanner2452.20%
Alberta Reform MovementRonald Arkes1831.64%*
Total11,146
Rejected, spoiled and declined30
Eligible electors / Turnout14,495 77.10%
Progressive Conservative hold Swing 10.79%
Source(s)
"Highwood Official Results 1982 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved March 30, 2010.

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References

  1. ↑ "The page has moved" (PDF).
  2. ↑ "Gordon Kesler and his Western Canada Concept colleagues, successful".
  3. ↑ "Western Canada gets its first separatist leader". Christian Science Monitor. 19 February 1982.
  4. ↑ "Olds-Didsbury by-election results". Elections Alberta. Archived from the original on 2009-06-07. Retrieved 2008-03-19.
  5. ↑ "Highwood Official Results 1982". Alberta Heritage. Archived from the original on 2011-06-12. Retrieved 2008-03-19.
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