Jump to content

Blair Lekstrom: Difference between revisions

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
exp/re-org'd; +refs/mitigate dead refs
 
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Canadian politician}}
{{Short description|Canadian politician}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| image = BlairLekstrom.JPG
| image = BlairLekstrom.JPG
| honorific-prefix =
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Blair Lekstrom
| name = Blair Lekstrom
| honorific-suffix =
| honorific-suffix =
| caption =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1961}}<ref name="CPG">{{Cite web |title=Lekstrom, Blair (Peace River South) |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/international/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/lekstrom-blair-peace-river-south |publisher=Canadian Parliamentary Guide |accessdate=2024-04-22}}</ref>
| birth_date = 1961
| birth_place = [[North Battleford]], [[Saskatchewan]]
| birth_place = [[North Battleford]], [[Saskatchewan]]
| residence =
| residence = [[Dawson Creek]], [[British Columbia]]
| assembly = British Columbia Legislative
| assembly = British Columbia Legislative
| constituency_AM = [[Peace River South]]
| constituency_AM = [[Peace River South]]
| term_start = May 16, 2001
| term_start = May 16, 2001
| term_end = May 14, 2013
| term_end = May 14, 2013
| predecessor = [[Jack Weisgerber]]
| predecessor = [[Jack Weisgerber]]
| successor = [[Mike Bernier]]
| successor = [[Mike Bernier]]
|office3 = Minister of Community Development<br />of [[Executive Council of British Columbia|British Columbia]]
| office1 = Minister of Community Development of [[Executive Council of British Columbia|British Columbia]]
|premier3 = [[Gordon Campbell (Canadian politician)|Gordon Campbell]]
| premier1 = [[Gordon Campbell]]
|term_start3 = June 23, 2008
| term_start1 = June 23, 2008
|term_end3 = January 19, 2009
| term_end1 = January 19, 2009
|predecessor3 = [[Ida Chong]]
| predecessor1 = [[Ida Chong]] (Community Services)
|successor3 = [[Kevin Krueger]]
| successor1 = [[Kevin Krueger]]
|office4 = Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources<br />of [[Executive Council of British Columbia|British Columbia]]
| office2 = Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources of [[Executive Council of British Columbia|British Columbia]]
|premier4 = [[Gordon Campbell (Canadian politician)|Gordon Campbell]]
| premier2 = [[Gordon Campbell]]
|term_start4 = January 19, 2009
| term_start2 = January 19, 2009
|term_end4 = June 11, 2010
| term_end2 = June 11, 2010
|predecessor4 = [[Richard Neufeld]]
| predecessor2 = [[Richard Neufeld]]
|successor4 = [[Bill Bennett (politician)|Bill Bennett]]
| successor2 = [[Bill Bennett (Liberal MLA)|Bill Bennett]]
|office5 = Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure of [[Executive Council of British Columbia|British Columbia]]
| office3 = Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure of [[Executive Council of British Columbia|British Columbia]]
|premier5 = [[Christy Clark]]
| premier3 = [[Christy Clark]]
|term_start5 = March 14, 2011
| term_start3 = March 14, 2011
|term_end5 = September 5, 2012
| term_end3 = September 5, 2012
|predecessor5 = [[Shirley Bond]]
| predecessor3 = [[Shirley Bond]]
|successor5 = [[Mary Polak]]
| successor3 = [[Mary Polak]]
| office4 = Mayor of [[Dawson Creek]], [[British Columbia]]
⚫
| party = [[British Columbia Liberal Party|Liberal]] (2001-2010, 2011-present)
| term_start4 = 1996
⚫
| otherparty = [[Independent (politics)|Independent]] (2010-2011)
| term_end4 = 2001
⚫
| occupation =
| predecessor4 = Bill Kusk
| successor4 = Wayne Dahlen
| spouse = {{marriage|Vicki Lekstrom|1982}}
⚫
| party = [[British Columbia Liberal Party|Liberal]] (2001-2010, 2011-present)
⚫
| otherparty = [[Independent (politics)|Independent]] (2010-2011)
⚫
| occupation =
}}
}}


'''Blair Lekstrom''' (born 1961) is a [[Canadians|Canadian]] politician, formerly a member of the [[Legislative Assembly of British Columbia]]. He represented the riding of [[Peace River South]] having been first elected in the [[2001 British Columbia general election|2001 election]].<ref name=Leg>{{Cite web |title=MLA: Blair Lekstrom |url=http://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/39thParl/lekstromB.htm |publisher=Legislative Assembly of British Columbia |accessdate=May 11, 2010}}</ref> Re-elected in 2005 and 2009, he did not run in the 2013 provincial election.<ref>{{cite news |title=Transportation Minister Blair Lekstrom joins list of departing B.C. Liberal MLAs |url=https://www.straight.com/news/transportation-minister-blair-lekstrom-joins-list-departing-bc-liberal-mlas/ |publisher=[[The Georgia Straight]] |date=September 4, 2012}}</ref> He worked as an advisor and spokesperson for HD Mining International, Ltd.<ref>[http://resourceclips.com/tag/hd-mining-international-ltd/ "Who’s mining whom?"] "[[Resource Clips]]", May 8, 2014.</ref> and was elected as city councillor in [[Dawson Creek]] in 2008. In February, 2020, Lekstrom resigned as councillor to take on the role of Chief Administrative Officer for the city of Dawson Creek.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dawsoncreek.ca/2020/media-release-appointment-of-new-chief-administrative-officer/#gsc.tab=0|title = Media Release: Appointment of New Chief Administrative Officer &#124; City of Dawson Creek}}</ref>
'''Blair Lekstrom''' (born 1961) is a [[Canadians|Canadian]] politician. He was formerly a member of the [[Legislative Assembly of British Columbia]], representing the riding of [[Peace River South]] from 2001 to 2013. A caucus member of the [[British Columbia Liberal Party]], he served in several [[Executive Council of British Columbia|cabinet posts]] under [[Premier of British Columbia|premiers]] [[Gordon Campbell]] and [[Christy Clark]]. He was the mayor of [[Dawson Creek]] from 1996 to 2001, and served as city councillor on two separate occasions.


==Biography==
==Early life and education==
He was born in 1961 in [[North Battleford]], [[Saskatchewan]] and moved to [[Dawson Creek]], [[British Columbia]] later that year. He graduated from the [[South Peace Secondary School]], and worked with [[BC Tel]] starting in 1979 as an installer-repairman until his election in 2001.
Lekstrom was born in 1961 in [[North Battleford]], [[Saskatchewan]] and moved to [[Dawson Creek]], [[British Columbia]] later that year.<ref name="CPG"/><ref name="BCLeg38">{{Cite web |title=MLA: Blair Lekstrom |url=https://www.leg.bc.ca/Pages/BCLASS-Legacy.aspx#%2Fcontent%2Flegacy%2Fweb%2Fmla%2F38thparl%2Flekstrom.htm |publisher=Legislative Assembly of British Columbia |accessdate=2024-04-22}}</ref> He graduated from [[South Peace Secondary School]], and worked with [[BC Tel]] starting in 1979 as an installer-repairman.<ref name="BCLeg38"/> He married his wife Vicki in 1982; they have two children together.<ref name="CPG"/><ref name="BCLeg38"/>


⚫
He was elected to Dawson Creek City Council in 1993, serving one term as councillor.<ref name="CityofDC">{{Cite web |title=History of City of Dawson Creek Mayor and Council (previously Commissioners/Aldermen) |url=https://www.dawsoncreek.ca/en/our-government/resources/Documents/Past-mayor-and-council-list.pdf |publisher=City of Dawson Creek |accessdate=2024-04-22}}</ref><ref name="CJDC221209">{{cite news |title=After nearly 30 years of public service, Blair Lekstrom reflects on retirement and a distinguished career |url=https://www.cjdctv.com/after-nearly-30-years-of-public-service-blair-lekstrom-reflects-on-retirement-and-a-distinguished-career-1.6188664 |first=Katherine |last=Dornian |publisher=[[CJDC-TV]] |date=2022-12-09 |accessdate=2024-04-22}}</ref> He then won election as the city's mayor in 1996 and served in that role for two terms.<ref name="CJDC221209"/><ref name=Carbon>{{Cite news |last=Meissner |first=Dirk |title=B.C. looks to carbon capture to balance clean-air targets with energy revenues |url=http://www.coastreporter.net/article/GB/20090630/CP02/306309931/-1/sechelt/bc-looks-to-carbon-capture-to-balance-clean-air-targets-with-energy&template=cpart |newspaper=Coast Reporter |agency=Canadian Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718134453/http://www.coastreporter.net/article/GB/20090630/CP02/306309931/-1/sechelt/bc-looks-to-carbon-capture-to-balance-clean-air-targets-with-energy%26template%3Dcpart |date=June 30, 2009|url-status=dead |archive-date=July 18, 2011 }}</ref> During that time, he was the president of the North Central Municipal Association for the 1999–2000 term.<ref name="CPG"/><ref name="BCLeg38"/>
==Political career==
⚫
Prior to provincial politics, he served as mayor of Dawson Creek for two terms,<ref name=Carbon>{{Cite news |last=Meissner |first=Dirk |title=B.C. looks to carbon capture to balance clean-air targets with energy revenues |url=http://www.coastreporter.net/article/GB/20090630/CP02/306309931/-1/sechelt/bc-looks-to-carbon-capture-to-balance-clean-air-targets-with-energy&template=cpart |newspaper=Coast Reporter |agency=Canadian Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718134453/http://www.coastreporter.net/article/GB/20090630/CP02/306309931/-1/sechelt/bc-looks-to-carbon-capture-to-balance-clean-air-targets-with-energy%26template%3Dcpart |date=June 30, 2009|url-status=dead |archive-date=July 18, 2011 }}</ref> and was a city councillor for three years prior.<ref name=Leg/> Lekstrom was the president of the North Central Municipal Association for the 1999–2000 term.


He ran as a [[BC Liberal]] candidate in the [[2001 British Columbia general election|2001 provincial election]], and was elected [[member of the legislative assembly]] (MLA) for the riding of [[Peace River South]].<ref name=Leg>{{Cite web |title=MLA: Blair Lekstrom |url=http://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/39thParl/lekstromB.htm |publisher=Legislative Assembly of British Columbia |accessdate=May 11, 2010}}</ref> He was re-elected in [[2005 British Columbia general election|2005]], and was appointed to the cabinet by Premier [[Gordon Campbell]] in June 2008 to serve as Minister of Community Development, before being re-assigned as Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources in January 2009.<ref name="CampbellCabinet">{{cite web|title=Campbell Cabinet: 37th Parliament 2001-2005, 38th Parliament 2005-2009, 39th Parliament 2009-2011 |url=https://www.llbc.leg.bc.ca/public/reference/campbell_cabinet.pdf|publisher=[[Legislative Assembly of British Columbia]]|accessdate=2024-04-22}}</ref> He kept that portfolio after securing another term as MLA at the [[2009 British Columbia general election|2009 provincial election]].<ref name=Leg/><ref name="CampbellCabinet"/>
He formerly served as the Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Products in the government of [[Gordon Campbell (Canadian politician)|Gordon Campbell]], before resigning from the [[BC Liberal]] caucus over the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) on June 11, 2010, a policy that Lekstrom had previously endorsed.<ref>[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/bc-liberal-resigns-over-hst/article1600882/ "B.C. Liberal resigns over HST"]. ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', June 11, 2010.</ref> Following the election of [[Christy Clark]] as the party's new leader in the [[2011 British Columbia Liberal Party leadership election|2011 leadership election]], Lekstrom rejoined the Liberals on March 3, 2011.<ref>[https://theprovince.com/news/Lekstrom+back+Bennett+cools+heels/4376204/story.html "Lekstrom back, Bennett cools heels"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110309091836/http://www.theprovince.com/news/Lekstrom%2Bback%2BBennett%2Bcools%2Bheels/4376204/story.html |date=March 9, 2011 }}. ''[[The Province]]'', March 3, 2011.</ref>
Lekstrom announced in September 2012 that he would not run for office in the 2013 provincial election.<ref>[https://www.straight.com/news/transportation-minister-blair-lekstrom-joins-list-departing-bc-liberal-mlas "Transportation Minister Blair Lekstrom joins list of departing B.C. Liberal MLAs"], September 4, 2012.</ref>


Lekstrom resigned from the BC Liberal caucus on June 11, 2010 over the implementation of the [[Harmonized Sales Tax]],<ref>{{cite news |title=B.C. cabinet minister Lekstrom quits over HST |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-cabinet-minister-lekstrom-quits-over-hst-1.940499 |publisher=[[CBC News]] |date=2022-12-09 |accessdate=2024-04-22}}</ref> a policy that he had previously endorsed.<ref name="CJDC221209"/> Following the election of [[Christy Clark]] as the party's new leader in [[2011 British Columbia Liberal Party leadership election|2011]], Lekstrom rejoined the Liberals on March 3 that year,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://theprovince.com/news/Lekstrom+back+Bennett+cools+heels/4376204/story.html|title=Lekstrom back, Bennett cools heels |date=2011-03-03 |newspaper=[[The Province]] |first=Ian |last=Austin |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110309091836/http://www.theprovince.com/news/Lekstrom%2Bback%2BBennett%2Bcools%2Bheels/4376204/story.html|archive-date=2011-03-09 }}</ref> and was appointed to Clark's cabinet as Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure on March 14.<ref name="ClarkCabinet">{{cite web|title=Christy Clark Cabinet 2011-2017 |url=https://www.llbc.leg.bc.ca/public/reference/christyclarkcabinet.pdf |publisher=Legislative Library of British Columbia |date=2018-01-24 |access-date=2024-04-22}}</ref> He announced on September 4, 2012 that he would not run again in the [[2013 British Columbia general election|2013 provincial election]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Transportation Minister Blair Lekstrom joins list of departing B.C. Liberal MLAs |url=https://www.straight.com/news/transportation-minister-blair-lekstrom-joins-list-departing-bc-liberal-mlas/ |first=Yolande |last=Cole |publisher=[[The Georgia Straight]] |date=September 4, 2012 |accessdate=2024-04-22}}</ref> and was dropped from Clark's cabinet the next day.<ref name="ClarkCabinet"/><ref>{{cite news |title=B.C. Premier Christy Clark unveils new cabinet |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-premier-christy-clark-unveils-new-cabinet-1.1270456 |publisher=[[CBC News]] |date=2012-09-05 |accessdate=2024-04-22}}</ref>
In September 2013, he was hired by HD Mining International, Ltd.<ref>[http://globalnews.ca/news/864273/former-b-c-mines-minister-blair-lekstrom-takes-job-with-controversial-coal-firm/ "Former B.C. mines minister Blair Lekstrom takes job with controversial coal firm"]. ''[[Canadian Press]]'', September 25, 2013.</ref>

After finishing his term as MLA, he was hired by HD Mining International, Ltd. in September 2013 as an advisor and spokesperson.<ref>{{cite news |title=Former B.C. mines minister Blair Lekstrom takes job with controversial coal firm |url=http://globalnews.ca/news/864273/former-b-c-mines-minister-blair-lekstrom-takes-job-with-controversial-coal-firm/ |publisher=[[Global News]] |agency=[[Canadian Press]] |date=2013-09-25 |accessdate=2024-04-22}}</ref> He then returned to municipal politics by winning election as Dawson Creek city councillor in [[2018 British Columbia municipal elections|2018]],<ref name="CityofDC"/> before resigning in February 2020 to become the city's Chief Administrative Officer;<ref>{{cite news |title=Dawson Creek CAO Blair Lekstrom to retire this year |url=https://www.cjdctv.com/dawson-creek-cao-blair-lekstrom-to-retire-this-year-1.5948564 |first=Katherine |last=Dornian |publisher=[[CJDC-TV]] |date=2022-06-15 |accessdate=2024-04-22}}</ref> he retired from that role in December 2022.<ref name="CJDC221209"/>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{commonscat-inline|Blair Lekstrom}}
*[https://www.leg.bc.ca/pages/bclass-legacy.aspx#%2Fcontent%2Flegacy%2Fweb%2Fmla%2F39thparl%2Flekstromb.htm British Columbia Legislative Assembly biography]

{{Christy Clark Ministry}}
{{Christy Clark Ministry}}
{{Gordon Campbell Ministry}}
{{Gordon Campbell Ministry}}
Line 59: Line 71:


{{DEFAULTSORT:Lekstrom, Blair}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lekstrom, Blair}}
⚫
[[Category:BC United MLAs]]
[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
⚫
[[Category:BC United MLAs]]
⚫
[[Category:British Columbia municipal councillors]]
[[Category:Independent MLAs in British Columbia]]
[[Category:Mayors of places in British Columbia]]
[[Category:Mayors of places in British Columbia]]
[[Category:Members of the Executive Council of British Columbia]]
[[Category:Members of the Executive Council of British Columbia]]
[[Category:People from Dawson Creek]]
[[Category:People from Dawson Creek]]
[[Category:People from North Battleford]]
[[Category:People from North Battleford]]
[[Category:Independent MLAs in British Columbia]]
[[Category:20th-century Canadian politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Canadian politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Canadian politicians]]
⚫
[[Category:British Columbia municipal councillors]]

Latest revision as of 15:52, 22 April 2024

Blair Lekstrom
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly
for Peace River South
In office
May 16, 2001 – May 14, 2013
Preceded byJack Weisgerber
Succeeded byMike Bernier
Minister of Community Development of British Columbia
In office
June 23, 2008 – January 19, 2009
PremierGordon Campbell
Preceded byIda Chong (Community Services)
Succeeded byKevin Krueger
Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources of British Columbia
In office
January 19, 2009 – June 11, 2010
PremierGordon Campbell
Preceded byRichard Neufeld
Succeeded byBill Bennett
Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure of British Columbia
In office
March 14, 2011 – September 5, 2012
PremierChristy Clark
Preceded byShirley Bond
Succeeded byMary Polak
Mayor of Dawson Creek, British Columbia
In office
1996–2001
Preceded byBill Kusk
Succeeded byWayne Dahlen
Personal details
Born1961 (age 62–63)[1]
North Battleford, Saskatchewan
Political partyLiberal (2001-2010, 2011-present)
Other political
affiliations		Independent (2010-2011)
Spouse
Vicki Lekstrom
​
(m. 1982)​
Residence(s)Dawson Creek, British Columbia

Blair Lekstrom (born 1961) is a Canadian politician. He was formerly a member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, representing the riding of Peace River South from 2001 to 2013. A caucus member of the British Columbia Liberal Party, he served in several cabinet posts under premiers Gordon Campbell and Christy Clark. He was the mayor of Dawson Creek from 1996 to 2001, and served as city councillor on two separate occasions.

Biography

[edit]

Lekstrom was born in 1961 in North Battleford, Saskatchewan and moved to Dawson Creek, British Columbia later that year.[1][2] He graduated from South Peace Secondary School, and worked with BC Tel starting in 1979 as an installer-repairman.[2] He married his wife Vicki in 1982; they have two children together.[1][2]

He was elected to Dawson Creek City Council in 1993, serving one term as councillor.[3][4] He then won election as the city's mayor in 1996 and served in that role for two terms.[4][5] During that time, he was the president of the North Central Municipal Association for the 1999–2000 term.[1][2]

He ran as a BC Liberal candidate in the 2001 provincial election, and was elected member of the legislative assembly (MLA) for the riding of Peace River South.[6] He was re-elected in 2005, and was appointed to the cabinet by Premier Gordon Campbell in June 2008 to serve as Minister of Community Development, before being re-assigned as Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources in January 2009.[7] He kept that portfolio after securing another term as MLA at the 2009 provincial election.[6][7]

Lekstrom resigned from the BC Liberal caucus on June 11, 2010 over the implementation of the Harmonized Sales Tax,[8] a policy that he had previously endorsed.[4] Following the election of Christy Clark as the party's new leader in 2011, Lekstrom rejoined the Liberals on March 3 that year,[9] and was appointed to Clark's cabinet as Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure on March 14.[10] He announced on September 4, 2012 that he would not run again in the 2013 provincial election,[11] and was dropped from Clark's cabinet the next day.[10][12]

After finishing his term as MLA, he was hired by HD Mining International, Ltd. in September 2013 as an advisor and spokesperson.[13] He then returned to municipal politics by winning election as Dawson Creek city councillor in 2018,[3] before resigning in February 2020 to become the city's Chief Administrative Officer;[14] he retired from that role in December 2022.[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "Lekstrom, Blair (Peace River South)". Canadian Parliamentary Guide. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d "MLA: Blair Lekstrom". Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "History of City of Dawson Creek Mayor and Council (previously Commissioners/Aldermen)" (PDF). City of Dawson Creek. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d Dornian, Katherine (December 9, 2022). "After nearly 30 years of public service, Blair Lekstrom reflects on retirement and a distinguished career". CJDC-TV. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  5. ^ Meissner, Dirk (June 30, 2009). "B.C. looks to carbon capture to balance clean-air targets with energy revenues". Coast Reporter. Canadian Press. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011.
  6. ^ a b "MLA: Blair Lekstrom". Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
  7. ^ a b "Campbell Cabinet: 37th Parliament 2001-2005, 38th Parliament 2005-2009, 39th Parliament 2009-2011" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  8. ^ "B.C. cabinet minister Lekstrom quits over HST". CBC News. December 9, 2022. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  9. ^ Austin, Ian (March 3, 2011). "Lekstrom back, Bennett cools heels". The Province. Archived from the original on March 9, 2011.
  10. ^ a b "Christy Clark Cabinet 2011-2017" (PDF). Legislative Library of British Columbia. January 24, 2018. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  11. ^ Cole, Yolande (September 4, 2012). "Transportation Minister Blair Lekstrom joins list of departing B.C. Liberal MLAs". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  12. ^ "B.C. Premier Christy Clark unveils new cabinet". CBC News. September 5, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  13. ^ "Former B.C. mines minister Blair Lekstrom takes job with controversial coal firm". Global News. Canadian Press. September 25, 2013. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  14. ^ Dornian, Katherine (June 15, 2022). "Dawson Creek CAO Blair Lekstrom to retire this year". CJDC-TV. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Blair_Lekstrom&oldid=1220233704"