Gene Zwozdesky
| Gene Zwozdesky | |
|---|---|
Zwozdesky at a charity function in June 2013
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| 12th Speaker of the Alberta Legislative Assembly | |
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In office May 23, 2012 – June 11, 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Ken Kowalski |
| Succeeded by | Bob Wanner |
| MLA for Edmonton Mill Creek | |
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In office 1997–2015 |
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| Preceded by | New District |
| Succeeded by | Denise Woollard |
| MLA for Edmonton Avonmore | |
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In office 1993–1997 |
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| Preceded by | Marie Laing |
| Succeeded by | District Abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
July 24, 1948 Nipawin, Saskatchewan |
| Political party | Progressive Conservative |
| Other political affiliations |
Liberal (1993-1998) |
| Spouse(s) | Christine Zwozdesky |
| Residence | Edmonton |
| Occupation | Teacher |
Gene Zwozdesky, MLA (born July 24, 1948) is a politician and was the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada from 2012 to 2015.
Zwozdesky was born in Saskatchewan but came to Alberta at the age of two. He lived in Grand Centre, Hinton and Sangudo before moving to Edmonton, where he has lived in 1963 and where he obtain bachelor's degrees in arts and education from the University of Alberta. Before becoming involved in politics Zwozdesky worked as a teacher, administrator, professional musician and businessman. Zwozdesky joined the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers in 1963, and was dancer for that troupe for six years, before becoming the musical director, composing and conducting the music for twenty-five years, as well as serving in the same role for the Cheremosh Ukrainian Dance Company. He was involved in various other cultural organizations, was the executive director of the Alberta Cultural Heritage Foundation and the Alberta Ukrainian Canadian Centennial Commission, and has served on various voluntary boards.
Zwozdesky was first elected in the 1993 Alberta general election as the Alberta Liberal Party's candidate, defeating incumbent Marie Laing from the Alberta New Democratic Party. He was re-elected to the new riding of Edmonton Mill Creek in the 1997 Alberta general election.
In July 1998, he left the Liberal Party caucus and sat as an Independent member after a dispute over fiscal policy. He joined the governing Progressive Conservatives a month later. In the 2001 Alberta general election he won by a generous margin over the Liberal challenger Bharat Agnihotri.
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