Harold Gilleshammer

Harold Gilleshammer (born April 8, 1942) is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a member of the Manitoba legislature from 1988 to 2003, and a Cabinet Minister in the government of Progressive Conservative Premier Gary Filmon from 1990 to 1999.

The son of Olaf Gilleshammer, he was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts in History, Political Science and English from the University of Manitoba and a Bachelor of Education from Brandon University. He subsequently worked as a teacher.

Gilleshammer was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the provincial election of 1988, in the rural riding of Minnedosa in the province's southwest. The seat has normally been safe for the Conservatives, although a rise in Liberal Party support in 1988 meant that Liberal candidate Terry Drebit was able to pose a credible challenge. Gilleshammer won the election, however, by 1,173 voties. The Progressive Conservatives formed a minority government after the election, although Gilleshammer was not initially appointed to cabinet.

Provincial support for the Liberal Party declined in 1990, and Gilleshammer defeated Drebit by over 2000 votes in that year's provincial election, in a rematch between the two candidates. Shortly after the election, Gilleshammer was named Minister of Family Services. On September 10, 1993, he was promoted to Minister of Culture, Heritage and Citizenship, with responsibility for Multiculturalism, the Liquor Control Act and A.E. McKenzie Co. Ltd. Gilleshammer was easily re-elected in the 1995 general election, finishing over 2400 votes ahead of his nearest opponent.

...
Wikipedia