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Richard Starke

Richard Starke
MLA
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Vermilion-Lloydminster
Assumed office
April 23, 2012
Preceded by Lloyd Snelgrove
Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation
In office
February 4, 2013 – September 15, 2014
Premier Alison Redford
Dave Hancock
Preceded by Christine Cusanelli
Succeeded by Maureen Kubinec
Personal details
Born (1960-06-18) June 18, 1960 (age 56)
Edmonton, Alberta
Political party Progressive Conservative
Spouse(s) Alison Starke
Alma mater University of Saskatchewan
Profession Veterinarian
Religion Lutheran

Richard Karl Alfred Starke, MLA, (born June 18, 1960) is a Canadian politician who represents the electoral district of Vermilion-Lloydminster in the Alberta Legislature. Starke was elected to his first term as MLA for Vermilion-Lloydminster on April 23, 2012. Starke was appointed the minister for Tourism, Parks, and Recreation on February 4, 2013. He was not included in the Cabinet sworn in on September 15, 2014, but was appointed Chair of the Rural Health Services Review Committee on September 23, 2014. He is one of only two PC MLAs to be elected outside the city of Calgary in the 2015 provincial election.

Richard was born and raised in Edmonton. He and his wife, Alison, have two adult sons and a Bernese Mountain Dog. They reside near Lloydminster, Alberta.

Richard graduated from Queen Elizabeth High School in Edmonton and attended the University of Alberta Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry for his pre-vet studies. In 1979, he was accepted to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan. He attained the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (with Distinction) in 1983.

He joined the Lloydminster Animal Hospital in 1983 and became an owner in 1985. He was also elected to the Lloydminster city council in 1985 and served two terms as alderman. While Richard was Senior Partner at the Lloydminster Animal Hospital, the practice received several awards:

A second practice, Companion Animal Care Centre, was opened in 2008 and received 2010 Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce Rookie Business of the Year Award winner. He sold both practices before running for politics in 2011.

Starke has served on a wide variety of professional, national, provincial, municipal, cultural, community service and sport committees. While he was on Lloydminster City Council he served on the Lloydminster Leisure Centre Building Committee and chaired the Barr Colony Heritage Cultural Centre Building Committee. He served on the Communications Committee of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, as well as the Public Relations, Economic, and Professional Review Committees of the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association. In 1992, he was a founding member of the Lloydminster German Heritage Society. He joined the Lloydminster Rotary Club in 1988 and was a Charter Member of the Border City Rotary Club, serving as President of that club in 2005. He served on the Lloydminster Region Health Foundation Board from 2002–11, the last two years as Board Chair. He served as Director of Coaching & Programs at the Lloydminster Border Blades Speed Skating Club, and on the Coaching Development Committee at Speed Skating Canada.


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