Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta

Ken Kowalski was elected to his ninth term as a Member of the Legislative Assembly for Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock on March 3, 2008. Mr. Kowalski was elected Speaker of the 27th Legislative Assembly on April 14, 2008. First elected to the Alberta Legislature in a 1979 by-election, Mr. Kowalski was re-elected in 1982, 1986, 1989, 1993, 1997, 2001, 2004 and 2008. In 1997 he was elected Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and in 2001 and 2005 was re-elected by acclamation.

In his capacity as Speaker Mr. Kowalski serves as chair of the Special Standing Committee on Members’ Services as well as president of the Alberta branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA). He is a past president of the Regional Executive Committee of the CPA. He has also served on the executive committee of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

In March, 2008, Speaker Kowalski was named as an honorary citizen of Chapala and presented with a key to the city during a visit to further seal fraternal bonds between Alberta and the state of Jalisco, Mexico.

With Mr. Kowalski’s support Alberta was welcomed as an Associate Member of the Alberta Branch, America Region, of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) in August of 1998. He holds the position of honorary president and has continually supported attendance at the annual regional meeting of the APF held in Canada by Alberta francophone/francophile members.

At the invitation of Speaker Kowalski in March of 1999 a ceremony celebrating La Semaine de la Francophonie was held for the first time in the Legislative Assembly rotunda. The creation of the Alberta Francophone Secretariat was announced by the Premier at this first gathering. Celebration of this event continues to take place on an annual basis and is attended by high-profile political dignitaries, members of the francophone community and local schoolchildren, who entertain attendees at these events. A reception then follows in the Legislature Library.

During his years as a teacher at the Barrhead high school Mr. Kowalski was instrumental in advocating and supporting the first French immersion program in Barrhead. Having studied French language in university, Mr. Kowalski has always been a supporter of integrating French into the community.

Since he was first elected, Mr. Kowalski has held a variety of positions. He has served as chair of the Select Committee on Surface Rights, chair of the Heritage Savings Trust Fund Select Standing Committee and as a member of the Syncrude board of directors. He was appointed Minister of Environment and Minister of Alberta Public Safety Services in 1986. After his re-election in 1989 Mr. Kowalski was appointed to cabinet as Minister of Public Works, Supply and Services, responsible for lotteries, major exhibitions and fairs, the Public Affairs Bureau, public safety services, the Wild Rose Foundation and ACCESS Corporation. He has also served as Minister of Career Development and Employment and as Minister of Economic Development and Tourism responsible for technology, research and telecommunications, international trade offices and lotteries.

He was Government House Leader from June 15, 1993, to December 15, 1993. Mr. Kowalski served as Deputy Premier from 1992 to 1994.

In addition, Mr. Kowalski has served on the following committees:

• Agenda and Priorities Committee
• Treasury Board
• Standing Policy Committee on Natural Resources and Sustainable Development
• Government Caucus Committees: Agriculture, Education, Party Liaison and Decentralization

Mr. Kowalski has worked on both the national and the international stages. He was Alberta’s ministerial representative to the 1994 Canadian internal trade discussions and was one of 12 Canadian signatories to the environment and sustainable development documents that were ultimately endorsed by the United Nations Assembly. As well, he was Alberta’s signatory to the volunteer exchange agreement between the province of Alberta and Hokkaido, Japan.

Mr. Kowalski has received a number of honours during his term as a Member of the Legislative Assembly. Most notably, in August 1992 he received the Alberta Provincial Council Special Achievement Award from the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. In December 1992 he was awarded the Governor General’s Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of Canadian Confederation. Mr. Kowalski was further honoured on April 24, 1993, when the Alexis First Nation bestowed upon him the title of Honorary Chief Wa-she-zu-Chada-oo-sheqe-na (White Man with a Kind Heart). On February 27, 2004, he was awarded the University of Alberta Graduate Students’ Association’s Distinguished Alumnus Award. Most recently Mr. Kowalski received the 2005 Alberta Centennial Medal and received the Ordre de la Pl�iade decoration of officer by the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF). He is also the 2007 recipient of the Prix Ami de la francophonie. In addition, Mr. Kowalski is an Honorary Life Member of the Alberta Aviation Museum Association.

Kenneth Reginald Kowalski was born September 27, 1945, in Bonnyville, Alberta, the son of Paul Kowalski and Mary Chachula. He was educated in Alberta in public schools and graduated from the University of Alberta with a bachelor’s degree in history (1966) and a master’s degree in East Asian history (1970). He pursued education training following his studies at the university. Mr. Kowalski taught high school in Barrhead, Alberta, from 1969 to 1974. During these years he served as secretary of the Alberta Provincial Kinsmen Association in 1972, received the national award in 1973 as editor of Canada’s best Kinsmen Club magazine, was a recipient of a government of Alberta Achievement Award in 1973, and coached the national Reach for the Top high school academic championship team from Barrhead in 1973.

In 1974 Mr. Kowalski joined the government of Alberta as executive assistant to the Deputy Premier, Minister of Agriculture. From 1975 to 1977 he served as executive assistant to the Deputy Premier, Minister of Transportation. In 1977 he was appointed chairman, regional transportation services, and in 1979 was appointed deputy minister, regional transportation services. He also served as secretary of the Rural Development Cabinet Committee from 1974-77. In October 1979 he resigned the position of deputy minister, regional transportation services, to run for election as an MLA in the Alberta constituency of Barrhead.

Mr. Kowalski has served in the Alberta Legislature under the leadership of four Alberta Premiers: Peter Lougheed, Don Getty, Ralph Klein and Ed Stelmach.

Reading, being a parliamentarian and golf are Mr. Kowalski’s three passions in life. As a determined advocate of volunteerism he has served as president of the board of the Winnifred Stewart Foundation.

Mr. Kowalski has two children, Lori Anne and Michael Paul. He and his spouse, Kristina, reside in Barrhead, Alberta.

September 15, 2008