George Mihalcheon

George M. Mihalcheon
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
In office
June 28, 1926  June 19, 1930
Preceded by Mike Chornohus
Succeeded by Isidore Goresky
Constituency Whitford
Personal details
Born October 1, 1893
Boian, Bukovina[1]
Died October 2, 1956(1956-10-02) (aged 63)
Edmonton, Alberta
Political party United Farmers
Spouse(s) Mary Lutzak
Occupation politician, farmer, shopkeeper and teacher

George M. Mihalcheon (October 1, 1893 – October 2, 1956) was a provincial politician farmer, teacher and shopkeeper from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1926 to 1930 sitting with the United Farmers caucus in government.

Early life

Mihalcheon was born in 1893 in Boian, Bukovina an area now comprising present day Romania. He moved to Alberta with his family in 1901 to the town of Hairy Hill, Alberta. He graduated normal school in 1918 and became a teacher at Boian school in the town of Boian, Alberta. He married Mary Lutzak.[2]

Political career

Mihalcheon ran for the United Farmers nomination in the electoral district of Whitford. He defeated incumbent United Farmers MLA Mike Chornohus and two other contenders to run for the party in the 1926 Alberta general election.[3]

The election was hotly contested between five candidates. Mihalcheon won over 50% of the popular vote on the first count to hold the district for his party. Among the four candidates he defeated was former MLA Andrew Shandro who finished in second place.[4] Michalcheon became the first Alberta MLA of Romanian origin. His multilingual abilities of English, Ukrainian and Romanian are credited with helping him win the election.[2]

Mihalcheon retired from provincial politics at dissolution of the Assembly in 1930. He retired when the Whitford Association asked him to step down fearing that his Romanian heritage might cause the party to lose the district.[2]

Late life

After his political career, Mihalcheon started farming. He also founded a general store.[2]

References

  1. Normandin, P.G.; Normandin, A.L. (1929). Guide Parlementaire Canadien. P. G. Normandin. ISSN 0315-6168. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Romanian Immigration". Alberta Community Heritage Foundation. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
  3. "In The Political Arena". Vol XIX No 149 (The Lethbridge Daily Herald). June 7, 1926. p. 1.
  4. "Whitford Official Results 1926 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved April 29, 2010.

External links

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