Gordon Balser | |
---|---|
MLA for Digby-Annapolis | |
In office March 24, 1998 – August 5, 2003 | |
Preceded by | Joseph H. Casey |
Succeeded by | Harold Theriault |
Personal details | |
Born | Digby, Nova Scotia, Canada | February 24, 1954
Died | April 10, 2024 Digby, Nova Scotia, Canada | (aged 70)
Political party | Progressive Conservative |
Occupation | Teacher |
Gordon Douglas Balser (February 24, 1954 – April 10, 2024) was a Canadian educator and politician in Nova Scotia. He represented Digby-Annapolis in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1998 to 2003 as a Progressive Conservative member.
Balser was born on February 24, 1954. He grew up on a farm in Digby, Nova Scotia. He had four brothers and a sister. He attended Acadia University, where he received a BBA, BEd and a Masters in Education. [1]
Balser was a teacher, teaching principal and acting superintendent of schools for the Digby district. During his education career, he was a teacher and principal at both Barton Consolidated School and Digby Elementary School, as well as superintendent of schools for the Tri-County Area. In the summer, he worked as a carpenter for over 30 years. [1] [2]
Balser entered provincial politics in the 1998 election, defeating Liberal John Drish by 233 votes in the Digby-Annapolis riding. [3] He was re-elected in the 1999 election by over 2,200 votes. [4] In August 1999, he was appointed to the Executive Council of Nova Scotia as Minister of Economic Development and Minister of Transportation and Public Works. [5] [6] In December 1999, the Transportation and Public Works portfolio was transferred to Ron Russell. [7] In June 2002, Balser was shuffled to Minister of Energy. [8] On December 19, 2002, premier John Hamm shuffled his cabinet, moving Balser to Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, and Minister of the Public Service Commission. [9] In the 2003 election, Balser was defeated by Liberal Harold Theriault. [10] [11] Balser's loss was attributed to his support for a local quarrying project that Theriault had opposed. [12]
In 1981, he married Wendy Suzanne Moore. His daughter Jill Balser was elected to the legislature to represent Digby-Annapolis in the 2021 Nova Scotia general election. [13] In 2021, she became Nova Scotia's Minister of Labour, Skills and Immigration, as well as Minister responsible for Apprenticeship. [2] [14] He also had two other daughters, Erin and Anne. [2] In 2002, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal. [15]
Balser died on April 10, 2024, at the age of 70. [1] [15]
Gordon Balser | |
---|---|
MLA for Digby-Annapolis | |
In office March 24, 1998 – August 5, 2003 | |
Preceded by | Joseph H. Casey |
Succeeded by | Harold Theriault |
Personal details | |
Born | Digby, Nova Scotia, Canada | February 24, 1954
Died | April 10, 2024 Digby, Nova Scotia, Canada | (aged 70)
Political party | Progressive Conservative |
Occupation | Teacher |
Gordon Douglas Balser (February 24, 1954 – April 10, 2024) was a Canadian educator and politician in Nova Scotia. He represented Digby-Annapolis in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1998 to 2003 as a Progressive Conservative member.
Balser was born on February 24, 1954. He grew up on a farm in Digby, Nova Scotia. He had four brothers and a sister. He attended Acadia University, where he received a BBA, BEd and a Masters in Education. [1]
Balser was a teacher, teaching principal and acting superintendent of schools for the Digby district. During his education career, he was a teacher and principal at both Barton Consolidated School and Digby Elementary School, as well as superintendent of schools for the Tri-County Area. In the summer, he worked as a carpenter for over 30 years. [1] [2]
Balser entered provincial politics in the 1998 election, defeating Liberal John Drish by 233 votes in the Digby-Annapolis riding. [3] He was re-elected in the 1999 election by over 2,200 votes. [4] In August 1999, he was appointed to the Executive Council of Nova Scotia as Minister of Economic Development and Minister of Transportation and Public Works. [5] [6] In December 1999, the Transportation and Public Works portfolio was transferred to Ron Russell. [7] In June 2002, Balser was shuffled to Minister of Energy. [8] On December 19, 2002, premier John Hamm shuffled his cabinet, moving Balser to Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, and Minister of the Public Service Commission. [9] In the 2003 election, Balser was defeated by Liberal Harold Theriault. [10] [11] Balser's loss was attributed to his support for a local quarrying project that Theriault had opposed. [12]
In 1981, he married Wendy Suzanne Moore. His daughter Jill Balser was elected to the legislature to represent Digby-Annapolis in the 2021 Nova Scotia general election. [13] In 2021, she became Nova Scotia's Minister of Labour, Skills and Immigration, as well as Minister responsible for Apprenticeship. [2] [14] He also had two other daughters, Erin and Anne. [2] In 2002, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal. [15]
Balser died on April 10, 2024, at the age of 70. [1] [15]