Bev Koester
Encyclopedia
Charles Beverley Koester, (January 13, 1926 – February 1, 1998) was a Canadian
naval officer, civil servant and Clerk of the Canadian House of Commons
.
Born in Regina, Saskatchewan
, he graduated from the Royal Canadian Naval College at Royal Roads, British Columbia in 1944. He served during the Second World War in Scotland
, and in 1945 was involved in the liberation of Oslo
and Copenhagen
. He stayed in the Navy until 1960, retiring as a Lieutenant Commander
. He attended the University of Saskatchewan
and the University of Alberta
and taught history at the University of Regina
, later becoming head of the history department. He was the author of Footprints in Time – Saskatchewan (House of Grant, Canada, 1965); Mr. Davin MP (Western Producer Prairie Books, 1980); The Measure of the Man (Western Producer Prairie Books, 1976) and the editor of Bourinot's Rules of Order, a handbook on Canadian parliamentary procedure.
From 1960 to 1969, he was an officer of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
as a Clerk Assistant and a Clerk. From 1969 to 1975 he taught history at the University of Regina. In 1975, he became Clerk Assistant at the Canadian House of Commons and was appointed Clerk in 1980. He was the first clerk of the Canadian House of Commons who was a career civil servant. During his time as clerk, television cameras were introduced into the House of Commons. He retired in 1987. He also served twice as temporary senior Clerk of the British House of Commons
, becoming the first clerk from a Commonwealth country to serve as clerk in Britain.
In 1989, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
.
He died in Kingston, Ontario
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
naval officer, civil servant and Clerk of the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
.
Born in Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
, he graduated from the Royal Canadian Naval College at Royal Roads, British Columbia in 1944. He served during the Second World War in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and in 1945 was involved in the liberation of Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
and Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
. He stayed in the Navy until 1960, retiring as a Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
. He attended the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
and the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
and taught history at the University of Regina
University of Regina
The University of Regina is a public research university located in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Founded in 1911 as a private denominational high school of the Methodist Church of Canada, it began an association with the University of Saskatchewan as a junior college in 1925, and was disaffiliated...
, later becoming head of the history department. He was the author of Footprints in Time – Saskatchewan (House of Grant, Canada, 1965); Mr. Davin MP (Western Producer Prairie Books, 1980); The Measure of the Man (Western Producer Prairie Books, 1976) and the editor of Bourinot's Rules of Order, a handbook on Canadian parliamentary procedure.
From 1960 to 1969, he was an officer of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
The 25th Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan was in power from 2003 until November 20, 2007. It was controlled by the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party under premier Lorne Calvert.-Members:-By-elections:...
as a Clerk Assistant and a Clerk. From 1969 to 1975 he taught history at the University of Regina. In 1975, he became Clerk Assistant at the Canadian House of Commons and was appointed Clerk in 1980. He was the first clerk of the Canadian House of Commons who was a career civil servant. During his time as clerk, television cameras were introduced into the House of Commons. He retired in 1987. He also served twice as temporary senior Clerk of the British House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
, becoming the first clerk from a Commonwealth country to serve as clerk in Britain.
In 1989, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
.
He died in Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
.