Horst Schmid
Encyclopedia
Horst Adolph Louis Charles Schmid (born April 29, 1933) is a former provincial level politician, miner, accountant and current businessman from Alberta
, Canada
. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
sitting with the governing Progressive Conservative party from 1971 to 1986. During his time in office he served numerous ministerial portfolio's in the Executive Council of Alberta
.
, Germany. He emigrated to Canada, moving up to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
to work as a miner in 1952. He moved to Edmonton
, Alberta
in 1956. After arriving from the North, Schmid went to the University of Toronto
to take numerous courses.
In the late 1960s, Schmid ran a restaurant in Edmonton called the Hofbräuhaus, after the original
in Munich. At that time, he also founded a Bavarian folk dance Schuhplattler
group, the Bavarian Schuhplattlers of Edmonton
, still active today.
. He won a hotly contested race in the new electoral district of Edmonton-Avonmore to pick up the seat for the Progressive Conservatives. His win would help that party form government in the election. The vote ended up being a close two way race between Schmid and incumbent Social Credit MLA Gerrit Radstaak
. Two other candidates rounded out the field. Schmid became the first Canadian post World War II immigrant elected to a legislature in Canada.
After the election Premier Peter Lougheed
appointed Schmid to his first portfolio on the Executive Council of Alberta. He became Minister of Culture, Youth and Recreation. Schmid would run for a second term in the 1975 Alberta general election
. Him and Raadstack would face each other for the second time. With incumbent ministerial advantage Schmid saw a significant gain in his popular vote while the opposition candidates collapsed. He would be returned to his second term easily.
Premier Lougheed split up Schmid's portfolios and he became the Minister of Government Services and Culture. His bid for a third term would see another significant popular vote increase. Schmid managed the second best popular vote of his career despite seeing some gains by the opposition candidates. He still easily won his third term in office. After the election Lougheed dropped Schmid to Associate Minister status. He was given the junior portfolio of Minister of State for Economic Development - International Trade.
Schmid ran for his fourth term in office in the 1982 Alberta general election
. He won the highest popular vote of his career. His margin of victory however was reduced as NDP candidate Kathy Wright heavily challenged Schmid to retain his seat. Lougheed would upgrade Schmid to be the Minister of International Trade. He served that portfolio until November 1985 when Don Getty
who became the new premier that year appointed him Minister of Tourism.
Schmid would attempt to run for a fifth term in office in the 1986 Alberta general election
. He would be defeated in a really close race by New Democrat candidate Marie Laing. Schmid would not return to provincial politics after his electoral defeat.
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
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...
. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
Legislative Assembly of Alberta
The Legislative Assembly of Alberta is one of two components of the Legislature of Alberta, the other being the Queen, represented by the Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta. The Alberta legislature meets in the Alberta Legislature Building in the provincial capital, Edmonton...
sitting with the governing Progressive Conservative party from 1971 to 1986. During his time in office he served numerous ministerial portfolio's in the Executive Council of Alberta
Executive Council of Alberta
The Executive Council of Alberta is the cabinet of that Canadian province.Almost always made up of members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, the Cabinet is similar in structure and role to the Cabinet of Canada while being smaller in size...
.
Early life
Horst Schmid was born in MunichMunich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, Germany. He emigrated to Canada, moving up to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
to work as a miner in 1952. He moved to Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
in 1956. After arriving from the North, Schmid went to the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
to take numerous courses.
In the late 1960s, Schmid ran a restaurant in Edmonton called the Hofbräuhaus, after the original
Hofbräuhaus
The Staatliches Hofbräuhaus in München is a brewery in Munich, Germany, owned by the Bavarian state government...
in Munich. At that time, he also founded a Bavarian folk dance Schuhplattler
Schuhplattler
The Schuhplattler is a traditional Austro-Bavarian folk dance evolved from the Ländler.-Origins:The origins of this social dance are found in an early courtship display...
group, the Bavarian Schuhplattlers of Edmonton
Bavarian Schuhplattlers of Edmonton
The Bavarian Schuhplattlers of Edmonton preserve the German and Austrian tradition of folk-dancing and also provide an atmosphere of fun and Gemütlichkeit for their members...
, still active today.
Political career
Schmid ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature for the first time in the 1971 Alberta general electionAlberta general election, 1971
The Alberta general election of 1971 was the seventeenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on August 30, 1971 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. He won a hotly contested race in the new electoral district of Edmonton-Avonmore to pick up the seat for the Progressive Conservatives. His win would help that party form government in the election. The vote ended up being a close two way race between Schmid and incumbent Social Credit MLA Gerrit Radstaak
Gerrit Radstaak
Gerrit Joseph Radstaak was a provincial politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1967 to 1971 sitting with the Social Credit caucus in government.-Political career:...
. Two other candidates rounded out the field. Schmid became the first Canadian post World War II immigrant elected to a legislature in Canada.
After the election Premier Peter Lougheed
Peter Lougheed
Edgar Peter Lougheed, PC, CC, AOE, QC, is a Canadian lawyer, and a former politician and Canadian Football League player. He served as the tenth Premier of Alberta from 1971 to 1985....
appointed Schmid to his first portfolio on the Executive Council of Alberta. He became Minister of Culture, Youth and Recreation. Schmid would run for a second term in the 1975 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1975
The Alberta general election of 1975 was the eighteenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on March 25, 1975 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. Him and Raadstack would face each other for the second time. With incumbent ministerial advantage Schmid saw a significant gain in his popular vote while the opposition candidates collapsed. He would be returned to his second term easily.
Premier Lougheed split up Schmid's portfolios and he became the Minister of Government Services and Culture. His bid for a third term would see another significant popular vote increase. Schmid managed the second best popular vote of his career despite seeing some gains by the opposition candidates. He still easily won his third term in office. After the election Lougheed dropped Schmid to Associate Minister status. He was given the junior portfolio of Minister of State for Economic Development - International Trade.
Schmid ran for his fourth term in office in the 1982 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1982
The Alberta general election of 1982 was the twentieth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on November 2, 1982 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. He won the highest popular vote of his career. His margin of victory however was reduced as NDP candidate Kathy Wright heavily challenged Schmid to retain his seat. Lougheed would upgrade Schmid to be the Minister of International Trade. He served that portfolio until November 1985 when Don Getty
Don Getty
Donald Ross Getty, OC, AOE is a retired Canadian politician who served as the 11th Premier of Alberta between 1985 and 1992. A member of the Progressive Conservatives, he served as Energy Minister and Federal and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister in the government of Peter Lougheed before...
who became the new premier that year appointed him Minister of Tourism.
Schmid would attempt to run for a fifth term in office in the 1986 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1986
The Alberta general election of 1986 was the twenty-first general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on May 8, 1986 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. He would be defeated in a really close race by New Democrat candidate Marie Laing. Schmid would not return to provincial politics after his electoral defeat.