Douglas Harkness
Encyclopedia
Douglas Scott Harkness, PC
, OC
, GM
, ED
(March 29, 1903 – May 2, 1999), was a Canadian
politician, teacher, farmer and former Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Canadian Artillery.
He was born in Toronto, Ontario and moved to Calgary, Alberta in 1929. He graduated from the University of Alberta
, then farmed and taught school in the vicinity of Red Deer
. He taught at Crescent Heights High School until 1939.
He fought during the Second World War and in 1943 was awarded the George Medal
for "courage, gallantry and devotion to a duty of a high order" while commanding troops during the Sicilian campaign.
In 1945, he was elected to the House of Commons for the constituency of Calgary East and held various ministerial positions under the government of John Diefenbaker
. He was sworn into the Queen's Privy Council for Canada
on June 21, 1957.
He lived in Calgary
until his death in 1999.
In 1978 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
. The Douglas Harkness Community School in Calgary is named in his honour.
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
, OC
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...
, GM
George Medal
The George Medal is the second level civil decoration of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth.The GM was instituted on 24 September 1940 by King George VI. At this time, during the height of The Blitz, there was a strong desire to reward the many acts of civilian courage...
, ED
Canadian Efficiency Decoration
The Canadian Efficiency Decoration was a Canadian military award given to officers of the non-permanent active militia, RCAF Auxiliary and Reserve who completed twenty years of meritorious military service. Similar Efficiency Decorations were also awarded by other Commonwealth countries. A bar...
(March 29, 1903 – May 2, 1999), was a Canadian
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...
politician, teacher, farmer and former Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Canadian Artillery.
He was born in Toronto, Ontario and moved to Calgary, Alberta in 1929. He graduated from 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...
, then farmed and taught school in the vicinity of Red Deer
Red Deer, Alberta
Red Deer is a city in Central Alberta, Canada. It is located near the midpoint of the Calgary-Edmonton Corridor and is surrounded by Red Deer County. It is Alberta's third-most-populous city – after Calgary and Edmonton. The city is located in aspen parkland, a region of rolling hills...
. He taught at Crescent Heights High School until 1939.
He fought during the Second World War and in 1943 was awarded the George Medal
George Medal
The George Medal is the second level civil decoration of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth.The GM was instituted on 24 September 1940 by King George VI. At this time, during the height of The Blitz, there was a strong desire to reward the many acts of civilian courage...
for "courage, gallantry and devotion to a duty of a high order" while commanding troops during the Sicilian campaign.
In 1945, he was elected to the House of Commons for the constituency of Calgary East and held various ministerial positions under the government of John Diefenbaker
John Diefenbaker
John George Diefenbaker, PC, CH, QC was the 13th Prime Minister of Canada, serving from June 21, 1957, to April 22, 1963...
. He was sworn into the Queen's Privy Council for Canada
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
on June 21, 1957.
He lived in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
until his death in 1999.
In 1978 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...
. The Douglas Harkness Community School in Calgary is named in his honour.
Parliamentary functions
- Minister of AgricultureMinister of Agriculture (Canada)The Minister of Agriculture is a Minister of the Crown in the Cabinet of Canada, who is responsible for overseeing several organizations including Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canadian Dairy Commission, Farm Credit Canada, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, National Farm Products Council and...
(Acting), (1957.06.21 - 1957.08.06) - Minister of Northern Affairs and National ResourcesMinister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (Canada)The Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who heads two different departments...
, (1957.06.21 - 1957.08.18) - Minister of Agriculture, (1957.08.07 - 1960.10.10)
- Minister of National DefenceMinister of National Defence (Canada)The Minister of National Defence is a Minister of the Crown; the Canadian politician within the Cabinet of Canada responsible for the Department of National Defence which oversees the Canadian Forces....
, (1960.10.11 - 1963.02.03)
External links
- Douglas Scott Harkness at The Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian Encyclopedia is a source of information on Canada. It is available online, at no cost. The Canadian Encyclopedia is available in both English and French and includes some 14,000 articles in each language on a wide variety of subjects including history, popular culture, events, people,...