Elmer Borstad
Encyclopedia
Elmer Elsworth Borstad is a retired municipal and provincial level politician, pipe-fitter, farmer, sailor and entrepreneur from Alberta
, Canada
. He served as an Alderman and Mayor for the city of Grande Prairie, Alberta
and later served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
from 1979 to 1982 sitting with the governing Progressive Conservative caucus.
and saw active duty on the HMCS Gatineau and the HMCS Sioux
until 1945.
After the war Borstad moved to Grande Prairie and became a surveyor until 1953 when he help found a trucking business with other members of his family. After the trucking company was sold Borstad got into the welding supply business in 1972. He served as President of the Grande Prairie Chamber of commerce in 1979.
. Borstad was elected as an Alderman for the first time in 1963 and he became mayor of the city in 1968.
Borstad was also active in provincial politics. He joined the Progressive Conservatives
and became President of the Grande Prairie electoral district. Borstad ran for a seat to the provincial legislature in the 1979 Alberta general election
. He won a large majority to hold the district for the Progressive Conservatives. He retired from provincial politics and decided to return to his family business after the legislature dissolved in 1982.
to retire. He returned to Grande Prairie in 1997 and continued his public service by becoming Chairman of the QEII Hospital foundation where he successfully campaigned and raised funds for an MRI Machine. He also worked as a fundraiser for Grande Prairie Regional College and was awarded the Alumni/Foundation Volunteer Award by the college in 2004 for his half century of service to the city. He recently served on the 50th Anniversary Committee for the city in 2008.
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 an Alderman and Mayor for the city of Grande Prairie, 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...
and later 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...
from 1979 to 1982 sitting with the governing Progressive Conservative caucus.
Early life
Elmer Elsworth Borstad was born on a farm in the Ross Creek area near Elk Island National Park, Alberta in 1924. His first job was working as a caretaker for the nearby school. He started working on a pipeline. In 1942 he joined the Royal Canadian NavyRoyal Canadian Navy
The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
and saw active duty on the HMCS Gatineau and the HMCS Sioux
HMCS Sioux (R64)
HMCS Sioux was a V class destroyer of the Royal Canadian Navy that saw service in World War II.She was launched as HMS Vixen for the British Royal Navy...
until 1945.
After the war Borstad moved to Grande Prairie and became a surveyor until 1953 when he help found a trucking business with other members of his family. After the trucking company was sold Borstad got into the welding supply business in 1972. He served as President of the Grande Prairie Chamber of commerce in 1979.
Political career
Borstad began his political and public service career on the municipal level serving on the police and economic development commissions for the city of Grande Prairie, AlbertaAlberta
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...
. Borstad was elected as an Alderman for the first time in 1963 and he became mayor of the city in 1968.
Borstad was also active in provincial politics. He joined the Progressive Conservatives
Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta
The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta is a provincial centre-right party in the Canadian province of Alberta...
and became President of the Grande Prairie electoral district. Borstad ran for a seat to the provincial legislature in the 1979 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1979
The Alberta general election of 1979 was the nineteenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on March 14, 1979 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. He won a large majority to hold the district for the Progressive Conservatives. He retired from provincial politics and decided to return to his family business after the legislature dissolved in 1982.
Late life
After leaving provincial politics Borstad worked until 1985 before moving to British ColumbiaBritish Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
to retire. He returned to Grande Prairie in 1997 and continued his public service by becoming Chairman of the QEII Hospital foundation where he successfully campaigned and raised funds for an MRI Machine. He also worked as a fundraiser for Grande Prairie Regional College and was awarded the Alumni/Foundation Volunteer Award by the college in 2004 for his half century of service to the city. He recently served on the 50th Anniversary Committee for the city in 2008.