George Mihalcheon
Encyclopedia
George M. Mihalcheon was a provincial politician farmer, teacher and shopkeeper from Alberta
, Canada
. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
from 1926 to 1930 sitting with the United Farmers caucus in government.
an area now comprising present day Romania
. He moved to Alberta with his family in 1901 to the town of Harry Hill
, Alberta
. He graduated normal school in 1918 and became a teacher at Boian school in the town of Boian
, Alberta. He married Mary Lutzak.
. He defeated incumbent United Farmers MLA Mike Chornohus
and two other contenders to run for the party in the 1926 Alberta general election
.
The election was hotly contested between five candidates. Mihalcheon won over 50% of the popular vote on the first count to hold the district for his party. Among the four candidates he defeated was former MLA Andrew Shandro
who finished in second place. Michalcheon became the first Alberta MLA of Romanian origin. His multilingual abilities of English, Ukrainian and Romanian are credited with helping him win the election.
Mihalcheon retired from provincial politics at dissolution of the Assembly in 1930. He retired when the Whitford Association asked him to step down fearing that his Romanian heritage might cause the party to lose the district.
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...
from 1926 to 1930 sitting with the United Farmers caucus in government.
Early life
George M. Mihalcheon was born in 1893 in Boian, BukovinaBukovina
Bukovina is a historical region on the northern slopes of the northeastern Carpathian Mountains and the adjoining plains.-Name:The name Bukovina came into official use in 1775 with the region's annexation from the Principality of Moldavia to the possessions of the Habsburg Monarchy, which became...
an area now comprising present day Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
. He moved to Alberta with his family in 1901 to the town of Harry Hill
Hairy Hill, Alberta
Hairy Hill is a hamlet in Alberta, Canada within the County of Two Hills No. 21. It is located on Highway 45, approximately east of Edmonton.- References :...
, 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...
. He graduated normal school in 1918 and became a teacher at Boian school in the town of Boian
Boian, Alberta
Boian, is an unincorporated community in Alberta, Canada. It is located in the floodplain of the North Saskatchewan River, 6 km east of Willingdon, in Two Hills County...
, Alberta. He married Mary Lutzak.
Political career
Mihalcheon ran for the United Farmers nomination in the electoral district of WhitfordWhitford (provincial electoral district)
Whitford was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. The district was created in 1913 out of the south west part of the Pakan district and the north part of Vegreville.In 1940 the district was split between Redwater, Willingdon and Vegreville....
. He defeated incumbent United Farmers MLA Mike Chornohus
Mike Chornohus
Mike Chornohus was a farmer and a provincial politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1922 to 1926 sitting with the United Farmers caucus in government.-Election and court action:...
and two other contenders to run for the party in the 1926 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1926
The Alberta general election of 1926 was the sixth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 28, 1926 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. The writs of election were issued on May 10, 1926 allowing for an election period of 40 days.After Herbert...
.
The election was hotly contested between five candidates. Mihalcheon won over 50% of the popular vote on the first count to hold the district for his party. Among the four candidates he defeated was former MLA Andrew Shandro
Andrew Shandro
Andrew Shandro is a professional mountain biker. Shandro has starred in many films and featured in mountain bike magazines worldwide. The majority of Shandro's pictures are taken by his close friend Sterling Lawrence. Andrew was born and raised on the North Shore, British Columbia...
who finished in second place. Michalcheon became the first Alberta MLA of Romanian origin. His multilingual abilities of English, Ukrainian and Romanian are credited with helping him win the election.
Mihalcheon retired from provincial politics at dissolution of the Assembly in 1930. He retired when the Whitford Association asked him to step down fearing that his Romanian heritage might cause the party to lose the district.