Gerard Jennissen
Encyclopedia
Gerard Jennissen is a politician in Manitoba
, Canada
. He is currently a member of the Manitoba legislature.
Jennissen was born in Slek-Echt, in the district of Limburg in the Netherlands
. His family emigrated to Selnac, Saskatchewan
in 1952, where his father worked as a farmer. Jennissen graduated from the University of Saskatchewan
in 1966 with degrees in Arts and Education, and received a Master of Arts
degree in Communication in 1969. He taught English at Rose Valley High School in Saskatchewan for three years, and worked for Frontier Collegiate Institute
from 1972 to 1994. He has also been involved in several peace and justice organizations operating in the third world.
Jennissen became involved in the New Democratic Party
in the early 1960s, after hearing Tommy Douglas
speak in Saskatchewan. He continued his NDP affiliation after moving to Manitoba.
In the 1995 election
, Jennissen was elected to the Manitoba Legislature for the northern Manitoba constituency of Flin Flon
, defeating Progressive Conservative
Scott Merrell, 2732 votes to 2017. Also in 1995, he supported Lorne Nystrom
's bid to lead the federal New Democratic Party
.
He was re-elected by a wider margin in the 1999 election
, and received over 73% support in the 2003 election
. Jennissen was the NDP critic for Highways and Transportation between 1995 and 1999, but was not appointed to cabinet when the NDP formed government in 1999.
In 2000, he was appointed to the Manitoba Hydro
Board. In 2003, he supported Bill Blaikie
's campaign to lead the federal NDP.
He was re-elected in the 2007 provincial election
.
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, 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 is currently a member of the Manitoba legislature.
Jennissen was born in Slek-Echt, in the district of Limburg in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. His family emigrated to Selnac, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
in 1952, where his father worked as a farmer. Jennissen graduated from 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...
in 1966 with degrees in Arts and Education, and received a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree in Communication in 1969. He taught English at Rose Valley High School in Saskatchewan for three years, and worked for Frontier Collegiate Institute
Frontier School Division
Frontier School Division is the largest geographical school division in Manitoba, Canada, covering most schools in northern Manitoba. With 41 schools operating across Manitoba, the Frontier School Division provides educational services to a larger geographical area than any other school division in...
from 1972 to 1994. He has also been involved in several peace and justice organizations operating in the third world.
Jennissen became involved in the New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
in the early 1960s, after hearing Tommy Douglas
Tommy Douglas
Thomas Clement "Tommy" Douglas, was a Scottish-born Baptist minister who became a prominent Canadian social democratic politician...
speak in Saskatchewan. He continued his NDP affiliation after moving to Manitoba.
In the 1995 election
Manitoba general election, 1995
The Manitoba general election of April 25,1995 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservative Party, which won 31 seats out of 57...
, Jennissen was elected to the Manitoba Legislature for the northern Manitoba constituency of Flin Flon
Flin Flon (electoral district)
Flin Flon is a provincial electoral division in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was created by redistribution in 1957, and has formally existed since the provincial election of 1958....
, defeating Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba is the only right wing political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is also the official opposition party in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.-Origins and early years:...
Scott Merrell, 2732 votes to 2017. Also in 1995, he supported Lorne Nystrom
Lorne Nystrom
Lorne Edmund Nystrom, PC a Canadian politician, was a member of the Canadian House of Commons from 1968 to 1993 when he lost his reelection bid. He returned to parliament in 1997 and served until 2004...
's bid to lead the federal New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
.
He was re-elected by a wider margin in the 1999 election
Manitoba general election, 1999
The Manitoba general election of September 21, 1999 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada....
, and received over 73% support in the 2003 election
Manitoba general election, 2003
The Manitoba general election held on June 3, 2003 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the New Democratic Party, which won 35 seats out of 57. The Progressive Conservative Party finished second with twenty seats...
. Jennissen was the NDP critic for Highways and Transportation between 1995 and 1999, but was not appointed to cabinet when the NDP formed government in 1999.
In 2000, he was appointed to the Manitoba Hydro
Manitoba Hydro
Manitoba Hydro is the electric power and natural gas utility in the province of Manitoba, Canada. Founded in 1961, it is a provincial Crown Corporation, governed by the Manitoba Hydro-Electric Board and the Manitoba Hydro Act. Today the company operates 15 interconnected generating stations. It has...
Board. In 2003, he supported Bill Blaikie
Bill Blaikie
William Alexander "Bill" Blaikie, PC is a Canadian politician. He has been a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba since April 2009, representing the Winnipeg division of Elmwood as a member of the New Democratic Party of Manitoba, and Minister of Conservation and Government House Leader...
's campaign to lead the federal NDP.
He was re-elected in the 2007 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 2007
The Manitoba general election held on May 22, 2007 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the New Democratic Party, which won 36 seats out of 57. The Progressive Conservative Party finished second with nineteen seats. The Liberal...
.