Jack Wiebe
Encyclopedia
John E. N. "Jack" Wiebe, (May 31, 1936 – April 16, 2007) was a Canadian
farmer and politician. He served as a provincial politician, the 18th Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan
and also as a Senator
.
Born in Herbert, Saskatchewan
, Wiebe graduated from the University of Saskatchewan
after which he founded a major farming operation in Main Centre
and was ownder and president of L&W Feeders Ltd. from 1970 to 1985.
He was a third generation resident of Herbert. His great grandfather, Jacob Wiebe, a German-Russian Mennonite, emigrated from Russia
to Kansas
in 1874. His grandfather, John F.D. Wiebe, settled in Saskatchewan in 1905 and became Herbert's first mayor when the community was incorporated as a township in 1912. His father, Herbert Wiebe, was elected mayor in 1928 and held the post until 1954.
He was elected as a Liberal
in a 1971 by-election as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
for the constituency of Morse. He was re-elected in 1975
and retired from the legislature in 1978.
From 1994 to 2000, he was Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan
, carrying out such duties as reading the Speech from the Throne
, swearing in premiers and Cabinet ministers, opening legislative sessions, and bestowing honours upon Saskatchewan citizens.
In 2000, he was appointed by Jean Chrétien
to the Senate representing the senatorial division of Saskatchewan. It was highly unusual for a former vice-regal representative to return to party politics so quickly. He sat as a federal Liberal
and resigned in 2004, seven years before the mandatory retirement age, for family reasons.
Upon his retirement, Wiebe volunteered his time with the Dr. Noble Irwin Regional Healthcare Foundation, helping to raise millions of dollars to furnish the new regional hospital in Swift Current, Saskatchewan
.
Wiebe died on April 16, 2007, aged 71, following a battle with lung cancer
. A state memorial service was held on April 24 in Swift Current.
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...
farmer and politician. He served as a provincial politician, the 18th Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan
Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan
The Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan is the viceregal representative in Saskatchewan of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her oldest realm, the...
and also as a Senator
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
.
Born in Herbert, Saskatchewan
Herbert, Saskatchewan
-External links:* http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/pm.php?id=story_line&lg=English&fl=&ex=00000155&sl=2346&pos=1* http://www.townofherbertsk.ca/herbert/index.html...
, Wiebe 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...
after which he founded a major farming operation in Main Centre
Main Centre, Saskatchewan
Main Centre is a hamlet in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Listed as a designated place by Statistics Canada, the hamlet had a reported population of zero in the Canada 2006 Census, down from five in 2001....
and was ownder and president of L&W Feeders Ltd. from 1970 to 1985.
He was a third generation resident of Herbert. His great grandfather, Jacob Wiebe, a German-Russian Mennonite, emigrated from Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
to Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
in 1874. His grandfather, John F.D. Wiebe, settled in Saskatchewan in 1905 and became Herbert's first mayor when the community was incorporated as a township in 1912. His father, Herbert Wiebe, was elected mayor in 1928 and held the post until 1954.
He was elected as a Liberal
Saskatchewan Liberal Party
The Saskatchewan Liberal Party is a liberal political party in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.-Early history :The party dominated Saskatchewan politics for the province's first forty years providing six of the first seven Premiers, and being in power for all but five of the years between the...
in a 1971 by-election as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
The 25th Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan was in power from 2003 until November 20, 2007. It was controlled by the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party under premier Lorne Calvert.-Members:-By-elections:...
for the constituency of Morse. He was re-elected in 1975
Saskatchewan general election, 1975
The Saskatchewan general election of 1975 was the eighteenth provincial election held in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It was held on June 11, 1975, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan...
and retired from the legislature in 1978.
From 1994 to 2000, he was Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan
Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan
The Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan is the viceregal representative in Saskatchewan of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her oldest realm, the...
, carrying out such duties as reading the Speech from the Throne
Speech from the Throne
A speech from the throne is an event in certain monarchies in which the reigning sovereign reads a prepared speech to a complete session of parliament, outlining the government's agenda for the coming session...
, swearing in premiers and Cabinet ministers, opening legislative sessions, and bestowing honours upon Saskatchewan citizens.
In 2000, he was appointed by Jean Chrétien
Jean Chrétien
Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien , known commonly as Jean Chrétien is a former Canadian politician who was the 20th Prime Minister of Canada. He served in the position for over ten years, from November 4, 1993 to December 12, 2003....
to the Senate representing the senatorial division of Saskatchewan. It was highly unusual for a former vice-regal representative to return to party politics so quickly. He sat as a federal Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
and resigned in 2004, seven years before the mandatory retirement age, for family reasons.
Upon his retirement, Wiebe volunteered his time with the Dr. Noble Irwin Regional Healthcare Foundation, helping to raise millions of dollars to furnish the new regional hospital in Swift Current, Saskatchewan
Swift Current, Saskatchewan
Swift Current is a small city in southwest Saskatchewan. It is situated along the Trans Canada Highway west from Moose Jaw, and east from Medicine Hat, Alberta. Swift Current grew 0.8% between 2001 and 2006 ending up at 14,946 residents. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Swift...
.
Wiebe died on April 16, 2007, aged 71, following a battle with lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
. A state memorial service was held on April 24 in Swift Current.
External links
- Wiebe, John E.N. (1936–2007), Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan
- Jack Wiebe Family History Faspa Country: A Herbert Story