Jim Horsman
Encyclopedia
James "Jim" Deverell Horsman, (born July 29, 1935) is a former provincial level politician from Alberta
, Canada
. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
from 1975 to 1993. During his time in public office he also served numerous cabinet portfolios in the Government of Alberta.
, Alberta
in 1935. He grew up in Meeting Creek
with higrandparents while his mother and father served overseas in World War II
. His family later moved east to Moose Jaw
, Saskatchewan
. Horsman moved west in the 1950s to study at the University of British Columbia
.
At UBC, Horsman attained a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1959 and a year later attained a law degree. After University Horsman moved back east to Calgary
to start practicing law, he moved to Medicine Hat a short time later after visiting family and meeting a potential law partner. After moving to Medicine Hat he met Betty Whitney, a local High School teacher. Horsman married her in 1964. They have three daughters.
in the early 1960s. He served on the party's executive council as Vice President for Southern Alberta before running for political office.
Horsman ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature as a Progressive Conservative candidate in the Medicine Hat
electoral district for the 1967 Alberta general election
. He was defeated finishing second to Social Credit incumbent MLA Harry Leinweber
. Horseman ran for office a second time in the new Medicine Hat-Redcliff electoral district for the 1971 Alberta general election
. He was again defeated, this time by Social Credit candidate William Wyse
.
Horsman was successful on his third attempt for public office. He ran against Wyse for the second time in the 1975 Alberta general election
, this time defeating him. The race was closely contested, with Horsman defeating Wyse by a 100 vote margin. In 1979 Medicine Hat-Redcliff electoral district was abolished due to redistribution, the old Medicine Hat electoral district was reconstituted. Horsman ran for re-election in the general election
held that year. He won the election with a super majority as the second place candidate finished almost 8000 votes behind. Horsman would increase his sizable majority winning another big plurality in the 1982 general election
.
Horsman would see his popular vote drop in half in his bid for a fourth term in office in the 1986 general election
. He would still win Medicine Hat comfortably as there was little growth in the vote from opposition candidates. He ran for his fifth and final term in the 1989 general election
. His popular vote dropped marginally from his total in 1989, but he still won his district handily. Horsman retired at dissolution of the Assembly in 1993.
. Horsman continued to serve on numerous other boards. On April 6, 2006 Horsman was appointed to the Order of Canada
.
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 1975 to 1993. During his time in public office he also served numerous cabinet portfolios in the Government of Alberta.
Early life
James Deverell Horsman was born in CamroseCamrose, Alberta
Camrose is a city in central Alberta, Canada, amid some of the richest farmland in the prairies. It is a relatively small city which originally grew up along a railroad and now grows along Highway 13. Camrose is a scenic community with many parks, leading to its moniker "The Rose City"...
, 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...
in 1935. He grew up in Meeting Creek
Meeting Creek, Alberta
Meeting Creek is a hamlet in central Alberta, Canada within Camrose County, located west of Highway 56, approximately south of Camrose.- Demographics :The population of Meeting Creek according to Camrose County's 2008 municipal census is 30....
with higrandparents while his mother and father served overseas in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. His family later moved east to Moose Jaw
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
Moose Jaw is a city in south-central Saskatchewan, Canada on the Moose Jaw River. It is situated on the Trans-Canada Highway, west of Regina. Residents of Moose Jaw are known as Moose Javians. It is best known as a retirement and tourist city that serves as a hub to the hundreds of small towns...
, 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....
. Horsman moved west in the 1950s to study at the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
.
At UBC, Horsman attained a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1959 and a year later attained a law degree. After University Horsman moved back east to 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...
to start practicing law, he moved to Medicine Hat a short time later after visiting family and meeting a potential law partner. After moving to Medicine Hat he met Betty Whitney, a local High School teacher. Horsman married her in 1964. They have three daughters.
Political career
Horsman became involved in the Alberta Progressive ConservativesProgressive Conservative Association of Alberta
The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta is a provincial centre-right party in the Canadian province of Alberta...
in the early 1960s. He served on the party's executive council as Vice President for Southern Alberta before running for political office.
Horsman ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature as a Progressive Conservative candidate in the Medicine Hat
Medicine Hat (provincial electoral district)
Medicine Hat is an Albertan provincial electoral district, covering most of the city of Medicine Hat.Under the Alberta electoral boundary re-distribution of 2004, the constituency covers the portion of the city north of the South Saskatchewan River, the Trans-Canada Highway and Carry Drive...
electoral district for the 1967 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1967
The Alberta general election of 1967 was the sixteenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on May 23, 1967 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. He was defeated finishing second to Social Credit incumbent MLA Harry Leinweber
Harry Leinweber
Harry C. Leinweber is a former insurance underwriter and a municipal and provincial level politician from Alberta, Canada...
. Horseman ran for office a second time in the new Medicine Hat-Redcliff electoral district for the 1971 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1971
The Alberta general election of 1971 was the seventeenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on August 30, 1971 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. He was again defeated, this time by Social Credit candidate William Wyse
William Wyse (politician)
William "Bill" Russell Wyse was a provincial politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1971 to 1975 sitting with the Social Credit caucus in opposition.-Political career:...
.
Horsman was successful on his third attempt for public office. He ran against Wyse for the second time in the 1975 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1975
The Alberta general election of 1975 was the eighteenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on March 25, 1975 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
, this time defeating him. The race was closely contested, with Horsman defeating Wyse by a 100 vote margin. In 1979 Medicine Hat-Redcliff electoral district was abolished due to redistribution, the old Medicine Hat electoral district was reconstituted. Horsman ran for re-election in the 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....
held that year. He won the election with a super majority as the second place candidate finished almost 8000 votes behind. Horsman would increase his sizable majority winning another big plurality in the 1982 general election
Alberta general election, 1982
The Alberta general election of 1982 was the twentieth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on November 2, 1982 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
.
Horsman would see his popular vote drop in half in his bid for a fourth term in office in the 1986 general election
Alberta general election, 1986
The Alberta general election of 1986 was the twenty-first general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on May 8, 1986 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. He would still win Medicine Hat comfortably as there was little growth in the vote from opposition candidates. He ran for his fifth and final term in the 1989 general election
Alberta general election, 1989
The Alberta general election of 1989 was the twenty-second general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on March 20, 1989 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. His popular vote dropped marginally from his total in 1989, but he still won his district handily. Horsman retired at dissolution of the Assembly in 1993.
Late life
After leaving political office, Horsman became Alberta's chief NAFTA negotiator. He later served as chancellor for the University of LethbridgeUniversity of Lethbridge
The University of Lethbridge is a publicly-funded comprehensive academic and research university, founded in the liberal education tradition, located in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, with two other urban campuses in Calgary and Edmonton. The main building sits among the coulees on the west side of...
. Horsman continued to serve on numerous other boards. On April 6, 2006 Horsman was appointed to 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...
.