John Dahmer
Encyclopedia
John Roderick Dahmer was elected a member of the Canadian House of Commons in 1988. His background was in education. A school teacher, guidance councelor, principal, and later involved in adult education, correctional education and vocational training as a director at Lakeland College
.
He was elected in the 1988 federal election
at the Beaver River electoral district
for the Progressive Conservative party
; however, he was terminally stricken with pancreatic cancer
and never saw the first day of the 34th Canadian Parliament
.
Dahmer had entered Edmonton
's Royal Alexandra Hospital on October 28, 1988, after suffering symptoms similar to adult onset type two diabetes
, but the extent of his condition was not widely known until after election night. However, by the time cancer was discovered it was after the official deadline to withdraw from the general election, and at that point it was not certain the cancer could not be successfully treated with chemotherapy.
Dahmer died five days after the election, before the Deputy Clerk of the House of Commons could arrive to conduct a swearing-in ceremony. Despite this, parliamentary policy allowed Dahmer's widow to receive a $
29,150 severance, which was equivalent to six months salary in office. This money was used to establish the John Dahmer Community Involvement Scholarship at Lakeland College.
As of 2011, he holds the record for the shortest term as a federal Member of Parliament in Canadian history. As he was never sworn in as a Member of Parliament, his term in office is counted from the actual date of the election, rather than from an official swearing-in date.
Dahmer was not related to the American serial killer, necrophile, and cannibal, Jeffrey Dahmer
, despite the fact that they had the same last name.
, losing to Dave Brodey.
Brodey lost the by-election to Deborah Grey
, the first Reform Party
candidate ever elected to the House of Commons. Grey had also been the Reform candidate in the 1988 election, but finished in fourth place.
Lakeland College
Lakeland College is a liberal arts college located in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin west of Howards Grove; however it uses a Sheboygan postal address for all correspondence...
.
He was elected in the 1988 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1988
The Canadian federal election of 1988 was held November 21, 1988, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 34th Parliament of Canada. It was an election largely fought on a single issue: the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement ....
at the Beaver River electoral district
Beaver River (electoral district)
Beaver River was a federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1988 to 1997.It was located in the province of Alberta. This riding was created in 1987, and was first used in the federal election of 1988...
for the Progressive Conservative party
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
; however, he was terminally stricken with pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a...
and never saw the first day of the 34th Canadian Parliament
34th Canadian Parliament
The 34th Canadian Parliament was in session from December 12, 1988 until September 8, 1993. The membership was set by the 1988 federal election on November 21, 1988, and it changed only somewhat due to resignations and by-elections until it was dissolved prior to the 1993 election.It was...
.
Dahmer had entered Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
's Royal Alexandra Hospital on October 28, 1988, after suffering symptoms similar to adult onset type two diabetes
Diabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus, often simply referred to as diabetes, is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high blood sugar, either because the body does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced...
, but the extent of his condition was not widely known until after election night. However, by the time cancer was discovered it was after the official deadline to withdraw from the general election, and at that point it was not certain the cancer could not be successfully treated with chemotherapy.
Dahmer died five days after the election, before the Deputy Clerk of the House of Commons could arrive to conduct a swearing-in ceremony. Despite this, parliamentary policy allowed Dahmer's widow to receive a $
Canadian dollar
The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
29,150 severance, which was equivalent to six months salary in office. This money was used to establish the John Dahmer Community Involvement Scholarship at Lakeland College.
As of 2011, he holds the record for the shortest term as a federal Member of Parliament in Canadian history. As he was never sworn in as a Member of Parliament, his term in office is counted from the actual date of the election, rather than from an official swearing-in date.
Dahmer was not related to the American serial killer, necrophile, and cannibal, Jeffrey Dahmer
Jeffrey Dahmer
Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer was an American serial killer and sex offender. Dahmer murdered 17 men and boys between 1978 and 1991, with the majority of the murders occurring between 1987 and 1991. His murders involved rape, dismemberment, necrophilia and cannibalism...
, despite the fact that they had the same last name.
By-election
Dahmer's widow Donna Lynne (née Coulter), ran unsuccessfully for the Progressive Conservative nomination in the resulting by-electionBy-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
, losing to Dave Brodey.
Brodey lost the by-election to Deborah Grey
Deborah Grey
Deborah Cleland Grey, OC, sometimes called Deb Grey is a former Canadian Member of Parliament from Alberta for the Reform Party of Canada, Canadian Alliance and Conservative Party of Canada....
, the first Reform Party
Reform Party of Canada
The Reform Party of Canada was a Canadian federal political party that existed from 1987 to 2000. It was originally founded as a Western Canada-based protest party, but attempted to expand eastward in the 1990s. It viewed itself as a populist party....
candidate ever elected to the House of Commons. Grey had also been the Reform candidate in the 1988 election, but finished in fourth place.