Robert Wagner Dowling
Encyclopedia
Robert Wagner Dowling was a provincial level politician from Alberta
, Canada
. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
from 1969 to 1979 sitting as a member of the Progressive Conservative caucus. During his time in office he served a few different Cabinet portfolios in the government of Premier Peter Lougheed
.
on September 28, 1924. He is the son of Harold James Dowling and Emma Maude Wagner, and was educated in Camrose, at the University of British Columbia
and at the University of Alberta
. In 1952, he married Olga Louise Yewchin. Dowling served in the Royal Canadian Air Force
from 1942 to 1945. Before entering politics, he was a pharmacist and owned three drug stores and a patent medicine store.
leader Grant Notley
to pick up the electoral district of the Progressive Conservative party who formed the official opposition at the time.
Dowling ran for a second term in office a couple years later in the 1971 Alberta general election
. He substantially increased his majority and was easily re-elected defeating two other candidates. After the election Premier Peter Lougheed appointed Dowling to his first cabinet as a Minister without portfolio responsible for Tourism. He was shuffled to another portfolio in the middle of his term and became the Minister of Consumer Affairs.
Dowling ran for a third term in the 1975 Alberta general election
, his first time standing for re-election with ministerial advantage. His popular vote dropped slightly, but he was re-elected easily as the opposition vote collapsed.
After the election he was shuffled to a similar cabinet post as the first one he served. He became the Minister of Business Development and Tourism. He held that portfolio until he retired from provincial politics at dissolution of the assembly in 1979.
In 2000 Dowling was awarded the Alberta Centennial Medal
.
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 1969 to 1979 sitting as a member of the Progressive Conservative caucus. During his time in office he served a few different Cabinet portfolios in the government of Premier Peter Lougheed
Peter Lougheed
Edgar Peter Lougheed, PC, CC, AOE, QC, is a Canadian lawyer, and a former politician and Canadian Football League player. He served as the tenth Premier of Alberta from 1971 to 1985....
.
Early life
Robert Wagner Dowling was born in Camrose, AlbertaCamrose, 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"...
on September 28, 1924. He is the son of Harold James Dowling and Emma Maude Wagner, and was educated in Camrose, 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...
and at the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
. In 1952, he married Olga Louise Yewchin. Dowling served in the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
from 1942 to 1945. Before entering politics, he was a pharmacist and owned three drug stores and a patent medicine store.
Political career
Dowling ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature in a by-election held on October 28, 1969 in the electoral district of Edson. He won a hotly contested race defeating three other candidates including NDPAlberta New Democratic Party
The Alberta New Democratic Party or Alberta NDP is a social-democratic political party in Alberta, Canada, which was originally founded as the Alberta section of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation...
leader Grant Notley
Grant Notley
Walter Grant Notley was a provincial politician in Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1971 to 1984 and also served as leader of the Alberta NDP from 1968 to 1984....
to pick up the electoral district of the Progressive Conservative party who formed the official opposition at the time.
Dowling ran for a second term in office a couple years later in 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 substantially increased his majority and was easily re-elected defeating two other candidates. After the election Premier Peter Lougheed appointed Dowling to his first cabinet as a Minister without portfolio responsible for Tourism. He was shuffled to another portfolio in the middle of his term and became the Minister of Consumer Affairs.
Dowling ran for a third term 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....
, his first time standing for re-election with ministerial advantage. His popular vote dropped slightly, but he was re-elected easily as the opposition vote collapsed.
After the election he was shuffled to a similar cabinet post as the first one he served. He became the Minister of Business Development and Tourism. He held that portfolio until he retired from provincial politics at dissolution of the assembly in 1979.
In 2000 Dowling was awarded the Alberta Centennial Medal
Alberta Centennial Medal
The Alberta Centennial Medal is a commemorative medal celebrating Alberta’s first 100 years of confederation.-Purpose:This medal is meant to pay tribute to Albertans whose achievements have benefited their fellow citizens, their community and their province....
.