Vincent Martin Dantzer
Encyclopedia
Vincent Martin Dantzer (October 2, 1923 – March 13, 2001) was a Canadian
lawyer, economist, and politician, a member of the Canadian House of Commons
, and a mayor of Edmonton
.
. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force
in 1942, and served as a Flying Officer in the Burma Campaign
. He left the military in 1946, and began studying economics
at the University of Saskatchewan
, from which he graduated with an honours degree in 1948. He continued his studies at the University of Toronto
, where he earned a Master of Arts
in economics.
He worked for the Canadian government's department of Trade and Commerce as a research economist in 1949 before returning to Saskatchewan
to work in the provincial government's budget bureau. He left this position and moved to Edmonton to lecture in political science
at the University of Alberta
, where he also earned a law degree in 1956.
The following year, he started a law practice and worked as senior partner in a nine person firm. He would remain with that firm until leaving Edmonton in 1970.
. He finished first of four candidates in that election, and became the board's chair. He was re-elected in the 1958 election
, but was unseated in 1960
. He would not try to regain his position.
Instead, he ran for alderman on Edmonton City Council
in the 1962 election
. He finished fifth of thirteen candidates, and became one of five candidates elected to a two year term. He was re-elected in the 1964 election
, finishing eighth of forty-six candidates (that election marked the end of staggered aldermanic terms in Edmonton; accordingly, all twelve of the city's aldermen were elected at once).
On March 11, 1965, mayor William Hawrelak
was expelled from office by the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, which found that he had violated the City Act in his dealings with a development company that he partly owned. City Council selected Dantzer to take his place. Dantzer was able to defeat Hawrelak in the 1966 election
, but did not seek re-election at the conclusion of this term. During his time as mayor, Dantzer served as President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities
in 1967.
In 1970, not long after leaving municipal politics, Dantzer moved to Vernon, British Columbia
where he became the senior partner in a six person firm that he founded.
, Dantzer ran for the Canadian House of Commons
as the Progressive Conservative
candidate in Okanagan North
. He won an easy victory over his two challengers, and was re-elected by an increased margin in the 1984 federal election
.
He did not seek re-election in the 1988 election
, and did not return to public life thereafter.
Vincent Dantzer died of heart failure on March 13, 2001.
Dantzer's Hill in Edmonton is named in his honour.
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...
lawyer, economist, and politician, a member of the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
, and a mayor of 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...
.
Early life
Dantzer was born in Rush Lake, SaskatchewanRush Lake, Saskatchewan
-Area statistics:*Dominion Land Survey Section 1 Township 17 Range 11 W3*Time zone UTC-6 North: Beechy West: Swift Current Rush Lake East: Morse South: Braddock -External links:***...
. He enlisted 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...
in 1942, and served as a Flying Officer in the Burma Campaign
Burma Campaign
The Burma Campaign in the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II was fought primarily between British Commonwealth, Chinese and United States forces against the forces of the Empire of Japan, Thailand, and the Indian National Army. British Commonwealth land forces were drawn primarily from...
. He left the military in 1946, and began studying economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
at 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...
, from which he graduated with an honours degree in 1948. He continued his studies at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, where he earned 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...
in economics.
He worked for the Canadian government's department of Trade and Commerce as a research economist in 1949 before returning to 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....
to work in the provincial government's budget bureau. He left this position and moved to Edmonton to lecture in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
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...
, where he also earned a law degree in 1956.
The following year, he started a law practice and worked as senior partner in a nine person firm. He would remain with that firm until leaving Edmonton in 1970.
Municipal politics
Dantzer's first attempt at elected office took place in 1956, when he ran for the separate (Roman Catholic) school board in that year's municipal electionEdmonton municipal election, 1956
The 1956 municipal election was held October 17, 1956 to elect five aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and three trustees to sit on each of the public and separate school boards. The electorate also decided nine plebiscite questions...
. He finished first of four candidates in that election, and became the board's chair. He was re-elected in the 1958 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1958
The 1958 municipal election was held October 15, 1958 to elect six aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council, four trustees to sit on the separate school board, and three trustees to sit on the public school board...
, but was unseated in 1960
Edmonton municipal election, 1960
The 1960 Edmonton, Alberta municipal election was held October 19, 1960 to elect five aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and three trustees to sit on each of the public and separate school boards...
. He would not try to regain his position.
Instead, he ran for alderman on Edmonton City Council
Edmonton City Council
The Edmonton City Council is the governing body of the City of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.Members represent wards throughout the city, and are known as councillors. Until 2010, Edmonton was divided in six wards with two councillors representing citizens in each ward...
in the 1962 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1962
The 1962 municipal election was held October 17, 1962 to elect five aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and three trustees to sit on each of the public and separate school boards. The electorate also decided two plebiscite questions...
. He finished fifth of thirteen candidates, and became one of five candidates elected to a two year term. He was re-elected in the 1964 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1964
The 1964 Edmonton municipal election was held October 14, 1964 to elect a mayor and twelve aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and seven trustees to sit on each of the public and separate school boards....
, finishing eighth of forty-six candidates (that election marked the end of staggered aldermanic terms in Edmonton; accordingly, all twelve of the city's aldermen were elected at once).
On March 11, 1965, mayor William Hawrelak
William Hawrelak
William Hawrelak was a politician in Alberta, Canada, the longest-serving mayor in Edmonton's history, and a candidate for election to the Canadian House of Commons.-Early life:...
was expelled from office by the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, which found that he had violated the City Act in his dealings with a development company that he partly owned. City Council selected Dantzer to take his place. Dantzer was able to defeat Hawrelak in the 1966 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1966
The 1966 municipal election was held October 19, 1966 to elect a mayor and twelve aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and seven trustees to sit on each of the public and separate school boards...
, but did not seek re-election at the conclusion of this term. During his time as mayor, Dantzer served as President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities
Federation of Canadian Municipalities
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities is a civic advocacy group representing many Canadian municipalities. It is an organization with no formal power but significant ability to influence debate and policy, as it is main national lobby group of mayors, councillors and other elected municipal...
in 1967.
In 1970, not long after leaving municipal politics, Dantzer moved to Vernon, British Columbia
Vernon, British Columbia
Vernon is a city in the south-central region of British Columbia, Canada. Named after Forbes George Vernon, a former MLA of British Columbia who helped found the famed Coldstream Ranch, the City of Vernon was incorporated on December 30, 1892. The City of Vernon has a population of 35,944 , while...
where he became the senior partner in a six person firm that he founded.
Federal politics
In the 1980 federal electionCanadian federal election, 1980
The Canadian federal election of 1980 was held on February 18, 1980 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 32nd Parliament of Canada...
, Dantzer ran for the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
as the Progressive Conservative
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....
candidate in Okanagan North
Okanagan North
Okanagan North was a federal electoral district in the province of British Columbia, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1979 to 1988....
. He won an easy victory over his two challengers, and was re-elected by an increased margin in the 1984 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1984
The Canadian federal election of 1984 was held on September 4 of that year to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 33rd Parliament of Canada...
.
He did not seek re-election in the 1988 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 ....
, and did not return to public life thereafter.
Personal life and legacy
Dantzer was married to Mary Catherine; the couple had nine children.Vincent Dantzer died of heart failure on March 13, 2001.
Dantzer's Hill in Edmonton is named in his honour.