William Chornopyski
Encyclopedia
William Chornopyski was a politician
in Manitoba
, Canada
. He was associated with the New Democratic Party of Manitoba
for many years, but was elected to the provincial legislature in 1988 as a member of the Manitoba Liberal Party
.
Chornopyski was born in Sundown
, Manitoba, and served in the Canadian Forces
during World War II
. He was employed by the Canadian Pacific Railway
from 1944 to 1966, and worked as a sales executive at General Motors from 1966 to 1971. From 1971 to 1973, he was the owner and operator of the Arlington Athletic Club. He also served as president of the Burrows Constituency NDP (provincial), and as secretary of the Winnipeg North
federal NDP organization.
In 1974, Chornopyski was elected as a councillor
in the city of Winnipeg. He served in this capacity until 1986, and also became deputy mayor
of the city in 1982. He was a founder of Winnipeg's Block Parent Program in this period and served on several community boards, as well as being on the executive of the Ukrainian Legion Branch #141.
In the 1980s, Chornopyski was an opponent of NDP Premier
Howard Pawley
's plans to legally entrench French-language services in the province. He appears to have left the NDP over this issue around 1984, at roughly the same time as longtime party MLA and Edward Schreyer
-era cabinet minister Russell Doern
. In the provincial election of 1986
, Chornopyski contested the riding of Burrows as an independent candidate, and lost to incumbent New Democrat Conrad Santos
by 2110 votes. Later in the year, he lost his seat on city council to Terry Wachniak by 46 votes.
In the provincial election of 1988
, Chornopyski ran as a Liberal in Burrows and defeated NDP candidate Doug Martindale
by 109 votes.
The Liberals increased their parliamentary representation from one seat to twenty in the 1988 election, and Chornopyski sat with the official opposition in parliament. His time in the provincial legislature proved to be short-lived, however — in the provincial election of 1990
, he lost to Martindale by over 2000 votes amid a general decline in Liberal fortunes. He did not seek a return to public office, and died in 2002.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, 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 was associated with the New Democratic Party of Manitoba
New Democratic Party of Manitoba
The New Democratic Party of Manitoba is a social-democratic political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is the provincial wing of the federal New Democratic Party, and is a successor to the Manitoba Co-operative Commonwealth Federation...
for many years, but was elected to the provincial legislature in 1988 as a member of the Manitoba Liberal Party
Manitoba Liberal Party
The Manitoba Liberal Party is a political party in Manitoba, Canada. Its roots can be traced to the late nineteenth-century, following the province's creation in 1870.-Origins and early development :...
.
Chornopyski was born in Sundown
Sundown, Manitoba
Sundown is a small community in southeastern Manitoba. It is located in the Rural Municipality of Stuartburn, halfway between the communities of Vita and Piney....
, Manitoba, and served in the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
during 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...
. He was employed by the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
from 1944 to 1966, and worked as a sales executive at General Motors from 1966 to 1971. From 1971 to 1973, he was the owner and operator of the Arlington Athletic Club. He also served as president of the Burrows Constituency NDP (provincial), and as secretary of the Winnipeg North
Winnipeg North
For information on the historical provincial constituency, see Winnipeg North .Winnipeg North is a federal electoral district that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1917...
federal NDP organization.
In 1974, Chornopyski was elected as a councillor
Councillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
in the city of Winnipeg. He served in this capacity until 1986, and also became deputy mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of the city in 1982. He was a founder of Winnipeg's Block Parent Program in this period and served on several community boards, as well as being on the executive of the Ukrainian Legion Branch #141.
In the 1980s, Chornopyski was an opponent of NDP Premier
Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in some countries and states.-Examples by country:In many nations, "premier" is used interchangeably with "prime minister"...
Howard Pawley
Howard Pawley
Howard Russell Pawley, PC, OC, OM is a Canadian politician and professor who was the 18th Premier of Manitoba from 1981 to 1988.-Personal life:...
's plans to legally entrench French-language services in the province. He appears to have left the NDP over this issue around 1984, at roughly the same time as longtime party MLA and Edward Schreyer
Edward Schreyer
Edward Richard Schreyer , commonly known as Ed Schreyer, is a Canadian politician, diplomat, and statesman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 22nd since Canadian Confederation....
-era cabinet minister Russell Doern
Russell Doern
Russell Doern was a Manitoba politician. He served as a cabinet minister in the New Democratic government of Edward Schreyer , but left the New Democratic Party in 1984....
. In the provincial election of 1986
Manitoba general election, 1986
The Manitoba general election of March 18, 1986 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the New Democratic Party, which took 30 seats out of 57. The Progressive Conservative Party won 26 seats and formed the official opposition...
, Chornopyski contested the riding of Burrows as an independent candidate, and lost to incumbent New Democrat Conrad Santos
Conrad Santos
Conrad Santos is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1981 to 1988, and again from 1990 to 2007....
by 2110 votes. Later in the year, he lost his seat on city council to Terry Wachniak by 46 votes.
In the provincial election of 1988
Manitoba general election, 1988
The Manitoba general election of April 26, 1988 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It resulted in a minority government...
, Chornopyski ran as a Liberal in Burrows and defeated NDP candidate Doug Martindale
Doug Martindale
Doug Martindale is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He has been a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba since 1990, serving as a member of the New Democratic Party.-Early life and career:...
by 109 votes.
The Liberals increased their parliamentary representation from one seat to twenty in the 1988 election, and Chornopyski sat with the official opposition in parliament. His time in the provincial legislature proved to be short-lived, however — in the provincial election of 1990
Manitoba general election, 1990
The Manitoba general election of September 11, 1990 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservative Party, which took 30 out of 57 seats...
, he lost to Martindale by over 2000 votes amid a general decline in Liberal fortunes. He did not seek a return to public office, and died in 2002.