| Edward Richard Schreyer (born December 21, 1935,
Beausejour, Manitoba) is a former Governor General of Canada
(1979-1984) and Premier of Manitoba (1969-1977) Edward Schreyer
studied at United College, St. John's College and the University of
Manitoba, earning a Bachelor of Pedagogy in 1959, the first of four
degrees. |
 |
Governor General: 1979 - 1984
Appointed: December 28, 1978
Sworn In: January 22, 1979, in the Senate Chamber, Ottawa
Born:
December 21, 1935, Beausejour, Manitoba |
He received a bachelor of education in 1962, a Master of Arts in
International Relations and a second Master of Arts in Economics in 1963.
Edward Richard Schreyer (born
December 21, 1935, Beausejour, Manitoba) is a f ormer
Governor General of Canada (1979-1984) and Premier of Manitoba (1969-1977)
Edward Schreyer studied at United College, St. John's College and the
University of Manitoba, earning a Bachelor of Pedagogy in 1959, the first
of four degrees. He received a bachelor of education in 1962, a Master of
Arts in International Relations and a second Master of Arts in Economics
in 1963.
His political career began with his election to the Legislative
Assembly of Manitoba at the age of 22 as a member of the Cooperative
Commonwealth Federation, representing the constituency of Brokenhead, from
1958 until 1965. Later in 1965, he ran as a member of the New Democratic
Party and won election to the House of Commons.
He ventured into the academic world as a professor of International
Relations at St. Paul's College of the University of Manitoba from 1962 to
1965. In 1969, Schreyer returned to provincial politics, elected on June 8
as leader of the New Democratic Party of Manitoba. He subsequently served
as Premier of Manitoba from 1969 until 1977.
In 1979, Schreyer was appointed Governor General and he and his family
moved from Manitoba into Rideau Hall. He was the first ever Governor
General from Manitoba, and at the age of 43, was the youngest Governor
General since Lord Lorne in 1878 (33 years old) and Lord Lansdowne in 1883
(38 years old).
Mr. Schreyer was a strong advocate of Canadian unity and promoter of
bilingualism. He travelled throughout the country, often to very remote
regions, encouraging an atmosphere of goodwill and friendship between
peoples and provinces. Lily Schreyer accompanied her husband on these
tours, and her great popularity with Canadians enhanced their appearances.
During his term, Mr. Schreyer promoted the equality of women and the
protection of the environment. In 1979, he established the Governor
General's Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case to recognize the
lengthy legal and political battle led by five Alberta women for Canadian
women's constitutional right to be recognized as persons. His awareness of
the importance of promoting environmental issues led to the creation of
the Governor General's Conservation Awards in 1981. He also instituted the
Edward Schreyer Fellowship in Ukrainian Studies at the University of
Toronto. In 1983, the first Governor General's Canadian Study Conference,
which takes place every four years, was held.
Lily Schreyer's interest in issues affecting the family led her to become
involved with many like-minded organizations such as UNICEF. She wanted
the official residence to reflect this commitment and she and her husband
opened the grounds to families from every background across Canada. Her
concern for children and adults with physical disabilities prompted Mrs.
Schreyer to have an accessible entrance and an elevator installed in the
official residence. During the International Year of the Disabled, she
inspired the construction of the Fountain of Hope, dedicated to Terry Fox,
which is now in front of the main entrance at Rideau Hall.
When his term of office ended in 1984, Mr. Schreyer announced that for
five years his Governor General's pension would be used to fund the
Canadian Shield Foundation, an organization that studies the flora and
fauna of the Canadian shield and provides grant monies and employment in
that area, and Mr. Schreyer continues to serve as its Chairman. Also that
year he was sworn-in as a Member of the Privy Council. He subsequently
became Canadian High Commissioner to Australia, Papua New Guinea, the
Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. He held those positions until 1988.
He has since returned to Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he works as the
national representative for Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit housing
organization. He is also Honorary Director of the Sierra Legal Defence
Fund, and Honorary Advisor to the Canadian Foundation for the Preservation
of Chinese Cultural and Historical Treasures and a Founding Member of the
Winnipeg Library Foundation.
Lily Schreyer continues to have an interest and involvement in many
organizations such as Girl Guides, Canadian Home and School, and others
that address the needs of children. As a result of her long-time interest
in arts and crafts, she works to raise the visibility and accomplishments
of Canadian Crafts artists. She has been very generous in donating to
charity the proceeds from the sale of her own paintings.
Preceded by:
Jules L ger List of Canadian Governors General Succeeded by:
Jeanne Sauv
Preceded by:
Walter Weir
1967-1969 Premier of Manitoba
1969-1977 Succeeded by:
Sterling Lyon
1977-1981
Encyclopedia: Edward Schreyer
Sponsored links:
Edward Richard Schreyer (born December 21, 1935, Beausejour, Manitoba, on
June 30, 1960. Edward Schreyer married Lily Schulz, and the couple had two
daughters, Lisa and Karmel and two sons, Jason and Tobin. )
Edward Schreyer, a former Governor General of Canada (1979-1984) and
Premier of Manitoba (1969-1977) Edward Schreyer studied at United College,
St. John's College and the University of Manitoba, earning a Bachelor of
Pedagogy in 1959, the first of four degrees. He received a bachelor of
education in 1962, a Master of Arts in International Relations and a
second Master of Arts in Economics in 1963.
His political career began with his election to the Legislative
Assembly of Manitoba at the age of 22 as a member of the Cooperative
Commonwealth Federation, representing the constituency of Brokenhead, from
1958 until 1965. Later in 1965, he ran as a member of the New Democratic
Party and won election to the House of Commons.
He ventured into the academic world as a professor of International
Relations at St. Paul's College of the University of Manitoba from 1962 to
1965. In 1969, Schreyer returned to provincial politics, elected on June 8
as leader of the New Democratic Party of Manitoba.
He subsequently served as Premier of Manitoba from 1969 until 1977.
In 1979, Schreyer was appointed Governor General and he and his family
moved from Manitoba into Rideau Hall. He was the first ever Governor
General from Manitoba, and at the age of 43, was the youngest Governor
General since Lord Lorne in 1878 (33 years old) and Lord Lansdowne in 1883
(38 years old).
Mr. Schreyer was a strong advocate of Canadian unity and promoter of
bilingualism. He travelled throughout the country, often to very remote
regions, encouraging an atmosphere of goodwill and friendship between
peoples and provinces. Lily Schreyer accompanied her husband on these
tours, and her great popularity with Canadians enhanced their appearances.
During his term, Mr. Schreyer promoted the equality of women and the
protection of the environment.
In 1979, he established the Governor General's Award in Commemoration
of the Persons Case to recognize the lengthy legal and political battle
led by five Alberta women for Canadian women's constitutional right to be
recognized as persons.
His awareness of the importance of promoting environmental issues led
to the creation of the Governor General's Conservation Awards in 1981. He
also instituted the Edward Schreyer Fellowship in Ukrainian Studies at the
University of Toronto. In 1983, the first Governor General's Canadian
Study Conference, which takes place every four years, was held.
Lily Schreyer's interest in issues affecting the family led her to become
involved with many like-minded organizations such as UNICEF. She wanted
the official residence to reflect this commitment and she and her husband
opened the grounds to families from every background across Canada. Her
concern for children and adults with physical disabilities prompted Mrs.
Schreyer to have an accessible entrance and an elevator installed in the
official residence. During the International Year of the Disabled, she
inspired the construction of the Fountain of Hope, dedicated to Terry Fox,
which is now in front of the main entrance at Rideau Hall.
When his term of office ended in 1984, Mr. Schreyer announced that for
five years his Governor General's pension would be used to fund the
Canadian Shield Foundation, an organization that studies the flora and
fauna of the Canadian shield and provides grant monies and employment in
that area, and Mr. Schreyer continues to serve as its Chairman. Also that
year he was sworn-in as a Member of the Privy Council. He subsequently
became Canadian High Commissioner to Australia, Papua New Guinea, the
Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. He held those positions until 1988.
He has since returned to Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he works as the
national representative for Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit housing
organization. He is also Honorary Director of the Sierra Legal Defence
Fund, and Honorary Advisor to the Canadian Foundation for the Preservation
of Chinese Cultural and Historical Treasures and a Founding Member of the
Winnipeg Library Foundation.
Lily Schreyer continues to have an interest and involvement in many
organizations such as Girl Guides, Canadian Home and School, and others
that address the needs of children. As a result of her long-time interest
in arts and crafts, she works to raise the visibility and accomplishments
of Canadian Crafts artists. She has been very generous in donating to
charity the proceeds from the sale of her own paintings.
Preceded by:
Jules L ger List of Canadian Governors General Succeeded by:
Jeanne Sauv
Preceded by:
Walter Weir
1967-1969 Premier of Manitoba
1969-1977 Succeeded by:
Sterling Lyon
1977-1981
Educated at United College, St. John's College and the University of
Manitoba, Edward Schreyer became the youngest
member
of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly at age 22. He represented represented
the riding of Brokenhead in the provincial legislature (1958-1965) and
then was elected to the federal House of Commons (MP, 1965-1969).
Returning to Manitoba politics, he was chosen (8 Jun 1969) Leader of the
New Democratic Party of Manitoba and within months became Premier (15 Jul
1969 - 24 Nov 1977).
An advocate of bilingualism and a strong central government, he
fostered good relationship with Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, who
nominated him for the position of governor general in 1978. Schreyer was
the youngest Governor General to be appointed since
Lord Lorne in
1878. A stiff, earnest public manner conflicted with his desire to be open
and friendly, and made him an easy media target. Schreyer caused political
controversy by hesitating before allowing Prime Minister Joe Clark to call
an election in 1979, and by suggesting that he might have dissolved
Parliament if Trudeau had attempted to impose his constitutional proposals
unilaterally in 1981-1982. Through it all, Schreyer indulged an intense
curiosity about a wide range of subjects, from topography to native
peoples.
After his term as governor general completed, he was appointed Canadian
High Commissioner to Australia (1984). In February 1988 he returned to
Canada as a private citizen.
|
