Alex Atamanenko

Atamanenko was born in New Westminster, and was educated at the University of British Columbia and the University of Toronto. Atamanenko has a bachelor's degree in physical education, a teaching diploma, and a Master of Arts degree in Russian. Atamanenko is a member of the British Columbia Retired Teachers Association. He taught Russian, French and English at a number of schools across Canada and the United States. He also has experience in recreation and physical education with a number of organizations, including the Boys' Clubs of Vancouver, the Canadian Forces Base in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, and for the Coquitlam and New Westminster recreation departments, where he was part-time leader and co-ordinator, as well as for the government of the Yukon as a co-ordinator for the Canada Games (1976–1977) and a recreation consultant (1977–1979). He was also a freelance translator, and is a karate instructor with the Castlegar Karate Club. Other community activities include involvement with the Canadian Youth Hostelling Association in Whitehorse and serving on the Coaching Council of Canada during the 1970s.

He contested the riding of Southern Interior, as it was called then, in the federal election of 2004; he lost narrowly to the incumbent Conservative MP, Jim Gouk.

Atamanenko contested the riding again in the 2006 federal election, which became open when Gouk left federal politics. His candidacy received a significant boost after the Conservative candidate, Derek Zeisman, was disowned by the party after being caught trying to smuggle alcohol across the U.S.–Canada border. Atamanenko won by over 13,000 votes. He was re-elected in the 2008 and 2011 elections, in the latter case gaining 50.9% of valid ballots cast in his riding.

Atamanenko paid homage to NDP leader Jack Layton after his bout with cancer, saying "Jack was the epitome of a trustworthy, honourable politician who inspired many Canadians, regardless of their political allegiance. He cared deeply about our country, and he really gave his life to it. Jack appealed to the best in people. He gave so many young people, who are rightly critical of many aspects of our electoral system, something to believe in, something to hope for in what he was trying to achieve and the vision he shared with so many in our party."{{cite web|title=The Boundary Sentinel - Atamanenko joins Canadians in paying homage to Jack Layton|url=http://boundarysentinel.com/news/atamanenko-joins-canadians-paying-homage-jack-layton-20509#.UEeusUT_IzY|work=The Boundary Sentinel|publisher=The Boundary Sentinel|accessdate=September 5, 2012}}

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2011|British Columbia Southern Interior|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes}}

{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Alex Atamanenko|25,176|50.9|+3.4|}}

{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|Stephen Hill|19,276|38.9|+3.1|}}

{{CANelec|CA|Green|Bryan Hunt|3,173|6.4|-3.2|}}

{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Shannon (Shan) Lavell|1,872|3.8|-3.1|}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes/Expense limit|49,674|100.0 |}}

{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2008|British Columbia Southern Interior|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes}}

{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Alex Atamanenko |22,693|47.5|-1.5|$66,606}}

{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|Rob Zandee |17,122|35.9|+16.6|$76,704}}

{{CANelec|CA|Green|Andy Morel|4,573|9.6|-1.7|$8,439}}

{{CANelec|CA|Liberal| Brenda Jagpal |3,292|6.9|-13.3|$28,430}}

{{CANelec|CA|Marxist-Leninist|Brian Sproule|80|0.2|-0.1|--}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes/Expense limit|47,915|100.0|$92,328}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots|155|0.3|-0.2| }}

{{Canadian election result/total|Turnout|47,915|63.89| }}

{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2006|British Columbia Southern Interior|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes}}

{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Alex Atamanenko|22,742|49.0|+13.9|$72,595}}

{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Bill Profili|9,383|20.2|+2.2|$40,534}}

{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|Derek Zeisman|8,948|19.3|-17.3|$53,470}}

{{CANelec|CA|Green|Scott Leyland|5,258|11.3|+3.4|$14,334}}

{{CANelec|CA|Marxist-Leninist|Brian Sproule|123|0.3|+0.2|$0}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|46454|100.0| }}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots|236|0.5| }}

{{Canadian election result/total|Turnout|46,690|66.4| }}

|- bgcolor="white"

{{Canadian party colour|CA|NDP|row}}

|align="left" colspan=2|NDP gain from Conservative

|align="right"|Swing

|align="right"|+15.6

|align="right"|

{{End}}

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2004|British Columbia Southern Interior|Southern Interior|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes}}

{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|Jim Gouk|16,940|36.6|*|$55,553}}

{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Alex Atamanenko|16,260|35.1|+25.3|$22,019}}

{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Doug Stanley|8,310|18.0|-9.4|$74,051}}

{{CANelec|CA|Green|Scott Leyland|3,663|7.9|+1.4|$16,098}}

{{CANelec|CA|Independent|Robert Schuster|591|1.3|*|$9,264}}

{{CANelec|CA|Marijuana|Karine Cyr|391|0.8|*| }}

{{CANelec|CA|Canadian Action|Farlie Paynter|87|0.2|*|$454}}

{{CANelec|CA|Marxist-Leninist|Brian Sproule|39|0.1|*| }}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|46,281|100.0| }}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots|163|0.4| }}

{{Canadian election result/total|Turnout|46,444|60.0| }}

{{end}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Canadian Parliament links|ID=13267}}
• {{Official website|http://www.atamanenko.ca}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Atamanenko, Alex}}

Category:1945 births

Category:Canadian people of Russian descent

Category:Living people

Category:Members of the House of Commons of Canada from British Columbia

Category:New Democratic Party MPs

Category:Politicians from New Westminster

Category:University of British Columbia alumni

Category:University of Toronto alumni

Category:21st-century members of the House of Commons of Canada