Gordon Dirks

Dirks was born in Saskatoon in 1947, and studied at the University of Saskatchewan, receiving a BEd degree. Dirks went on to earn a diploma in educational administration and a MEd from the University of Regina and continued his studies at the Canadian Bible College and Theological Seminary in Regina. He taught school, served as public school principal and was registrar for the Canadian Bible College from 1979 to 1982. In 1971, he married Evangeline Joy Reid.

Dirks represented Regina Rosemont from 1982 to 1986 in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan as a Progressive Conservative member. Dirks served in the Saskatchewan cabinet as Minister of Social Services and as Minister of Urban Affairs. He was defeated by Robert Lyons when he ran for reelection to the assembly in 1986.

From 1986 to 1990, he served as vice-president for the Canadian Bible College, which relocated to Calgary in 2000 as Alliance University College, later becoming Ambrose University College (AUC) as the result of a merger. Dirks was a mayoral candidate in Regina's municipal election in 1988, which was won by Doug Archer.{{cite news |url=https://leaderpost.com/news/six-really-interesting-regina-municipal-elections-over-the-years |title=Six really interesting Regina municipal elections over the years |work=Leader-Post |date=October 5, 2012 |accessdate=July 13, 2021}} In 1990, Dirks became assistant deputy minister for corporate services with the Alberta Ministry of Family and Social Services, moving to Edmonton. From 1993 to 1996, he served as executive administrator for Beulah Alliance Church in Edmonton and between 1996 and 2006, Dirks served as president of Rocky Mountain College in Calgary.

In 1999, Dirks was elected as trustee for Wards 1 and 2 on the Calgary Board of Education.{{cite web |url=http://sain.scaa.sk.ca/collections/index.php/dirks-gordon-1947;isaar |title=Dirks, Gordon, 1947- |publisher=Saskatchewan Archival Information Network |accessdate=2012-08-04 |archive-date=2014-10-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012000330/http://sain.scaa.sk.ca/collections/index.php/dirks-gordon-1947;isaar |url-status=dead }} in a by-election, following the dismissal of the Board by then-Education Minister Lyle Oberg. Dirks ran on a platform to streamline administrative costs provide more support for teachers and ensure reasonable local school fees. In 2000, as a staunch supporter of diversity and parental choice in the public education system, Dirks put forward a motion to accept plans for alternative schools within the CBE.{{cite web|url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/new-education-minister-gordon-dirks-a-strong-advocate-for-parental-choice-in-schooling|title=New Education Minister Gordon Dirks a strong advocate for parental choice in schooling|work=Edmonton Journal|date=September 15, 2014|access-date=July 13, 2021}} The alternative program policy passed in June 2001. In October 2002, Dirks became chair of the CBE, serving four terms until he retired in 2010.

In 2006, Dirks rejoined AUC as its vice-president of external relations, a position he held until 2010. Between 2010 and 2014 Dirks was the executive pastor of the Centre Street Church in Calgary.

On September 15, 2014, he was appointed to the cabinet of Alberta premier Jim Prentice as Minister of Education, despite not holding a seat in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.[https://edmontonjournal.com/Prentice+names+Mandel+health+minister+member+cabinet/10205281/story.html "Prentice promises ‘new way of doing things’ as smaller cabinet sworn in"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006130519/http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Prentice%20names%20Mandel%20health%20minister%20member%20cabinet/10205281/story.html |date=2014-10-06 }}. Edmonton Journal, September 15, 2014. He was subsequently named as the party's candidate in a by-election in Calgary-Elbow, the seat formerly held by Alison Redford.[http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgary-elbow-byelection-expected-to-be-hotly-contested-race-1.2777098 "Calgary-Elbow byelection expected to be hotly contested race"]. CBC News, September 24, 2014. The by-election was scheduled for October 27, 2014,[http://globalnews.ca/news/1587770/premier-prentice-to-make-byelection-announcement/ "Premier Prentice to run in Calgary-Foothills in October byelection"]. Global News, September 29, 2014. and Dirks won the by-election.

As chairman of the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada, an ex-officio post he inherited along with the political post, Dirks championed the Pan-Canadian Assessment Program, a test of more than 32,000 Grade 8 students from across the country in 2013.[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/education/tests-show-provincial-differences-in-math-reading-science-education/article20955151/ "Tests show provincial differences in math, reading, science education"], 7 Oct 2014

Shortly after Dirks' appointment, concerns were raised regarding Dirks's religious views and how they may impact LGBTQ students in Alberta because of his previous role as executive pastor at Calgary's Centre Street Church.{{cite news|title=Gordon Dirks meets gay rights advocate amid questions on his LGBT views|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/gordon-dirks-meets-gay-rights-advocate-amid-questions-on-his-lgbt-views-1.2768902|agency=CBC News|date=September 17, 2014}}{{cite news|title=As critics question his beliefs, Alberta's new education minister says 'there's no room for intolerance'|url=http://metronews.ca/news/calgary/1156643/as-critics-question-his-beliefs-albertas-new-education-minister-says-theres-no-room-for-intolerance/|agency=Metro|date=September 16, 2014|access-date=October 4, 2014|archive-date=October 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006101314/http://metronews.ca/news/calgary/1156643/as-critics-question-his-beliefs-albertas-new-education-minister-says-theres-no-room-for-intolerance/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=New Alberta Education Minister, and former pastor, ignites 'progressive left' backlash with appointment|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/new-alberta-education-minister-and-former-pastor-ignites-progressive-left-backlash-with-appointment|work=National Post|date=September 17, 2014|access-date=July 13, 2021}}{{cite news|title=New Alberta Education Minister Gordon Dirks' Ties To Church Criticized|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/5833510|agency=Huffington Post|date=September 17, 2014|access-date=July 13, 2021}} The church's statement of theological principles and ministry practices states that the church believes "God is dishonoured by ... sexual activity between persons of the same sex." However, in a written statement to counter concerns, Dirks writes: "I believe everyone has the right to be respected and treated with honour and dignity … I am committed to ensuring every child in Alberta’s schools has a safe, caring and respectful learning environment."

{{cite news|title=Alberta Party takes aim at Gordon Dirks and his beliefs on homosexuality|url=http://www.660news.com/2014/10/09/alberta-party-takes-aim-at-gordon-dirks-and-his-beliefs-on-homosexuality/|agency=660 News|date=October 9, 2014}}

Dirks was defeated in the 2015 provincial election by Greg Clark of the Alberta Party. The National Post later criticized Prentice for putting Dirks in "one of the reddest of the Red Tory ridings in Calgary".{{Cite web|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/how-to-shake-a-dynasty-in-10-easy-steps-alberta-election-jim-prentice-tories|title=How to shake a dynasty in 10 easy steps: The Alberta election and why it all went wrong for the Progressive Conservatives | National Post}}

{{Canadian election result/top|AB|October 27, 2014|Calgary-Elbow|percent=yes|change=yes|by=yes}}

{{CANelec |AB |PC|Gordon Dirks |4,207|33.21|-24.88}}

{{CANelec |AB |Alberta|Greg Clark |3,412|26.94|+24.25}}

{{CANelec |AB |Wildrose|John Fletcher |3,056|24.13|-4.45}}

{{CANelec |AB |Liberal|Susan Wright |1,519|11.99|+6.46}}

{{CANelec |AB |NDP|Stephanie McLean |472|3.73|-0.22}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|––,–––|100.00|–}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots|–|–|–}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Turnout|––,–––|––.––|–}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Eligible voters|––,–––|–|–}}

{{end}}

{{2015 Alberta general election/Calgary-Elbow}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://www.votedirks.ca/}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150824075611/http://www.saskarchives.com/sites/default/files/pdf/ministers.pdf Saskatchewan Archives]

{{Prentice Ministry}}

{{Devine Ministry}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dirks, Gordon E}}

Category:1947 births

Category:Alberta school board trustees

Category:20th-century Canadian Protestant theologians

Category:Ministers of education of Alberta

Category:Living people

Category:Members of the Executive Council of Alberta

Category:Members of the Executive Council of Saskatchewan

Category:Politicians from Calgary

Category:Politicians from Regina, Saskatchewan

Category:Politicians from Saskatoon

Category:Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan MLAs

Category:Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta MLAs

Category:20th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan

Category:University of Regina alumni

Category:University of Saskatchewan alumni

Category:21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta