Halvar Jonson

{{Infobox officeholder

| image =

| imagesize =

| caption =

|birth_name=Halvar de la Cluyse Jonson

| birth_date ={{Birth date|1941|8|14}}

| death_date = {{death date and age|2016|12|2|1941|8|14}}

| death_place =Ponoka, Alberta

| birth_place =Athabasca, Alberta

| residence =

| office = Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta

| constituency =Ponoka (1982–1986)
{{nowrap|Ponoka-Rimbey (1993–2004)}}

| term_start = 1982

| term_end = 2004

| predecessor =Don McCrimmon (Ponoka)

| successor =

| office2 =

| term_start2 =

| term_end2 =

| party = Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta

| religion =

| occupation =teacher

| alma_mater=

| spouse =

}}

Halvar de la Cluyse Jonson (August 14, 1941 – December 2, 2016) was a teacher and high school principal. He was also a long serving provincial politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta and cabinet minister in the provincial government from 1982 until 2004.

Early life

Jonson was born in Athabasca, Alberta, Canada on August 14, 1941.{{cite web|url=http://www.gunzburger.com/Jonson-Halvar.htm|title=Halvar C. Jonson|author=Ron Gunzburger|publisher=Politics1 Canada|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219233439/http://www.gunzburger.com/Jonson-Halvar.htm|archive-date=2007-12-19}} He served as president of the Alberta Teachers' Association from 1976 until 1977.{{cite web|url=http://www.teachers.ab.ca/About+the+ATA/History/Past+Presidents.htm | title=Past Presidents | publisher=Alberta Teachers' Association|access-date=2008-03-22 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071015094130/http://www.teachers.ab.ca/About+the+ATA/History/Past+Presidents.htm |archive-date = 2007-10-15}}

Political career

Jonson was first elected to the Alberta Legislature in the 1982 Alberta general election. He defeated Tom Butterfield from the Western Canada Concept and three other candidates to win his first term in office. His win held the Ponoka electoral district for the Progressive Conservatives.{{cite web|url=http://www.abheritage.ca/abpolitics/database/maps_choice.asp?Year=1982&Constit=Ponoka|title=Ponoka election results 1982 general election|publisher=Alberta Heritage|access-date=2008-03-22|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612160928/http://www.abheritage.ca/abpolitics/database/maps_choice.asp?Year=1982&Constit=Ponoka|archive-date=2011-06-12}} Due to redistribution of electoral district boundaries in the 1986 Alberta general election Ponoka was abolished and re-created as Ponoka-Rimbey. Jonson ran for his second term in the new electoral district and won easily defeating three other candidates. He stood for a third term in office in the 1989 Alberta general election fending off a strong challenge from Doug Hart of the New Democrats and one other candidate.{{cite web|url=http://www.abheritage.ca/abpolitics/database/maps_choice.asp?Year=198&Constit=Ponoka-Rimbey|title=Ponoka-Rimbey election results 1986-1989 general election|publisher=Alberta Heritage|access-date=2008-03-22|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612161141/http://www.abheritage.ca/abpolitics/database/maps_choice.asp?Year=198&Constit=Ponoka-Rimbey|archive-date=2011-06-12}}

Jonson would see his popular vote grow in his bid for a fourth term for office in the 1993 Alberta general election. He was easily reelected defeating four other candidates. He would be returned for a fifth consecutive term. The race for the 1997 Alberta general election would see support build for second place Randy Jones of Social Credit.{{cite web|url=http://www.abheritage.ca/abpolitics/database/maps_choice.asp?Year=199&Constit=Ponoka-Rimbey|title=Ponoka-Rimbey election results 1993-1997 general election|publisher=Alberta Heritage|access-date=2008-03-22|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612161523/http://www.abheritage.ca/abpolitics/database/maps_choice.asp?Year=199&Constit=Ponoka-Rimbey|archive-date=2011-06-12}} Jonson would see his popular support marginally drop but still win the electoral district by a wide margin. In the 2001 Alberta general election, Jonson would set a personal record for the largest plurality of his career. He would be returned to the Legislature in a landslide for his sixth and final term.{{cite web|url=http://www.abheritage.ca/abpolitics/database/maps_choice.asp?Year=2001&Constit=Ponoka-Rimbey|title=Ponoka-Rimbey election results 2001 general election|publisher=Alberta Heritage|access-date=2008-03-22|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612161511/http://www.abheritage.ca/abpolitics/database/maps_choice.asp?Year=2001&Constit=Ponoka-Rimbey|archive-date=2011-06-12}} Jonson retired at dissolution of the Legislature in 2004. His electoral district of Ponoka-Rimbey was abolished due to redistribution.

Late life and legacy

In honour of Jonson's public service the provincial government renamed the brain injury ward of the Alberta Hospital Ponoka, the Halvar Jonson Centre for Brain Injury in Ponoka, Alberta{{cite web |url=http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/David-Thompson-Health-Region-Alberta-Hospital-Ponoka-is-Renamed-The-Centennial-Centre-615190.htm |title=David Thompson Health Region renames Alberta Hospital Ponoka the Centennial Centre for Mental Health and Brain Injury |work=article |year=2006 |access-date=6 April 2011 |quote=... In addition, the brain injury unit has been renamed the Halvar Jonson Centre for Brain Injury in recognition of the longtime area MLA who contributed significantly to healthcare in this province, to the development of this specialized campus and to the community of Ponoka. ...' }} In recognition of Jonson's work in championing legislation that led to the establishment of charter schools in Alberta, the Association of Alberta Public Charter Schools established the Halvar Jonson Award in 2012. The award is presented annually to those who have given of their time, energy, influence and expertise to enhance the success of charter schools in Alberta. Jonson died on December 2, 2016, at the age of 75.{{cite web| url = http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/edmontonjournal/obituary.aspx?n=halvar-jonson&pid=182997219| title = Halvar JONSON Obituary (1941 - 2016) - Boyle, AB - Edmonton Journal}}

{{Infobox COA wide

|escutcheon = Azure on a fess between three great horned owl heads Or, a boar passant Azure.

|crest = A talbot passant Azure resting its dexter paw on a wild rose proper.

|motto = FORTIS IN RE, SUAVIS IN MODO {{cite web|url=https://reg.gg.ca/heraldry/pub-reg/project-pic.asp?lang=e&ProjectID=1123&ProjectElementID=4594 |title=Halvar De La Cluyse JONSON |publisher=Canadian Heraldic Authority |access-date=29 May 2020}}}}

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930024650/http://www.assembly.ab.ca/legislaturecentennial/pdf/membersBooklet.pdf Legislative Assembly of Alberta Members Listing]

{{succession box|

before=Don McCrimmon|

title=MLA Ponoka|

years=1982–1986|

after=District Abolished}}

{{succession box|

before=New District|

title=MLA Ponoka-Rimbey|

years=1993–2004|

after=District Abolished}}

Category:1941 births

Category:2016 deaths

Category:Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta MLAs

Category:People from Athabasca, Alberta

Category:People from Ponoka County

Category:Members of the Executive Council of Alberta

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

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