Hugh Austin Curtis Explained

Hugh Austin Curtis
Birth Date:3 October 1932
Birth Place:Victoria, British Columbia
Death Place:Victoria, British Columbia
Party:Social Credit
Progressive Conservative (1972-1974)
Constituency Am1:Saanich and the Islands
Assembly1:British Columbia Legislative
Term Start1:August 30, 1972
Term End1:October 22, 1986
Predecessor1:John Douglas Tisdalle
Successor1:Mel Couvelier
Terry Huberts
Office2:Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing of British Columbia
Premier2:Bill Bennett
Term Start2:1975
Term End2:1978
Office3:Minister of Finance
Premier3:Bill Bennett
Bill Vander Zalm
Term Start3:1979
Term End3:1986
Profession:sales
Spouse:Sheila Diane Harford
Children:Gary, Dave, Susan

Hugh Austin Curtis (October 3, 1932 – May 27, 2014) was a sales manager and political figure in British Columbia. He represented Saanich and the Islands in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1972 to 1986 as a Progressive Conservative then Social Credit member.

Biography

He was born in Victoria, British Columbia, the son of Austin Ivor Curtis and Helen Shepherd, and was educated there. In 1957, he married Sheila Diane Halford.

Curtis served on the municipal council for Saanich and was mayor from 1964 to 1973. He left the Progressive Conservatives to join the Social Credit party in 1974.[1] Curtis served in the provincial cabinet as Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing (1975 to 1978), as Provincial Secretary and Minister of Government Services (1978 to 1979 and then again in 1986), and as Minister of Finance (1979 to 1986).[2] In 2002, he was awarded the Freeman of Saanich distinction.[3]

He died of cancer on May 27, 2014, in a Victoria hospital.[4] [5]

Notes and References

  1. News: B.C. Tories in deep financial trouble . . August 12, 1974 . 6 . April 10, 2012.
  2. Book: Normandin, P G . Canadian Parliamentary Guide, 1985 . 1985.
  3. Web site: Hugh Curtis (1975 - 1978) . Local Government Department History. Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development. May 29, 2014.
  4. Web site: Wilson . Carla . May 27, 2014 . Hugh Curtis, B.C. finance minister during the restraint era, dead at 81 . https://archive.today/20140528070311/http://www.vancouversun.com/Hugh+Curtis+finance+minister+during+restraint+dead/9883064/story.html . May 28, 2014 . dead . December 29, 2020 . Vancouver Sun .
  5. Web site: Hugh Curtis was a classy politician who forged change in tough times . Carla. Wilson. Times Colonist. December 29, 2020.