Yvonne Fritz Explained

Honorific Prefix:The Honourable
Yvonne Fritz
Birth Name:Yvonne Marie Fritz[1]
Birth Date:17 September 1950
Birth Place:Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Residence:Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Office:MLA for Calgary-Cross
Term Start:June 15, 1993
Term End:May 5, 2015
Predecessor:New district
Successor:Ricardo Miranda
Party:Progressive Conservative
Spouse:Lanny
Occupation:Registered Nurse

Yvonne Marie Fritz (born September 17, 1950) is a Canadian politician and former member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta representing the constituency of Calgary-Cross as a Progressive Conservative.

She designed the flag of Calgary along with Gwin Clark.[2]

Early life

Fritz was born September 17, 1950, in Saskatoon and is of Métis heritage.[3] Prior to entering politics, she worked as a Registered Nurse at Calgary General Hospital for 20 years.[4] [5]

Political life

Fritz first sought public office in the 1986 Calgary municipal by-election for Ward 5 and was defeated in a very close race by Jon Havelock but was elected in the 1988 general election as the alderman for Ward 5. She served in that capacity until 1993 when she sought the position of MLA for the new constituency of Calgary-Cross. In the 1993 Alberta general election, Fritz was the successful candidate receiving 60% of the vote. In the subsequent elections in 1997 and 2001, she proved successful again, receiving 67% and 75% of the vote respectively. While sitting as a Private Member, she served on the Treasury Board and chaired both the Alberta Multicultural Commission and the Women's Breast Cancer Screening Council. She also sponsored three important Private Members' Bills, including a bill for mandatory bicycle helmet use for children and teenagers.

In the 2004 provincial election, Fritz secured her position as MLA for Calgary-Cross for a fourth time with 58% of the vote. Following the election, she was appointed as Minister for Seniors and Community Supports, a position she held until 2006. That year, Fritz became Chair of the Cabinet Policy Committee for Managing Growth Pressures. In 2007, Premier Stelmach appointed her as Associate Minister of Affordable Housing and Urban Development. In the 2008 provincial election, Fritz received 57% of the vote. In April 2008, she was sworn in as Minister of the newly created ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

Personal life

Fritz is married to Lanny. The couple has two grown children. She has been a resident of the Pineridge community in Calgary for more than 33 years.[6]

Election results

2008 Alberta general election results (Calgary-Cross)Turnout 27.4%
AffiliationCandidateVotes%Progressive ConservativeYvonne Fritz4,01157%LiberalRon I. Reinhold1,56522%NDPShelina N. Hassanali4777%
2004 Alberta general election results (Calgary-Cross)Turnout 29.7%
AffiliationCandidateVotes%
Progressive ConservativeYvonne Fritz3,77058%LiberalRaleigh Dehaney1,45322%NDPJeanie Keebler3936%
2001 Alberta general election results (Calgary-Cross)Turnout 41.6%
AffiliationCandidateVotes%
Progressive ConservativeYvonne Fritz6,81675%LiberalKeith Jones1,86320%NDPRamiro Mora4415%
1997 Alberta general election results (Calgary-Cross)Turnout 40.7%
AffiliationCandidateVotes%
Progressive ConservativeYvonne Fritz5,96467%LiberalKeith Jones2,45628%
1993 Alberta general election results (Calgary-Cross)Turnout ?%
AffiliationCandidateVotes%
Progressive ConservativeYvonne Fritz6,44960%LiberalKeith Hart3,56733%NDPVinay Dey6866%Natural LawNeeraj Varma861%

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Archived copy . September 15, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131021175859/http://www.canadianlatinonewspaper.com/Past%20Editions/2005/MAY_2005.pdf . October 21, 2013 .
  2. Book: Baronian . Luc . Canadian City Flags: 100 Flags from Abbotsford to Yellowknife . Bedwell . Christopher . Braverman . Doreen . Croft . James . Mainwaring . Scott D. . Purcell . John . Raeside . Rob . Ritzenhein . Mark . Wilkes . Alison . 2011 . . 25 .
  3. Web site: Ward Sutherland declares Métis Week: a celebration of his own roots.
  4. Web site: 2022-03-08 . The Women of Calgary City Council: 1980s . 2023-12-05 . Heritage Calgary . en-US.
  5. Web site: White . Ryan . 2015-02-04 . Long-serving MLA Yvonne Fritz announces retirement . 2023-12-05 . CTV News Calgary . en.
  6. Web site: Fritz's Legislative Assembly of Alberta biography.