Ed Stelmach Sworn in as Alberta’s Premier

Ed Stelmach, on December 14, was sworn in as the 13th premier of Alberta.

 The 55-year-old farmer and MLA for Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville was sworn in by Lt-Gov. Norman Kwong in a public ceremony on the steps of the Alberta legislature in Edmonton.

In honour of the new premier’s Ukrainian heritage, a Ukrainian choir opened and closed the ceremony.

Dressed in a dark-blue suit, white shirt and blue-and-gold striped tie, Stelmach said it was” truly one of the most humbling days of my life.”   His wife Marie, four grown children and grandson were in the crowd.

At the end of the ceremony, Stelmach hugged and thanked Ralph Klein, who had been premier from 1992 and who formally relinquished office during the ceremony.

Though about 10 per cent of Albertans have a Ukrainian background, Stelmach is the first Alberta premier of Ukrainian descent.

Stelmach’s grandparents emigrated from Ukraine in the late 19th century. His ancestors settled in Andrew, a town with a population of about 500, northeast of Edmonton.