By Morinville News Staff
Edmonton – Former Speaker and Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock MLA Ken Kowalski will be honoured with a portrait in the Legislature.
Kowalski, the 11th Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, will have his portrait unveiled during a ceremony Monday at 4 p.m. in the Legislature Building rotunda.
“Ken Kowalski is known for being fair and precise, dignified and generous,” said Kowalski’s successor, the Honourable Gene Zwozdesky, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly in a release Friday. “He reflected these traits every day and most certainly in his role as Speaker presiding over the Assembly,”
Kowalski served as Speaker from 1997 until 2012 when he decided to step down from provincial politics. He was succeeded in his constituancy by Maureen Kubinec.
The former Speaker and MLA is known for having made the Legislature Building and grounds more accessible to the public by opening the Chamber floor on Canada Day. He is also credited with the tradition of hosting choir performances in the rotunda during the holidays. Kowalski also initiated the MLA for a Day and School at the Legislature programs to engage Alberta’s youth in the parliamentary process.
Kowalski’s portrait joins those of his predecessors dating back to the Honourable Charles W. Fisher who served from 1906 until 1919.
Well done. Well deserved.