William Switzer

William Alexander Switzer (September 21, 1920 – June 30, 1969) was a politician from Alberta, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1965 to 1969 as a member of the Liberal caucus in opposition.

William Alexander Switzer
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
In office
March 29, 1965 – June 30, 1969
Preceded byNorman Willmore
Succeeded byRobert Dowling
ConstituencyEdson
Personal details
BornSeptember 21, 1920
Edson, Alberta
DiedJune 30, 1969(1969-06-30) (aged 48)
Political partyLiberal (provincial)
Liberal (federal)
Spouse(s)Vivian Gertrude McLeod
ResidenceHinton, Alberta
Alma materUniversity of Alberta
Occupationpharmacist/politician
Military service
Allegiance Canada
Branch/service Royal Canadian Air Force
Years of service1940-1945
RankFlight lieutenant
Unit193 Squadron

Early life

William Alexander Switzer was born September 21, 1920 in Hinton, Alberta to Harvey Alexander Switzer and Edith Amelia Lawrence, or Scottish and English decent respectively.[1] He would attend Edson High School and later the University of Alberta where he would study Pharmacy. Switzer would marry Vivian Gertrude McLeod on July 22, 1946 and had twin daughters named Joan and Janice.[1][2]

Second World War

His attendance at university interrupted during his second year by the Second World War where he would enlist in the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1940 as a pilot, attaining the rank of Flight lieutenant between 1940-1945.[1][3] During the war Switzer would be sent to RCAF Station Borden for training, and would pilot the Hawker Typhoon with the 193 Squadron of the British Royal Air Force based out of England and later France, in a low-level ground-attack role.[3] Switzer participated in Normandy landings in France, with his squadron charged with taking out early warning and communication systems and bomb the Normandy beachhead.[2]

Switzer would be part of the July 14, 1944 attack on German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel when his and another aircraft diverted after reports of two enemy staff cars came in. Rommel would experience serious head injuries and would return to Germany to recover, and Adolf Hitler would later provide Rommel with the choice to commit suicide follow his alleged role in the Valkyrie assassination attempt, with the German public told he died of wounds from the incident.[3]

Later in the war Switzer's airplane would be hit by anti-aircraft fire during a mission over Falise, he would bail out just in time. He would suffer a broken knee and burns from the crash and be captured by a German patrol the next day, and during transport to an aid station, the patrol was ambushed by American soldiers, which provided Switzer an opportunity to escape. Switzer would crawl for a day towards allied lines until he was found by American soldiers, and was subsequently returned to England for recovery for several months, and later back to Canada by Christmas 1944, ending his service in World War Two.[3] Switzer would fly 135 missions during the Second World War.[2]

Switzer would complete his studies at the University of Alberta and open Switzer Drugs in Hinton.[3]

Political career

Switzer would be elected the first Mayor of his hometown of Hinton in 1958 and serve in the role until 1964.[1]

Switzer would contest a seat unsuccessfully for provincial legislature and federal parliament before a successful by-election in 1965. Switzer ran for the Alberta Legislature in the 1952 and 1955 general elections as a candidate for the provincial Liberal party in the electoral district of Edson. He was defeated both times by incumbent Social Credit MLA Norman Willmore.[4][5]

In the Canadian federal election of 1963 Switzer ran as the Liberal candidate in the electoral district of Jasper—Edson. He finished a distant third place to incumbent Hugh Horner.[6]

In 1965 Switzer attempted another run for the provincial legislature. He ran as a candidate in a by-election held on March 29, 1965 in the electoral district of Edson after Norman Willmore died in a car accident. Switzer would defeat Alberta NDP leader Neil Reimer and A. W. Leonard, a local grocery store owner for the Social Credit Party by just over 100 votes each, to sit in the 15th Alberta Legislature.[7][8] Switzer faced Reimer again as well as Social Credit candidate Arthur Jorgensen in the 1967 general election for a seat in the 16th Alberta Legislature. Switzer defeated Jorgensen by over 800 votes while Reimer finished a close third place.[9]

Switzer died from a heart attack in office on June 30, 1969.[10]

In the subsequent by-election held on October 28, 1969 to fill the vacated Edson seat, Progressive Conservative candidate Robert Dowling would edge out Social Credit candidate Arthur Jorgensen and NDP candidate Grant Notley. Liberal Party candidate R. Woods would come fourth out of fourth.[7]

Legacy

The Government of Alberta would name the William A. Switzer Provincial Park in his honour in 1974.[11]

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References
  1. Normandin, G. Pierre, ed. (1971). The Canadian Parliamentary Guide. Ottawa: Mortimer Company Ltd. pp. 479–480. ISSN 0315-6168. OCLC 893686591. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  2. Taylor, Stuart (November 27, 2017). "William Switzer: A WWII Hero". The Weekly Anchor. Edson, Alberta. p. A.28.
  3. Rooks, Dan (November 11, 2010). "More than just a mayor - a war hero". The Hinton Voice. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  4. "Edson results 1952". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
  5. "Edson results 1955". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
  6. "Jasper–Edson election results". Parliament of Canada. April 8, 1963. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
  7. "By-elections 1905-1973". Elections Alberta. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  8. "Liberal Wins Upset Victory in Alberta Vote". The Globe and Mail. March 30, 1965. p. 1.
  9. "Edson results 1967". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
  10. "North MLA Dies of Heart Attack". Calgary Herald. July 2, 1969. p. 1. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  11. "William A. Switzer Provincial Park History". albertaparks.ca. Alberta Parks. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
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