Item VT R-7276 - Clerks Do It

Charles Beverley Koester was born on January 13, 1926 in Regina, Saskatchewan to Charles H. and Mavis Koester. He had one sibling: Vera-May (Mimi). Koester received his primary and secondary education at Davin School and Regina Central Collegiate Institute and graduated from the Royal Canadian Naval College, Royal Roads, in Victoria, British Columbia in 1944. Koester earned Bachelor of Education (1952), Bachelor of Arts (1953) and Master of Arts in History (1964) degrees from the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Western Canadian History from the University of Alberta in Edmonton in 1971.

From 1953 to 1975, Koester held a variety of occupations: staff officer with the University Naval Training Division in Saskatoon (1953-1956); teacher and head of the History department at Sheldon-Williams Collegiate in Regina (1956-1959); Clerk Assistant of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan (1959-1960); Clerk of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan (1960-1969); and associate professor of History at the University of Saskatchewan, Regina Campus (1969-1975).

During his career in Saskatchewan, Koester also served as Temporary Senior Clerk of the British House of Commons in London, England (1967, 1969); Commissioner to the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission of the Province of Saskatchewan (1965); member of the General University Council Committee on the Role of the University of Saskatchewan within the Community (1970-1971); member of the Woods Committee; historical researcher for the Commissioner on Indian Claims (1973); and consultant to Department of Indian and Northern Affairs (1974-1975).

Koester moved to Ottawa, Ontario in 1975 and served as Clerk Assistant of the House of Commons (1975-1979) and Clerk of the House of Commons (1979-1987). He retired in 1987 and was named Clerk Emeritus of the House of Commons. Koester retired to Kingston, Ontario, where he died on February 1, 1998.

Koester served with the Royal Canadian Navy (1942-1947) and Royal Canadian Naval Reserve (1949-1960). He saw active duty in Scotland during World War II and retired as a Lieutenant-Commander in 1960. Koester was awarded the Canadian Forces Decoration in 1959.

Koester wrote and edited numerous articles, books and unpublished research papers on parliamentary and aboriginal issues and on Western Canadian history. He was a member of many organizations and professional societies, including the Canadian Historical Association and Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (secretary of Saskatchewan Branch, 1960-1969). The recipient of many scholarships and awards, Koester was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1989 for his public service.

Koester married Carolyn Eleanor Williams in 1951. They had five children: Elizabeth, Charles, Christopher, James, and Kate. Carolyn Koester died in Kingston, Ontario on May 7, 2002.