Fonds F 412 - Lorne Calvert fonds

Robert Murray Pringle was born on April 25, 1946 in Regina, Saskatchewan to Douglas Duncombe and Norma Pringle. He was raised on a farm in the Carnduff area. Pringle holds Bachelor and Masters degrees in Social Work from the University of Manitoba.

Prior to his entry into provincial politics, Pringle worked as a social worker and administrator in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Pringle worked with the Department of Social Services and was executive director of the Saskatoon Housing Coalition. He also served as president of the Saskatchewan Association of Social Workers (1980) and Saskatchewan Human Services Association (1986). Pringle was active in the Saskatoon community, serving on the boards of the Saskatoon Self-Help Society, Crocus Co-op, Girls Group Home and Day Care Co-op.

Pringle was first elected to the Saskatchewan Legislature in a 1988 by-election and served as a New Democratic Party member for Saskatoon Eastview (1988-1991; 1995-1998) and Saskatoon Eastview-Haultain (1991-1995).

Pringle served in the Roy Romanow Government as Minister of Social Services (1993-1995); Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Legal Aid Commission (1993-1995); Minister Responsible for Seniors (1993-1995); Minister Responsible for Meewasin Valley Authority (1995); and Minister Responsible for Wanuskewin Heritage Park Corporation (1995).

Pringle resigned from Cabinet on November 22, 1995 and vacated his seat in the Legislative Assembly on March 17, 1998. Judy Junor (NDP) became MLA for Saskatoon Eastview.

After leaving politics, Pringle served as executive director of the Saskatchewan Association for Community Living from 1998 to 2004, when he became executive director of the Saskatoon Food Bank.

Pringle currently (2006) continues to reside in Saskatoon and to serve as executive director of the Saskatoon Food Bank. He is running as a candidate in the 2006 Saskatoon Civic Election.

Pringle married Gwendolyn Mae Gordon on October 12, 1968. They have two children: Darren and Dean.

Rose Marie Louise Simard was born on April 17, 1947 in Val d'Or, Quebec. Simard grew up in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, graduating from Carpenter High School in 1965. She attended the University of Saskatchewan from 1965 to 1970, earning Bachelor of Arts (Philosophy) and Bachelor of Laws degrees.

Louise Simard articled in Regina and was admitted to the Bar in 1971. She has practiced as legal counsel in both the public and private sector during her career. Simard became the first female Legislative Council and Law Clerk for the province of Saskatchewan in 1974, prior to setting up her own law firm in 1978.

Active in many community organizations, Simard has delivered speeches on family and matrimonial property law, real estate law, law and poverty, and human rights. She was appointed a member of the Attorney General's Committee on the Consolidation of the Queen's Bench and District Courts in 1979. She also served as vice-chair of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission and as consumer representative on the Counsel of the College of Physicians and Surgeons from 1982-1985. Other past service includes board membership with the Saskatchewan Lung Association, the Canadian Nurses Association, and honourary membership with the Saskatchewan Registered Nurses' Association. Simard is a member of the Canadian Medical Association Task Force on Physician Supply in Canada and the Canadian College of Health Services Executives.

Simard was first elected New Democratic Party (NDP) Member of the Legislative Assembly for the Regina Lakeview constituency in 1986. She served as Opposition Health Critic as well as critic for the Saskatchewan Power Corporation, women's issues, the Human Rights Commission and the Ombudsman.

In 1991, after re-election in the Regina Hillsdale constituency Simard became a Cabinet minister in the Roy Romanow government, serving as Minister of Health and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women from 1991 to 1995. Simard introduced the wellness model of health care, involving extensive reforms to the health care system, hospital closures in rural Saskatchewan and the establishment of health districts and boards.

On February 3, 1995, Simard resigned from Cabinet and retired from political life the following year. She joined the law firm of McPherson, Leslie and Tyerman in April 1995.

In 2000 Simard was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations (SAHO). Simard left this position in December 2003 to become President and Chief Executive Officer of the Health Employers Association of British Columbia. She continues (2007) in this capacity and currently resides in Vancouver.

Louise Simard has two children, Paul and Marin from her first marriage.

John Penner was born to Cornelius and Helena Penner on December 12, 1931 near Swift Current, Saskatchewan. He was raised on the family farm and attended Iris School. He later earned Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degrees from the University of Saskatchewan.

Penner was an educator for 31 years, serving as a teacher, vice-principal and principal of Swift Current Comprehensive High School. After retiring from teaching, he became an owner of Parkside Memorial Funeral Home in Swift Current. Penner was actively involved in the Swift Current community, serving as a city councillor, Union Hospital board member, member and president of the Rotary Club and Western Credit Union and founding board member of the Dr. Noble Irwin Healthcare Foundation.

Penner was first elected to the Saskatchewan Legislature in 1991 and served as the New Democratic Party MLA for the Swift Current Constituency until 1995. He served in the Roy Romanow cabinet as Minister of Energy and Mines (1991-1993); Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Mining Development Corporation (1991-1993); Minister Responsible for Wakamow Valley Authority (1991-1992); Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Research Council (1991-1993); Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Energy Conservation and Development Authority (1992-1993); Associate Minister of Finance (1993-1995); Minister of Crown Investments Corporation (1993-1995); Minister Responsible for CIC Mineral Interests Corporation (1993-1995); Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Computer Utility Corporation (1993-1995). Penner resigned from cabinet on February 3, 1995 for health reasons and did not seek re-election in the 1995 general election.

Penner died on March 5, 2003 in Swift Current and was buried in Hillcrest Cemetery.

Penner and his wife, Josephine, were married on July 11, 1953. They had two daughters, Maxine and Sheila.

Lorne Albert Calvert was born on December 24, 1952 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan to Albert Calvert and Beulah (Phillips) Calvert. He earned a Bachelor of Arts (Economics) degree from the University of Regina and a Bachelor of Divinity (Theology) degree from St. Andrew's College, University of Saskatchewan.

In 1976, Calvert was ordained in the United Church of Canada and served various congregations in rural Saskatchewan. He was Minister of Zion United Church in Moose Jaw from 1979 to 1986.

Calvert was first elected to the Saskatchewan Legislature in 1986 and served as a New Democratic Party Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the Moose Jaw South (1986-1991) and Moose Jaw Wakamow (1991-1999) constituencies. He was elected MLA for the Saskatoon Riversdale constituency in 2001.

Calvert served in the Roy Romanow Government from 1992 to 1998 as Associate Minister of Health (1992-1995); Minister of Health (1995) and Minister of Social Services (1995-1998). Calvert was Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Power Corporation (1992-1993); SaskEnergy Inc. (1992-1993); Souris Basin Development Authority (1992-1993); Wakamow Valley Authority (1992-1998); Health Services Utilization and Research Commission (1995); Public Service Commission (1995-1998); Seniors (1995-1998); and Disabilities Directorate (1997-1998).

Calvert resigned from Cabinet in 1998 and did not run in the 1999 provincial general election. He worked as a social policy advisor to Premier Romanow from 1999 to 2000. Calvert was elected Leader of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party on January 27, 2001 and became Premier of Saskatchewan and President of the Executive Council on February 8, 2001. He was re-elected in the 2003 general election and served as Premier of Saskatchewan until his Government was defeated in the 2007 general election by the Saskatchewan Party. Calvert announced his retirement as party leader and MLA on October 16, 2008 and was succeeded as leader by Dwain Lingenfelter on June 6, 2009.

Calvert currently (2009) is Principal of St. Andrew's College at the University of Saskatchewan.

Lorne Calvert married Betty Anne Sluzalo on October 25, 1975. They have two children: David Lorne and Stephanie Anne.