Wiens, Bernhard Henry, 1945-

Person

Wiens, Bernhard Henry, 1945-

• Berny Wiens

1945-

Bernhard Henry Wiens was born on September 2, 1945 in Rosetown, Saskatchewan to Jacob Bernhard and Margaret G. Wiens. Raised on the family farm at Herschel, Wiens received his early education at Herschel School. After completing high school at Rosthern Junior College, Wiens attended the University of Saskatchewan, where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture and a Master's Degree in Animal Nutrition. He taught science at Milden Central School during the 1969-70 school year. In 1969, Wiens began a family-operated mixed farm near Herschel.

Before entering provincial politics, Wiens played an active role in a number of community organizations including the Agricultural Insight Foundation, the Canadian Society of Animal Science, the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool and the National Farmers Union. He was president of both the Saskatchewan School Trustees Association and the Canadian School Board Association. Wiens also served on the Saskatchewan Committee on Rural Area Development.

On September 7, 1968 Wiens married Cheralyn Winona Marie Krug. He and his wife have five children, Devin Conrad, Lara Nicole, Lauren Bernhard, Stacey Marie, and Teresa Margaret.

Bernhard Wiens was elected to the Saskatchewan Legislature in the general election of 1991. From 1991 to 1995, he served as the member from Rosetown-Elrose. In 1995 he was re-elected as the representative of Rosetown-Biggar. He continued to serve as the member from Rosetown-Biggar until September 16, 1999, when he was defeated by Elwin Hermanson.

During the eight years that Wiens was a MLA, he held a number of portfolios in the NDP government of Roy Romanow. These included: Minister of Agriculture and Food (Nov. 1, 1991-Sept. 29, 1992); Minister of Highways and Transportation (Nov. 1, 1991-Sept. 29, 1992); Minister of the Environment and Public Safety (Sept. 29, 1992-Mar. 17, 1993); Minister of the Environment and Resource Management (Mar. 17, 1993-Nov. 22, 1995); Minister Responsible for the Crown Investments Corporation (Nov. 22, 1995-June 27, 1997); Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs (June 27, 1997-Sept. 30, 1999); and Provincial Secretary (Sept. 21, 1998-Sept. 30, 1999).

Wiens was also Minister Responsible for: Agricultural Credit Corporation of Saskatchewan (1991-1992); Saskatchewan Grain Car Corporation (1991-1992); Agriculture Development Fund (1991-1992); Highway Traffic Board (1991-1992); Saskatchewan Water Corporation (1993); Saskatchewan Wetland Conservation Corporation (1993-1995); and CIC Mineral Interests Corporation (1995-1997).

Following his defeat in the 1999 general election, Wiens returned to farming. On May 25, 2001 he was appointed to a three-year term on the Board of Governors of the University of Regina. In this capacity he was a presenter at the Oxford Round Table in July 2003. Other corporations and associations with which Wiens held affiliation include: the Saskatchewan Vegetable Growers Association; the Canada Ukrainian Agrarian Development Corporation; Troika International Lobbyists Inc.; and, Wiens Enterprises Inc. He currently (2010) resides near Herschel, Saskatchewan.

PA 211

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Authority record created on 2008-03-13. Approved 2012-03-06. Last modified on 2017-11-29.

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