| HISTORY/BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH: | Robert Gary Dickson was born on April 30, 1948 in Alberta, Canada. He received a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science at the University of Alberta, Edmonton and went on to receive his law degree from the same institution. Prior to his entrance into provincial politics, Gary Dickson lived and or worked in the riding of Calgary-Buffalo for over 25 years. Part of Gary Dickson’s political platform was that having been a member of the community for many years, he understood the needs and concerns of the inner city. Gary Dickson was well known for his involvement in many community organizations. He was the cofounder of Calgary Legal Guidance in the early 1970’s, he was also the founding President of the Calgary Civil Liberties Association in 1977. Between 1977 and 1987 Mr. Dickson served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Calgary John Howard Society (1979-1981), the Society’s president (1984-1986), and the Issues Chairman (1985-1987). In June of 1990 he received the Community Service Award from the John Howard Society of Canada for his dedicated commitment to the organization and its members. He has also been involved as part of the executive of many youth organizations in the Calgary area. Gary Dickson’s professional career has seen him working as a partner in a small Calgary-Buffalo law firm, focusing primarily of family law. Gary Dickson’s expertise in this area led to his role lecturing in the Landlord-Tenant Law for Bar Admission Course in the late 1970’s, as well as in the University of Calgary Law Faculty Family Law Program. In January of 1994 he was appointed to the Queen’s Counsel. His involvement in human rights issues, as the Alberta Liberal Party’s Official Opposition Critic for Human Rights, has led to his work as a columnist for “Law Now” magazine. Gary Dickson is also the author of the Alberta Divorce Guide (11Editions).
Gary Dickson’s political career began in university when he served as the President of the University of Alberta’s Liberal Club (1968-1969). In the late 1980’s Gary became more involved in party politics by serving as: Secretary of the Calgary West Federal Liberal Association (1986-1989); an executive member of the Calgary Northwest Liberal Association; Chairman of Rules, Accreditation and Voting Sub-Committee for the Alberta Liberal Party Leadership Convention (1988); Accreditation Chairman for the Liberal Party of Canada in Alberta, Convention (March 1989); Chairman for the Alberta Campaign for the election of Bill Code in the Senate Selection Campaign (1989); creator and editor of the Simpson Bulletin, a bulletin relaying the events, goals and objectives of the Alberta Liberal Party (1989-1991); and serving as the President of the Alberta Liberal Party (1989-1991).In 1992 Gary Dickson was elected, in a by-election, as Liberal MLA for the Calgary Buffalo constituency, where he serve as the Liberal Critic for Justice, Human Rights, Consumer and Corporate Affairs and the Alberta Liquor Board. In 1993 he was re-elected to the same position where his portfolio was confined to that of Critic for Justice and Human Rights. Also in 1993 Dickson served as the Chairman for the Liberal Standing Committee on Community Services as well as participating as a member of the Provincial All Party Panel on Freedom of Information. Based on this participation when Gary Dickson was re-elected in 1997 he was given the role of Official Opposition Critic for Freedom of Information as well as continuing his work with Human Rights. Gary Dickson did not run in the 2001 provincial election but chose instead to re-enter private practice. |