Tribute to Gene Zwozdesky by George Rogers

My dear friend Gene Zwozdesky or “Zwoz”, as he was affectionately known by many, was a man who left an indelible mark on his community, a very broad community, that being the Province of Alberta and indeed Canada.

Gene was a trained educator who positively influenced many lives in his time at Victoria Composite High School (now named Victoria School for the Performing Arts). He was a very accomplished dancer and musician, who spent many years as a member of the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers, and later became its musical director; where their projects included a very successful tour of the Ukraine. He also served as musical director of the Cheremosh Ukrainian Dance Company.

He was an avid sportsman who excelled at golf, and served for many years as a minor hockey referee.
Gene gained greater prominence when he was elected to Alberta’s Legislative Assembly in 1993, as a member of the Lawrence Decore-lead Liberal Party.

He would cross the floor and join the Progressive Conservative Party under Ralph Klein in 1998, where he was first appointed to cabinet as the Junior Minister of Health. Gene went on to hold a number of other prominent cabinet posts including Community Development, Education, Health and Wellness, Aboriginal Relations, Deputy Government House Leader, and capped off his tenure as the Speaker from 2012 to 2015. I had the privilege of serving as Deputy Speaker with him, and this further cemented our 20-plus year relationship.

In addition to personal support, Gene was very instrumental in acquiring private and government support for many cultural groups, and was welcomed at many events across the Province. He was a very special friend to the Black community, and supported many events and numerous groups such as “Movements Afro-Caribbean Dance Ensemble” and others. His personal intervention helped secure funding for renovations to the Marcus Garvey Centre. He attended many events and welcomed members of our community to the Legislature on numerous occasions. Gene’s accomplishments and his selfless dedication to his fellow man will be hard for anyone to duplicate; Alberta and all of us are better because of his legacy.

We thank his wife Christine, his children, grandchildren and his extended family for sharing this great man with us. May he rest in peace; “Walk good” my dear friend.