Maria Fitzpatrick

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Maria Fitzpatrick
Maria Fitzpatrick 2015.jpg
Fitzpatrick in May 2015
MLA for Lethbridge-East
Assumed office
May 5, 2015
Preceded by Bridget Pastoor
Personal details
Born (1949-02-18) February 18, 1949 (age 67)
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Political party Alberta New Democratic Party
Residence Lethbridge, Alberta
Occupation Corrections officer, athlete

Maria Michelle Fitzpatrick (born February 18, 1949) is a Canadian politician who was elected in the Alberta general election, 2015 to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta representing the electoral district of Lethbridge-East.[1]

Fitzpatrick was born and raised in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. She is a former sprinter who competed in the Canada Summer Games, Canadian Track and Field Championships, National University Indoor Championships, Halifax Highland Games, Antigonish Highland Games, and Royal Canadian Legion Provincial Championships. In 1969, she was named the Athlete of the Year for St. John's. She later coached various track and field teams in the Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Alberta. In 2005, she was named to the Newfoundland and Labrador Athletics Association Hall of Fame. Fitzpatrick is a trustee on the Lethbridge Labour Council, vice president of the Canadian Federation of University Women, and chair of the regional women’s committee of the Public Service Alliance of Canada. She worked for 32 years with the Correctional Service of Canada, most recently as a project officer.[2][3]

In November 2015, during debate on a private member's bill to improve supports for victims of domestic violence, Fitzpatrick spoke in the legislature about her own experience having been married to an abusive husband in the 1970s.[4] She earned a standing ovation in the legislature for her speech, and the bill unanimously passed second reading soon afterward.[4]

Electoral history[edit]

2015 general election[edit]

Alberta general election, 2015: Lethbridge-East
Party Candidate Votes %
New Democratic Maria Fitzpatrick 8,913 47.57
Progressive Conservative Tammy Perlich 4,745 25.32
Wildrose Kent Prestage 3,881 20.71
Liberal Bill West 1,199 6.40
Total

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Maria M. Fitzpatrick – NDP – Lethbridge-East". lethbridgeherald.com. Retrieved 21 May 2015. 
  2. ^ George. "NLAA  :: Hall of Fame". nlaa.ca. Retrieved 21 May 2015. 
  3. ^ "Lethbridge East NDP candidate a labour expert". lethbridgeherald.com. Retrieved 21 May 2015. 
  4. ^ a b "‘He beat me. He raped me,’ Alberta NDP politician recounts own experience of domestic violence". Toronto Star, November 17, 2015.