Catherine Callbeck
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Catherine S. Callbeck (born July 25, 1939 in Central Bedeque, Prince Edward Island, Canada) was premier of Prince Edward Island from 1993 to 1996; the first woman in Canadian history to win general election to the office of premier. (She was preceded by Rita Johnston, but Johnston became premier by winning the leadership of the governing party, and lost the subsequent provincial election.)
A Liberal, she was first elected to Prince Edward Island's provincial legislature in 1974. She was appointed to Cabinet as Minister of Health and Social Services and Minister Responsible for Disabled Persons. She decided not to seek re-election in 1978 in order to work in the family business.
Callbeck returned to politics in 1988 when she was elected to the federal House of Commons as an MP for the Liberal Party of Canada. In January 1993 she returned to provincial politics to successfully run for the leadership of the Prince Edward Island Liberal Party. Under her leadership the Liberals won the provincial election in March 1993 becoming the first female leader of a political party in Canada to lead her party to victory in a general election.
Her government proved to be unpopular, however, and Callbeck resigned in October 1996 after only three and a half years as PEI's Premier. In September 1997 she was appointed to the Senate.
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Preceded by: Joseph A. Ghiz 1986-1993 |
Premier of Prince Edward Island 1993-1996 |
Succeeded by: Keith Milligan 1996 |
| Preceded by: Mel Gass, PC |
Members of Parliament from Malpeque | Succeeded by: Wayne Easter, Liberal |