Dave Hancock

For other people named Dave Hancock, see Dave Hancock (disambiguation).

David Graeme Hancock ECA KC (born August 10, 1955) is a Canadian lawyer and was the 15th premier of Alberta in 2014. Since 2017, he has served as a judge of the Provincial Court of Alberta.^[2] From 1997 to 2014, he was a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta representing Edmonton-Whitemud as a Progressive Conservative^[3] until announcing his resignation from the legislature on September 12, 2014.^[4]

The Honourable Dave Hancock ECA KC
Hancock in 2011
15th Premier of Alberta
In office March 23, 2014 – September 15, 2014
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Lieutenant Governor	Donald Ethell
Preceded by	Alison Redford
Succeeded by	Jim Prentice
Deputy Premier of Alberta
In office December 6, 2013 – March 20, 2014
Premier	Alison Redford
Preceded by	Thomas Lukaszuk
Succeeded by	Sarah Hoffman (2016)
Leader of the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta
Interim
In office March 20, 2014 – September 6, 2014
Preceded by	Alison Redford
Succeeded by	Jim Prentice
Alberta Executive Council Minister of Advanced Education In office December 6, 2013 – September 15, 2014 Premier Alison Redford Himself Preceded by Thomas Lukaszuk Succeeded by Don Scott In office November 25, 2004 – April 5, 2006 Premier Ralph Klein Preceded by Lyle Oberg (Learning) Succeeded by Denis Herard (Advanced Education and Technology) Minister of Human Services In office October 12, 2011 – December 13, 2013 Premier Alison Redford Preceded by Position established Succeeded by Manmeet Bhullar Minister of Education In office March 12, 2008 – October 12, 2011 Premier Ed Stelmach Preceded by Ron Liepert Succeeded by Thomas Lukaszuk Minister of Health and Wellness In office December 15, 2006 – March 12, 2008 Premier Ed Stelmach Preceded by Iris Evans Succeeded by Ron Liepert Minister of Justice and Attorney General In office May 26, 1999 – November 25, 2004 Premier Ralph Klein Preceded by Jon Havelock Succeeded by Ron Stevens Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs In office March 29, 1997 – May 26, 1999 Premier Ralph Klein Preceded by Ken Rostad Succeeded by Shirley McClellan
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Edmonton-Whitemud
In office March 11, 1997 – September 25, 2014
Preceded by	Mike Percy
Succeeded by	Stephen Mandel
Personal details
Born	David Graeme Hancock[1] (1955-08-10) August 10, 1955 (age 69) Fort Resolution, Northwest Territories, Canada
Political party	Progressive Conservative
Spouse	Janet
Children	3
Residence(s)	Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Alma mater	University of Alberta
Occupation	Lawyer

Early life

Hancock was born August 10, 1955, in Fort Resolution, Northwest Territories,^[5] grew up in Hazelton, British Columbia, went to high school in Fort Vermilion, Alberta before moving to Edmonton in 1972. He went to the University of Alberta for his undergraduate degree in Political Science and graduated in 1975,^[6] He was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity at University of Alberta.^[7]

Political career

Premier of Alberta

Following the announcement of Alison Redford's resignation as both leader of the Progressive Conservative Party and premier, he was named interim party leader by the Progressive Conservative caucus on March 20, 2014, and, with such confidence from the majority of the legislature, was appointed as Premier of Alberta.^[8] Hancock was sworn in at Government House on March 23, 2014.

Hancock was succeeded as Premier and PC party leader by Jim Prentice on September 15, 2014. He also retired from the legislature on the same day. He is the shortest serving premier in the province's history. Hancock's official portrait as Premier was unveiled on February 13, 2017. Hancock joked at the ceremony saying that his premiership was "the best summer job that I’ve ever had", and that he expected his portrait to be "one the size of a postage stamp" based on the short length of his administration. Other politicians in attendance paid tribute to Hancock's long hours in the legislature to pass legislation, and his lengthy tenure in government holding eight cabinet portfolios.^[9]

Personal life

Hancock lives in Edmonton with his wife Janet, who was the principal at Lillian Osborne High School in Edmonton until 2018.^[10][11] He has three children.^[3]

Electoral record

v t e 2004 Alberta general election: Edmonton-Whitemud
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Progressive Conservative	Dave Hancock	7,494	46.13%	−12.15
	Liberal	Donna Smith	6,568	40.43%	+5.40
	New Democratic	Brian Fleck	1,639	10.09%	+3.75
	Alberta Alliance	Kathy Rayner	471	2.90%
	Independent	John Andrews	74	0.45%
Total			16,246
Rejected, spoiled, and declined			89
Eligible electors / turnout			30,949	52.77%
	Progressive Conservative hold		Swing		−8.78
"Edmonton-Whitemud Statement of Official Results 2004 Alberta general election" (PDF). Elections Alberta. Retrieved March 19, 2010.