Frederick C. Colborne

Frederick C. Colborne (November 14, 1916 – April 19, 2006) D.F.C., of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in 1944 and served until 1971. He first sat as a non-partisan MLA, then switched to the Social Credit party, for which he held a seat from 1948 to 1971.

Frederick Charles Colborne DFC
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
In office August 8, 1944 – August 17, 1948
Preceded by	New district
Succeeded by	District abolished
Constituency	Royal Canadian Air Force
In office August 17, 1948 – June 18, 1959
Preceded by	Fred Anderson Andrew Davison
Succeeded by	District abolished
Constituency	Calgary
In office June 18, 1959 – August 29, 1971
Preceded by	New district
Succeeded by	District abolished
Constituency	Calgary Centre
Personal details
Born	(1916-11-14)November 14, 1916
Died	April 19, 2006(2006-04-19) (aged 89)
Political party	Alberta Social Credit Party
Military career
Allegiance	Canada
Branch	Royal Canadian Air Force
Years of service	1940–Unknown
Rank	Wing Commander
Unit	No. 5 Squadron RCAF

Early life

He served in the Royal Canadian Air Force in Newfoundland during WWII, earning a Distinguished Flying Cross.

Political career

In 1944, seats in the Alberta Legislature were set aside for three members to represent members of the armed forces (army, navy, and air force). These three members did not represent a geographical district but instead spoke for the men and women serving overseas in the Second World War, one seat for each branch of the services. These three representatives had no political affiliation and sat on the opposition side of the House. Colborne was elected by 21 percent of the Air Force votes, to serve as the representative of the Air Force.

While serving as MLA, he also served on Calgary city council 1947–1948.^[1]

In 1948, with the armed forces seats abolished, Colborne joined the Alberta Social Credit Party and was elected in Calgary. He went on to serve in the Legislature until 1971. During his lengthy service as an MLA, he also became a member of Cabinet, serving initially as a Minister without Portfolio. In 1962, he became Minister of Public Works and then, in 1967, Minister of Municipal Affairs. He was defeated in Calgary Currie in the 1971 Alberta general election by Fred Peacock of the Progressive Conservatives. After his 1971 defeat, he did not try again to be elected.^[2]