Hugh Austin Curtis

Hugh Austin Curtis (October 3, 1932 – May 27, 2014) was a Canadian politician who represented Saanich and the Islands in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1972 to 1986. Initially a Progressive Conservative member, he joined the Social Credit Party in 1974, and served in the cabinets of premiers Bill Bennett and Bill Vander Zalm. Prior to entering provincial politics, he served as municipal councillor and mayor of Saanich.

Hugh Austin Curtis
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for Saanich and the Islands
In office August 30, 1972 – October 22, 1986
Preceded by	John Douglas Tisdalle
Succeeded by	Mel Couvelier Terry Huberts
Provincial Secretary and Minister of Government Services of British Columbia
In office August 14, 1986 – November 6, 1986
Premier	Bill Vander Zalm
Preceded by	Grace McCarthy
Succeeded by	Elwood Veitch
In office December 5, 1978 – November 24, 1979
Premier	Bill Bennett
Preceded by	Grace McCarthy
Succeeded by	Evan Maurice Wolfe
Minister of Finance of British Columbia
In office November 24, 1979 – August 14, 1986
Premier	Bill Bennett Bill Vander Zalm
Preceded by	Evan Maurice Wolfe
Succeeded by	Bill Vander Zalm
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing of British Columbia
In office December 22, 1975 – December 5, 1978
Premier	Bill Bennett
Preceded by	Lorne Nicolson (Housing) James Gibson Lorimer (Municipal Affairs)
Succeeded by	Bill Vander Zalm
Reeve/Mayor of Saanich
In office 1964–1973
Preceded by	Stanley Murphy
Succeeded by	Edward Lum
Personal details
Born	(1932-10-03)October 3, 1932 Victoria, British Columbia
Died	May 27, 2014(2014-05-27) (aged 81) Victoria, British Columbia
Political party	Social Credit Progressive Conservative (1972-1974)
Spouse	Sheila Diane Harford ​ ​ (m. 1957; died 2009)​
Children	Gary, Dave, Susan

Biography

He was born in Victoria, British Columbia,^[1] the son of Austin Ivor Curtis and Helen Shepherd; his father served on the Victoria City Council and the school board.^[2] He was educated at Victoria High School,^[3] then worked as an announcer at radio station CJVI for 15 years.^[2] He later moved to CFAX, where he handled roles including newscaster and sales manager,^[4] and at one point held a minority stake in the station.^[2] He married Sheila Diane Halford in 1957; they had three children together.^[3]

Curtis was elected to the Saanich municipal council in 1961,^[2] then served as reeve from 1964 to 1973 (the position was re-titled mayor in 1968).^[1][5] During that time, he oversaw the acquisition of parklands and establishment of three recreation centres.^[4] He also served as the first chair of the Capital Regional District.^[2]

He ran as a Progressive Conservative candidate in the 1972 provincial election, and was elected member of the Legislative Assembly for Saanich and the Islands.^[6]: 316 He crossed the floor to join the Social Credit Party (Socred) in 1974,^[2][7] and was re-elected in the 1975, 1979 and 1983 elections.^{[6]: 326, 336, 344} With the Socreds returning to power in 1975, Curtis was appointed to the provincial cabinet by Premier Bill Bennett as Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, then became Provincial Secretary and Minister of Government Services in December 1978.^[1][8] He was re-assigned as Minister of Finance in November 1979, and served in that role for the remainder of the Bennett ministry.^[8] After Bill Vander Zalm became premier in 1986, Curtis was moved back to his previous portfolio of Provincial Secretary and Government Services; he did not run again in that year's election.^[9]

He was awarded the Freeman of Saanich distinction in 2002.^[3][5][10] He died of cancer on May 27, 2014, at Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria.^[3][11][12]