The Honourable
Doug Griffiths
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
In office
2004–2015
Preceded byNew riding
Succeeded byWes Taylor
ConstituencyBattle River-Wainwright
In office
2002–2004
Preceded byRobert Fischer
Succeeded byRiding abolished
ConstituencyWainwright
Personal details
Born (1972-10-26) 26 October 1972 (age 53)
PartyAlberta Party
Other political
affiliations
Progressive Conservative (former)
SpouseSue
ChildrenAustin and Brady
Residence(s)Ardrossan, Alberta
Alma materUniversity of Alberta
OccupationTeacher, speaker, author
Websitewww.13ways.ca

Douglas Gordon Griffiths ECA (born 26 October 1972)[1] is the president and chief executive officer of 13 Ways, Inc., a company he founded to provide consultation to struggling North American communities.[2] He is a public speaker and co-author of the book 13 Ways to Kill Your Community, now in its second edition,[3] and is an instructor with the Executive Education program at the University of Alberta School of Business.[4]

Griffiths is a former Canadian politician and Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta representing the constituency of Battle River-Wainwright as a Progressive Conservative (PC). He was a candidate for the leadership of the PC Party in the 2011 leadership election. He has since taken a step back from provincial politics, in favour of his role with 13 Ways and his teaching duties.[5]

13 Ways, Inc.

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13 Ways began as a book,[6] and has since developed into a consulting company and a speaking tour series delivered across North America.[7][8] The book is written in a satirical style, with a "straight-shooting, no-punches-pulled approach"[7] detailing the various ways in which one might kill a community; i.e. through failure to provide clean water, reliable Internet services, and a place where youth will return to raise families and retire. The concept has since branched out and now incorporates a speaking series, syndicated columns, blog, and newsletter, in addition to offering consultation to struggling communities.[9]

Education

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Griffiths attended the University of Alberta, where he earned an honours degree in philosophy and an education degree. After university, he taught for three years at Byemoor School], in the County of Stettler No. 6. He was nominated for a teaching award each year, including two nominations for the PanCanadian Students' Choice Award.[citation needed]

Political career

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Griffiths received 79 per cent of the vote in Battle River-Wainwright during the 2008 provincial election, sending him to the Legislature for his third term.[10] In addition to his duties as an MLA, he has served as Parliamentary Assistant for the Department of Finance and Enterprise and is currently a member of the Public Accounts Committee and Health Committee.

Griffiths was first elected in a by-election for the Wainwright constituency on 8 April 2002, after former incumbent Robert Fischer resigned amidst a conflict-of-interest investigation by the Ethics Commissioner.[11] Then 29, Griffiths was the youngest MLA in office at the time.

The Wainwright boundaries changed for the 2004 provincial election, creating the current Battle River-Wainwright constituency, which Griffiths won with support from 65 per cent of the voters.[12]

During his tenure as MLA, Griffiths was the parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, and has been involved in numerous committees and has chaired the Standing Committee on Energy and Sustainable Development, Rural Development Strategies Task Force, MLA Steering Committee for Rural Development, and was vice-chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts.

On 12 October 2011 Griffiths was appointed Minister of Alberta Municipal Affairs by Premier Alison Redford.

Griffiths was reelected in the 23 April 2012 provincial election as an incumbent PC candidate.

On 13 December 2013, Griffiths was sworn in as Minister of Service Alberta.[13]

On 26 January 2015, he resigned from his position as a MLA.[5]

Election results

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2004

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2004 Alberta general election: Battle River-Wainwright
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Doug Griffiths 6,406 65.02%
Alberta Alliance Orest Werezak 1,442 14.64%
Liberal Gordon Rogers 1,069 10.85%
New Democratic Len Legault 616 6.25%
Social Credit Robin Skitteral 320 3.25%
Total 9,853
Rejected, spoiled and declined 32
Eligible electors / turnout 20,368 48.53%
Progressive Conservative pickup new district.
Source(s)
Source: "Elections Alberta 2004 General Election". Elections Alberta. Retrieved 21 May 2020.

2008

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2008 Alberta general election: Battle River-Wainwright
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Doug Griffiths 7,968 78.56% 13.55%
Liberal Horst Schreiber 1,260 12.42% 1.57%
Green William Munsey 483 4.76%
New Democratic Doris Bannister 431 4.25% -2.00%
Total 10,142
Rejected, spoiled and declined 129
Eligible electors / turnout 21,064 48.76% 0.23%
Progressive Conservative hold Swing 7.88%
Source(s)
The Report on the March 3, 2008 Provincial General Election of the Twenty-seventh Legislative Assembly. Elections Alberta. 28 July 2008. pp. 368–371.
"Elections Alberta 2012 General Election". Elections Alberta. Retrieved 21 May 2020.

2012

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2012 Alberta general election: Battle River-Wainwright
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Doug Griffiths 7,202 46.70% -31.86%
Wildrose Dave Nelson 6,709 43.51%
New Democratic Terry Zawalski 776 5.03% 0.78%
Liberal Amber Greenleese 469 3.04% -9.38%
Alberta Party Midge Lambert 265 1.72%
Total 15,421
Rejected, spoiled and declined 87
Eligible electors / turnout 25,863 59.96% 11.20%
Progressive Conservative hold Swing -31.47%
Source(s)

References

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  1. ^ https://www.facebook.com/Griffs4ABsFuture?v=info [user-generated source]
  2. ^ "Doug Griffiths - 13 Ways". 13 Ways. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  3. ^ Griffiths, Doug; Clemmer, Kelly (2010). 13 Ways to Kill Your Community. Frontenac House. ISBN 9781897181423.
  4. ^ www.linkedin.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/griff13ways/. Retrieved 7 November 2017. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)[title missing]
  5. ^ a b "Griffiths resigns". Star News. Archived from the original on 26 January 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  6. ^ Griffiths, Doug; Clemmer, Kelly (19 December 2016). 13 Ways to Kill Your Community 2nd Edition. FriesenPress. ISBN 9781460297599.
  7. ^ a b "Book Doug Griffiths - 13 Ways". 13 Ways. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
  8. ^ "Events - 13 Ways". 13 Ways. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
  9. ^ "About Us - 13 Ways". 13 Ways. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
  10. ^ "Battle River-Wainwright Unofficial Results". Elections Alberta. 3 March 2008. Archived from the original on 1 March 2009. Retrieved 15 March 2008.
  11. ^ "Wainwright By-election April 2002". Elections Alberta. Archived from the original on 25 December 2007. Retrieved 15 March 2008.
  12. ^ "Battle River-Wainwright General Election Statement of Official Results" (PDF). Elections Alberta. 22 November 2004. Retrieved 15 March 2008.
  13. ^ "Alberta Cabinet swearing-in ceremony - YouTube". www.youtube.com. 13 December 2013. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2020.