Dueck, Peter Albert (1923-2015)

Peter and Helen Dueck
Source: Family

Peter Albert Dueck: businessman and politician; born 5 July 1923 in Aliessovo, Orenburg Mennonite Settlement, Russia, to Jacob P. Dueck (9 May 1899, Aliessovo, Orenburg, Russia – 25 February 1992, Abbotsford, British Columbia) and Susanna (Dueck) Dueck (18 November 1895, Pastwa, Molotschna Mennonite Settlement, South Russia – 19 January 1937, Coaldale, Alberta, Canada). On 16 November 1946, he married Helen Goerz (16 March 1924, Blumenort, Asiatic Russia – 13 July 2009, Abbotsford, British Columbia), daughter of Johann H. Goerz (1889-1977) and Helena (Boldt) Goerz (1893-1979), in Coaldale, Alberta. Peter and Helen had four children: Edward, Gerald, Larraine, and Leonard. Peter Dueck died 19 January 2015 in Abbotsford, BC.

In 1926, when Peter was three years old, the family, then consisting of Peter and three older sisters, emigrated from the Soviet Union and settled in Coaldale, Alberta. Additional children were born in Alberta. In 1941, at the age of eighteen, Peter left to find work in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia. In 1946, he married Helen Goerz. The young couple established a home in Abbotsford, where they lived the rest of their lives.

In 1951, Peter Dueck cofounded MSA Motors, a major car dealership in Abbotsford. Later, he also established real estate and insurance firms. Throughout their lives, Peter and Helen attended Central Heights Mennonite Brethren Church in Abbotsford. During his early years in Abbotsford, Peter studied at the University of British Columbia. Peter and Helen were widely known for their beautiful floral gardens. Six times they won top awards from the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board.

In 1978, Peter Dueck was elected as an alderman in Matsqui Municipality (which merged with the District of Abbotsford in 1995), became deputy mayor, and served as alderman until 1986. In October 1986, he was elected as a Social Credit Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) of BC, representing the Central Fraser Valley. Premier Bill Vander Zalm promptly appointed Peter Dueck as Minister of Health, thereby making him responsible for one-third of the total provincial budget. As Wilma Derksen wrote in the Canadian Mennonite, he became "probably the most influential and visible Mennonite in BC."

Because of an alleged expenses scandal involving subordinates, Peter Dueck resigned from provincial cabinet in May 1990. He said that he knew nothing about the alleged scandal but as minister he accepted responsibility for it. In May 1991, a new Social Credit government led by Premier Rita Johnson took office and Peter Dueck again became a cabinet minister. By the time he stepped down on 30 November 1986, Peter Dueck had held five cabinet positions.

Some of Peter Dueck’s moral principles precipitated controversy. For example, in 1989, in a letter to a resident, the Health Minister stated that sexual activity should be restricted to adults in monogamous relationships. "Monogamous relationships are what we are stressing." He added, "I don’t believe in promiscuous behaviour in teens." He subsequently qualified his statement but did not withdraw his assertions.

Peter Dueck’s death evoked many expressions of support. He was widely affirmed for his integrity and competence.

Bibliography

Crawford, Tiffany. "Obituary: Peter Dueck was B.C. Health Minister in Vander Zalm Era." Times Colonist. 24 February 2015. Web. 25 May 2023. https://www.timescolonist.com/bc-news/obituary-peter-dueck-was-bc-health-minister-in-vander-zalm-era-4619491.

"Peter Albert Dueck." Wikipedia. 20 January 2023. Web. 25 May 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Albert_Dueck.

Author(s)	John H Redekop
Date Published	May 2023

Cite This Article

MLA style

Redekop, John H. "Dueck, Peter Albert (1923-2015)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. May 2023. Web. 24 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Dueck,_Peter_Albert_(1923-2015)&oldid=175582.

APA style

Redekop, John H. (May 2023). Dueck, Peter Albert (1923-2015). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 24 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Dueck,_Peter_Albert_(1923-2015)&oldid=175582.

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