A well-known and former MLA for the Ponoka-Rimbey constituency has passed away at the age of 75.  

Halvar Jonson spent 18 years teaching as a principal with the bulk of his time living and working in Ponoka and served six terms as an MLA from 1982 to 2004.  

Marion Raugust worked for Jonson for 15 years as a constituency office manager and said he was extremely hard working.

“Over the years he was appointed Minister of Education, Minister of Health, and Minister of Environment and Intergovernmental affairs at different times. He did touch a lot of lives and helped out a lot of people in Alberta.”

Raugust added in recognition of his work in championing legislation that led to the establishment of charter schools in Alberta, the Association of Alberta Public Charter Schools established the Halvar Jonson Award in 2012.

Also, in honour of his public service, the provincial government renamed the brain injury ward of the Alberta Hospital in Ponoka the Halvar Jonson Centre for Brain Injury in Oct. 2006.

Halvar is survived by his wife Maxine of 53 years, three children: Halvar Jr. (Pamela), Trent (Paula) and Tamara (Jason); six grandchildren: Alanna, Damon, Solomon, Cyrus, Sloane and Harvey; and one sister Clara (Jack) Milner of St. Albert.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that you please send donations to the Wolf Creek School Division No. 72, (Halvar Jonson Scholarship Fund), Northcott Care Centre, the Centennial Centre for Mental Health and Brain Injury, the Alzheimer Society of Alberta or a charity of your choice.

A public funeral for Jonson will be held on Dec. 9 at 11 a.m. at the St. Mary’s Anglican Church in Ponoka.