Michael Franklin Harcourt,
OC (born January 6, 1943) served as the 30th
premier of British Columbia
Premier is a title for the head of government in central governments, state governments and local governments of some countries. A second in command to a premier is designated as a deputy premier.
A premier will normally be a head of govern ...
from 1991 to 1996, and before that as the 34th
mayor of Vancouver
The mayor of Vancouver is the head and chief executive officer of Vancouver, British Columbia, who is elected for a four-year term. The 41st and current officeholder is Ken Sim, who has held office since November 7, 2022.
List
indicate ...
, BC's largest city, from 1980 to 1986.
Early life and education
Harcourt was student council president at
Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School and studied at the
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a public university, public research university with campuses near Vancouver and in Kelowna, British Columbia. Established in 1908, it is British Columbia's oldest university. The university ranks a ...
, where he graduated
BA and
LLB. He founded and became the first director (1969–71) of the Vancouver Community Legal Assistance Society, reputedly Canada's first community law office.
Municipal politics
Harcourt served as a
Vancouver
Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the city, up from 631,486 in 2016. Th ...
alderman from 1973 to 1980. He was first elected as a member of
The Electors' Action Movement (TEAM). He was
Mayor of Vancouver
The mayor of Vancouver is the head and chief executive officer of Vancouver, British Columbia, who is elected for a four-year term. The 41st and current officeholder is Ken Sim, who has held office since November 7, 2022.
List
indicate ...
from 1980 to 1986. As mayor, his term in office was dominated by planning for