Haverstock, Lynda Maureen (1948-)

Lynda Haverstock was born in Swift Current on September 16, 1948. She left high school before completion, but returned to finish as an adult. She attended the University of Saskatchewan, earning a BEd and MEd and completed a PhD in clinical Psychology. She worked as psychologist in private practice and as a lecturer for both the Universities of Saskatchewan and New Brunswick. She worked for the Centre for Agricultural Medicine in Saskatoon, specializing in farm stress, and edited a book on the subject.

Her brother, Dennis Ham, served two terms as a Conservative in the Legislature. Haverstock, however, was active in the Liberal Party in the 1980s, and was elected Leader in 1989 when the party had no seats in the Legislature and was the first woman to lead a Saskatchewan political party. In the 1991 election, Liberal support more than doubled to over 23%of the total vote, but the Liberals failed to elect any MLAs besides Haverstock, who won in Saskatoon-Greystone.

During the term, NDP MLA Glen McPherson crossed the floor to the Liberals and they won a 1994 by-election. In the 1995 election the Liberals captured eleven seats, and increased their vote to almost 35%. Nevertheless, Haverstock was forced out as leader shortly after the election but remained in the Legislature for the rest of the term as an independent. She did not contest the 1999 election, and began a short career as a radio talk show host. In 2000, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien appointed her as Saskatchewan's Lieutenant-Governor.

Brett Quiring

Print Entry

Further Reading

Haverstock, Lynda. 2001. “The Saskatchewan Liberal Party.” Pp. 199-250 in Howard Leeson (ed.), Saskatchewan Politics: Into the Twenty-first Century. Regina: Canadian Plains Research Center.