Erik Hersholt Nielsen

1924 - 2008  (84 years)

• Name	Erik Hersholt Nielsen
  Birth	24 Feb 1924	Regina, Regina Census Division, Saskatchewan, Canada
  Gender	Male
  _FGLINK	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/29684473
  _FGRAVE	29684473
  _TAG	Ramsay Twp Settlers (1820-1821)
  Death	4 Sep 2008	Kelowna, Central Okanagan Regional District, British Columbia, Canada
  	Cause: Heart attack
  	Canadian Politician. He served as Member of Parliament for Yukon for 29 years and was Deputy Prime Minister 1984 to 1986. His nicknames were "Yukon Erik" and "Velcro Lips" in reference to his stonewalling of questions. Born in Regina, he was the older brother of actor Leslie Nielsen. Erik served in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II. He flew 23 sorties with Lancaster bomber 101 Squadron plus another 33 missions as a pilot officer and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. After leaving the military in 1951 and with a law degree from Dalhousie University, he set up a practice Whitehorse, Yukon. He was first elected to the House of Commons in 1957 as a member of the Progressive Conservative party and never lost in subsequent elections from 1958 to 1984. Sworn to the Privy Council in 1979, he was Minister of Public Works in the brief Joe Clark government. In 1983 Mr. Nielsen was named Leader of the Opposition and later as Government House Leader. Under Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Mr. Nielsen also served as Acting Fisheries Minister, Minister of Defence and Deputy PM. He tendered his resignation from cabinet in June 1986 in fallout from the Sinclair Stevens conflict-of-interest scandal. In early 1987, he resigned his seat in parliament but continued in various public service appointments, including Chairman of the National Transportation Agency. He retired in 1992 to pursue private business interests. His autobiography, "The House Is Not a Home", was published in 1989. Erik Nielsen died at home of a heart attack at age 84.
  Burial	Donated his remains to Medical Science, Specifically: Okanagan College, British Columbia, Canada
  Person ID	I899	The Family History of Robert Duncan a Lanark Society Settler
  Last Modified	4 May 2020

  
  

  Father	Ingvard Everson Nielsen,   b. 20 Apr 1901, Denmark d. 2 Jul 1975, Fountain Valley, Orange County, California, United States (Age 74 years)
  Mother	Mabel Elizabeth Davis,   b. Fulham, England
  Family ID	F6645	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Pamela June Temple
  Children	1. Roxanne Nielsen   2. Lee Nielsen   3. Rick Nielsen
  Family ID	F8436	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	26 Apr 2020

  
  

  Family 2	Shelley Nancy Coxford,   b. 26 Aug 1950, Montreal, Montreal Region, Quebec, Canada d. 12 Sep 2014, Kelowna, Central Okanagan Regional District, British Columbia, Canada (Age 64 years)
  Marriage	Abt 1980	Ottawa, Carleton County, Ontario, Canada
  	second marriage for Erik.
  Family ID	F323	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	26 Apr 2020

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - 24 Feb 1924 - Regina, Regina Census Division, Saskatchewan, Canada Marriage - Abt 1980 - Ottawa, Carleton County, Ontario, Canada Death - Cause: Heart attack - 4 Sep 2008 - Kelowna, Central Okanagan Regional District, British Columbia, Canada  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Photos

  Erick Hersholt Nielsen 1924-2008

  
  

• Notes

  Occupation: Erik was the Conservative member of Parliament for Whitehorse Yukon during the 1970/80's. His father Ingvard was a former RCMP officer. His brother Leslie Nielsen is a well know actor. This is a second marriage for Erik. See family media documents. Canadian Politician. Erik served as Member of Parliament for Yukon for 29 years and was Deputy Prime Minister 1984 to 1986. His nicknames were "Yukon Erik" and "Velcro Lips" in reference to his stonewalling of questions. Born in Regina, he was the older brother of actor Leslie Nielsen. Erik served in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II. He flew 23 sorties with Lancaster bomber 101 Squadron plus another 33 missions as a pilot officer and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. After leaving the military in 1951 and with a law degree from Dalhousie University, he set up a practice Whitehorse, Yukon. He was first elected to the House of Commons in 1957 as a member of the Progressive Conservative party and never lost in subsequent elections from 1958 to 1984. Sworn to the Privy Council in 1979, he was Minister of Public Works in the brief Joe Clark government. In 1983 Mr. Nielsen was named Leader of the Opposition and later as Government House Leader. Under Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Mr. Nielsen also served as Acting Fisheries Minister, Minister of Defense and Deputy PM. He tendered his resignation from cabinet in June 1986 in fallout from the Sinclair Stevens conflict-of-interest scandal. In early 1987, he resigned his seat in parliament but continued in various public service appointments, including Chairman of the National Transportation Agency. He retired in 1992 to pursue private business interests. His autobiography, "The House Is Not a Home", was published in 1989. Erik Nielsen died at home of a heart attack at age 84.