Elizabeth Janzen Dreger

Elizabeth Janzen Dreger
Born(1917-08-11)August 11, 1917
Berlin, Ontario, Canada
Died1979 (1980)
SpouseFred L. Dreger
RelativesHenry L. Janzen

Elizabeth Janzen Dreger (1917–1979) was a Canadian politician and businesswoman.

Dreger was born August 11, 1917, in Berlin (now Kitchener), Ontario.[1][2]: 235  The youngest of five children born to Rose and Charles Janzen, she was the granddaughter of Henry L. Janzen, the former mayor of Berlin.[2]: 235  In 1919, her family moved to a 187-acre farm in Breslau, Ontario where her father operated a greenhouse and nursery.[2]: 235  After attending Moulton College in Toronto, she studied at the MacDonald Institute in Guelph, Ontario graduating with a degree in household science.[2]: 235  Dreger later completed a six-month business college course, taking over as secretary at her family's real estate business, where she worked in various capacities for twenty-five years.[2]: 235  Dreger married lawyer and former Kitchener mayor Fred Dreger on September 24, 1960.[2]: 239 

Dreger's career in politics began in 1940, when she attended a local meeting that resulted in the eventual founding of the Waterloo North Conservative Women's Association.[2]: 235  She was elected to a three-year term as president of the association in 1942.[2]: 235  Beginning in 1948, she served for four years as president of the Western Ontario PC's Women's Association, prior to becoming president of the Women's PC Advisory Committee of Ontario.[2]: 235  In 1952, Dreger was selected as the first woman from Kitchener to run for the House of Commons.[2]: 235 [3][4] She ran as a candidate in riding of Waterloo North in a 1952 by-election to replace Louis Orville Breithaupt after his appointment as Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario and again in 1953 federal election. In both cases, she lost to Liberal candidate Norman Schneider.[2]: 35  Dreger went on to be named president of the Progressive Conservative Women's Association of Canada in 1956.[2]: 237 [5][6] The same year, she was an organizer of the PC leadership convention where John Diefenbaker succeeded George A. Drew.[2]: 237  She travelled frequently as part of her women's association duties working to raise awareness about the role of women in politics, which she juggled while running the family farm.[7] She took over as homemaker at the farm after her mother died in 1957.[2]: 238 

In addition to her political involvements and realty career, Janzen was an active member of the Kitchener community. She was a charter member of the Ontario Press Council, served on the first board of the Ontario Pioneer Community Foundation and was on the Board of Governors of the University of Waterloo from 1972 to 1975.[6] Dreger was involved with the Kitchener Horticultural Society, serving at one point as president, and she was a member of the Benton Street Baptist Church.[2]: 239  She also took on various executive positions within the local YWCA and served for a time as treasurer of the national branch of the organization.[6][4][2]: 239 

Dreger died in 1979.

  1. ^ "Elizabeth Miriam Janzen". generations.regionofwaterloo.ca. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Russell, Ruth, ed. (2000). "Edith MacIntosh (1914-) and Elizabeth Janzen Dreger (1917-1979)". Women of Waterloo County. Toronto: Natural Heritage/Natural History. pp. 229–239. ISBN 9781896219721.
  3. ^ "Schneider retains seat for Liberals". Waterloo Chronicle. 30 May 1952. p. 1. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  4. ^ a b Hansuld, Kathryn (21 June 1979). "City has had more than its share of prominent women". Kitchener-Waterloo Record. p. 76. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  5. ^ "Conservative Women Hear Advice on Salesmanship". Ottawa Journal. 17 January 1956. p. 14.
  6. ^ a b c "List of Hall of Fame Inductees". www.waterlooregionmuseum.ca. 8 December 2020. Archived from the original on 17 November 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  7. ^ Lee, A. Winifred (25 October 1958). "Party leader handles three jobs with ease". The Province. Vancouver, B.C. p. 42.