18 Facts About David Swann

David Richard Swann was born on June 19,1949 and is a Canadian medical doctor and politician.

David Swann was the leader of the Alberta Liberal Party and Leader of the Opposition in the Alberta Legislature from December 2008 until resigning as party leader in September 2011.

David Swann returned as interim leader of the Alberta Liberal Party on February 1,2015, following the resignation of Raj Sherman and led the party through the 2015 provincial election.

David Swann was born in Taber, Alberta, and was raised in a middle-class family on the edge of downtown Calgary.

David Swann's mother Margaret was an active volunteer while raising him and his four siblings.

David Swann attended Western Canada High School before entering the University of Alberta in Edmonton in 1967.

David Swann is still a sports fan and considers himself an outdoorsman; Swann is a regular runner, biker, hiker and canoeist.

David Swann was deeply affected by the human rights abuses of apartheid, particularly the killing of Steve Biko, who lived near the mission where he worked.

David Swann supported this resolution, the government fired him from his position with Palliser Health within days.

David Swann declined, instead making humanitarian trips to Iraq, then returning to Alberta to run in the 2004 provincial election.

David Swann entered electoral politics as a candidate for the Alberta Liberals.

David Swann was elected to the Alberta Legislature in the Alberta general election on 22 November 2004.

David Swann won the subsequent 2008 Alberta Liberal leadership election on 13 December 2008, defeating Dave Taylor and Mo Elsalhy.

David Swann resigned without having led the party through a general election; however, four years later, Swann was given the opportunity to lead the party through an election campaign when party leader Raj Sherman suddenly resigned weeks before the 2015 provincial election was called and Swann was appointed interim leader.

Only David Swann retained his seat becoming the sole Liberal MLA elected, down from 5 Liberal seats.

David Swann has advocated for many causes related to peace and development, human rights and social justice and has worked with organizations such as Physicians for Global Survival, Amnesty International, and Doctors Without Borders.

David Swann has been a vocal supporter of farm workers' rights and regularly campaigns for occupational health and safety laws for Alberta's agricultural sector.

David Swann is the current interim spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion Calgary.