{"id":2891,"date":"2025-01-14T06:26:29","date_gmt":"2025-01-14T12:26:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edmonton-yes.com\/?p=2891"},"modified":"2025-01-14T06:26:31","modified_gmt":"2025-01-14T12:26:31","slug":"lawrence-decore-edmontons-millionaire-mayor-with-ukrainian-roots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/edmonton-yes.com\/en\/eternal\/lawrence-decore-edmontons-millionaire-mayor-with-ukrainian-roots","title":{"rendered":"Lawrence Decore \u2013 Edmonton\u2019s Millionaire Mayor with Ukrainian Roots"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Lawrence Decore (Lavrentiy Dykur), a man of Ukrainian descent, was a renowned Canadian lawyer and politician who served as the mayor of Edmonton. He made significant contributions to the promotion of Ukrainian culture in Canada. More details on <a href=\"https:\/\/edmonton-yes.com\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/edmonton-yes.com\/\">edmonton-yes.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_76 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a1461a85b2fb\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a1461a85b2fb\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/edmonton-yes.com\/en\/eternal\/lawrence-decore-edmontons-millionaire-mayor-with-ukrainian-roots\/#Childhood_and_Education\" >Childhood and Education<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/edmonton-yes.com\/en\/eternal\/lawrence-decore-edmontons-millionaire-mayor-with-ukrainian-roots\/#Political_Career\" >Political Career<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/edmonton-yes.com\/en\/eternal\/lawrence-decore-edmontons-millionaire-mayor-with-ukrainian-roots\/#Provincial_Activities\" >Provincial Activities<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/edmonton-yes.com\/en\/eternal\/lawrence-decore-edmontons-millionaire-mayor-with-ukrainian-roots\/#Post-Political_Life_and_Legacy\" >Post-Political Life and Legacy<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Childhood_and_Education\"><\/span>Childhood and Education<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.edmonton-yes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2025\/01\/1-8-1024x768.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2892\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.edmonton-yes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2025\/01\/1-8-1024x768.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.edmonton-yes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2025\/01\/1-8-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.edmonton-yes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2025\/01\/1-8-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.edmonton-yes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2025\/01\/1-8-696x522.png 696w, https:\/\/cdn.edmonton-yes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2025\/01\/1-8-1068x801.png 1068w, https:\/\/cdn.edmonton-yes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2025\/01\/1-8.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Lawrence was born on June 28, 1940, in Vegreville, Alberta, to John Decore (Ivan Dykur), a well-known judge and active member of the Liberal Party of Canada. As a child, his family anglicized their surname to Decore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lawrence attended school in Vegreville and graduated from the University of Alberta in 1961 with a Bachelor\u2019s degree in History and Political Economy. In 1964, he earned a Bachelor of Laws degree. After graduation, he began practicing law and established the law firm Decore &amp; Company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1965, Decore married Anne Fedoruk, who later became Associate President for Academic Affairs at the University of Alberta. The couple had two children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Decore\u2019s law career was highly successful, and his active involvement in business ventures helped him amass significant wealth. He became a millionaire, owning several properties across Alberta, including the Jasper Inn, a shopping mall in Lethbridge, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At one point, Decore served in the Royal Canadian Navy. Before entering municipal politics, he had already been involved in various community campaigns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Political_Career\"><\/span>Political Career<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.edmonton-yes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2025\/01\/2-9-1024x768.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2895\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.edmonton-yes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2025\/01\/2-9-1024x768.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.edmonton-yes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2025\/01\/2-9-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.edmonton-yes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2025\/01\/2-9-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.edmonton-yes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2025\/01\/2-9-696x522.png 696w, https:\/\/cdn.edmonton-yes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2025\/01\/2-9.png 1068w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Decore first entered politics in 1971 when he ran for a seat on Edmonton\u2019s City Council as an alderman. He placed fourth out of 11 candidates. In 1974, he successfully ran again and was elected alderman of Edmonton\u2019s City Council.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During his tenure, he chaired the Economic Affairs Committee and the Budget Committee and served as a director on the Hospital Board. After his three-year term, he ran for mayor of Edmonton in 1977, garnering 9,000 votes but failing to win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the next six years, Decore focused on community work, becoming president of the Ukrainian Professional and Business Men\u2019s Club, a member of the board of directors for the Ukrainian Canadian Committee, and president of the Professional and Business Men\u2019s Association of Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1983, Decore returned to politics and ran for mayor of Edmonton again, this time successfully. As mayor, he dissolved the Board of Commissioners, transferring authority to City Council members. He also implemented a fiscal program that helped eliminate the city\u2019s debt and played a pivotal role in revitalizing Edmonton\u2019s downtown core.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1987, when a devastating tornado struck Edmonton, Decore led efforts to rebuild the city. He resigned in October 1988 to shift his focus to provincial politics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Provincial_Activities\"><\/span>Provincial Activities<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.edmonton-yes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2025\/01\/3-1024x768.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2898\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.edmonton-yes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2025\/01\/3-1024x768.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.edmonton-yes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2025\/01\/3-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.edmonton-yes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2025\/01\/3-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.edmonton-yes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2025\/01\/3-696x522.png 696w, https:\/\/cdn.edmonton-yes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2025\/01\/3.png 1068w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1988, Decore joined the Alberta Liberal Party. His dedication and integrity helped the party gain the public&#8217;s trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Decore focused on reducing Alberta\u2019s debt and criticized government interference in the private sector, which often led to companies failing to repay large public loans. However, internal party disputes arose as members questioned Decore\u2019s leadership. In 1994, he retired from politics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Post-Political_Life_and_Legacy\"><\/span>Post-Political Life and Legacy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>After leaving politics, Decore returned to the business world, becoming the chair of the Canada-Ukraine Business Initiative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lawrence Decore passed away in 1999. Following his death, he was posthumously awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the University of Alberta.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lawrence Decore (Lavrentiy Dykur), a man of Ukrainian descent, was a renowned Canadian lawyer and politician who served as the mayor of Edmonton. He made significant contributions to the promotion of Ukrainian culture in Canada. More details on edmonton-yes. Childhood and Education Lawrence was born on June 28, 1940, in Vegreville, Alberta, to John Decore [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":414,"featured_media":2901,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[497],"tags":[1276,1284,1278,1144,1282,1280,1197,1277,1285,1150,1149,1281,1279,1287,1286,1283],"motype":[491],"moformat":[89],"moimportance":[101,104],"class_list":{"0":"post-2891","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-about-the-mayor","8":"tag-alberta-lawyer","9":"tag-alberta-liberal-leader","10":"tag-alberta-liberal-party","11":"tag-alberta-politics","12":"tag-canada-ukraine-business-initiative","13":"tag-decore-company","14":"tag-edmonton-alderman","15":"tag-edmonton-downtown-revitalization","16":"tag-edmonton-economic-reforms","17":"tag-edmonton-mayor","18":"tag-edmonton-politics","19":"tag-edmonton-tornado-recovery","20":"tag-lawrence-decore","21":"tag-lawrence-decore-legacy","22":"tag-ukrainian-culture-in-canada","23":"tag-ukrainian-heritage","24":"motype-eternal","25":"moformat-vlasna","26":"moimportance-golovna-novyna","27":"moimportance-retranslyacziya-v-agregatory"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/edmonton-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2891","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/edmonton-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/edmonton-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmonton-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/414"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmonton-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2891"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/edmonton-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2891\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2904,"href":"https:\/\/edmonton-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2891\/revisions\/2904"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmonton-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2901"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/edmonton-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2891"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmonton-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2891"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmonton-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2891"},{"taxonomy":"motype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmonton-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/motype?post=2891"},{"taxonomy":"moformat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmonton-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moformat?post=2891"},{"taxonomy":"moimportance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmonton-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moimportance?post=2891"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}