Laureen Harper
Harper at the G8 summit, June 6, 2007
Born	Laureen Ann Teskey 1963 (age 45–46) Turner Valley, Alberta, Canada
Residence	Calgary, Alberta-Private Stornoway (residence) 2002-2006 24 Sussex Drive 2006-Present
Other names	Laureen Teskey Harper, Laureen Ann Teskey
Citizenship	Canadian
Alma mater	Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
Known for	Current Spouse of the Prime Minister of Canada
Religious beliefs	Christian Protestant
Spouse(s)	Neil Fenton (1985-1988), Stephen Harper 1993-Present
Children	Benjamin Harper (born 1996), Rachel Harper (born 1999)
Parents	Her father, Dennis, was an electrician, her mother, Barbara, a housewife.

Laureen Ann Harper (née Teskey; 1963) is the wife of Stephen Harper, who has served as Prime Minister of Canada since February 6, 2006 and leader of the Conservative Party of Canada since March 20, 2004.

[edit] Life and career

Harper (second from right) at 2006 G8 Summit

The eldest of three, Teskey was born in Turner Valley, a rural town south-west of Calgary, Alberta. Her parents were ranchers and owned an electrical contracting company; the Teskeys divorced in 1991, after 29 years. After graduating from Oilfields High School, she attended the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology where she studied journalism and photography.^[1]

She was first married to New Zealander Neil Fenton from 1985 to 1988.^[2]

Teskey joined the Reform Party of Canada in the late 1980s, and met Stephen Harper at the Reform assembly in Saskatoon in 1990. They married in 1993. Some of Harper's earliest political contemporaries, including Jim Hawkes, Preston Manning and Deborah Grey, have said that the 'intensely cerebral' Stephen Harper appreciably 'mellowed' after their marriage.^[3] Media reports have generally credited her as far more personable and friendly in front of the cameras than her husband.

Teskey offers her home to the OHS (Ontario Humane Society) as a foster home for kittens, and in her spare time enjoys riding her motorcycle.

She and her husband have two children, Ben (born 1996) and Rachel (born 1999). They attend public schools in Ottawa.

[edit] Name

There was considerable confusion in the Canadian media about which surname she uses — at different times, media references to her have called her Teskey, Harper, or Teskey Harper (not hyphenated). On January 26, 2006, she advised Canadian Press that she wishes to be known as Laureen Harper in her public role as a spouse of the Prime Minister.^[4]

Maureen McTeer, the wife of former Prime Minister Joe Clark, also found some controversy in 1979 when she became the first wife of a Prime Minister to use her own surname rather than her husband's.

[edit] Campaigning

Since assuming her role in 2006, as spouse of the prime Minister Laureen has played an active role in campaigning alongside her husband. She is frequently seen at the podium on behalf of and with her husband. Within the Conservative Party of Canada, she is nicknamed the "secret weapon".^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Public life

Laureen has had a very vibrant public life since her arrival at 24 Sussex Drive. She has supported worthwhile causes such as the OHS and also the National Arts Centre where she has been Honorary Gala Chair since 2005. She particularly is active in accompanying her husband on international trips, for example the G8,G20 and others. Mrs. Harper will host the spouses of G8,G20 leaders in June of 2010 in Muskoka, Ontario.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] NAC Controversy

Laureen provoked controversy when she notified the National Arts Centre on September 24, 2008 that she would not be able to fulfill her role as honorary gala chair on October 4. This announcement came just days after her husband Prime Minister Stephen Harper said that rich gala's aren't something that resonate with ordinary people. Laureen later responded saying that circumstances around her not being able to attend had nothing to do with her husband's prior announcement but later attended the gala the following year as honorary chair again.^[5][6]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official biography and photo from the website of the Prime Minister of Canada