Alex Atamanenko

Alex T. Atamanenko MP (born January 24, 1945 in New Westminster, British Columbia) is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the House of Commons in 2006, winning the riding of British Columbia Southern Interior for the New Democratic Party in the 2006 federal election. He is a retired school teacher.

Atamanenko was born in New Westminster, and was educated at the University of British Columbia and the University of Toronto. Atamanenko has a bachelor's degree in Physical Education degree, a teaching diploma, and a Master of Arts degree in Russian. Atamanenko is a member of the British Columbia Retired Teachers Association. He taught Russian, French and English at a number of schools across Canada and the United States. He also has experience in recreation and physical education with a number of organizations, including the Boys' Clubs of Vancouver, the Canadian Forces Base in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, and for the Coquitlam and New Westminster recreation departments, where he was part-time leader and co-ordinator, as well as for the government of the Yukon as a co-ordinator for the Canada Games (1976–1977) and a recreation consultant (1977–1979). He was also a freelance translator, and is a karate instructor with the Castlegar Karate Club. Other community activities include involvement with the Canadian Youth Hostelling Association in Whitehorse and serving on the Coaching Council of Canada during the 1970s.

He contested the same riding in the federal election of 2004, but was narrowly defeated by Conservative Jim Gouk.

Atamanenko won the riding in the 2006 federal election, when Conservative candidate Derek Zeisman faced criminal charges.

External links

* [http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/people/key/bio.asp?lang=E&query=18801&s=M Synopsis of federal political experience from the Library of Parliament]
* [http://www.atamanenko.ca Official website]