Former Speaker of Saskatchewan legislature Herb Swan remembered as nice man

(File photo)

BEECHY, Sask. - A funeral is being held today for Herb Swan, a former speaker of the Saskatchewan legislature and Progressive Conservative cabinet minister.

Swan died this week at the age of 86 and his funeral is being held in Beechy, about 250 kilometres northwest of Regina.

He was first elected in 1978 and represented the constituency of Rosetown-Elrose until 1991 when he retired.

Swan served as Speaker from 1982 to 1986 and was later the minister of environment and public safety under then-premier Grant Devine.

Government Relations Minister Jim Reiter, who now represents Rosetown-Elrose, says Swan was a great public servant who convened over a raucous assembly.

Reiter says he knew Swan personally and he was a gracious man.