After attending Victoria Composite High School, he obtained bachelor's degrees in arts and education from the University of Alberta.

In July 1998, he left the Liberal Party caucus and sat as an Independent member after a dispute over fiscal policy.

In the 2001 Alberta general election, he won by a generous margin over the Liberal challenger Bharat Agnihotri.

[5] Zwozdesky has won numerous awards from cultural and arts organizations, as well as the 2005 Alberta Centennial Medal.

[6] Zwozdesky joined the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers in 1963, and danced in the troupe for six years before becoming the musical director, composing and conducting Shumka's music for twenty-five years;[7] he also served in the same role for the Cheremosh Ukrainian Dance Company.