Media Advisory - Statement from the Family of The Honourable E. Peter Lougheed, PC, CC, AOE, QC

CALGARY, Sept. 13, 2012 /CNW/ - It is with great sadness that the family of The Honourable E. Peter Lougheed, the tenth Premier of the Province of Alberta, announce that he passed away peacefully today from natural causes in Calgary, Alberta. He was 84 years of age.

He leaves loving memories with wife Jeanne (née Rogers), children Stephen, Andrea, Pam, Joe, and seven grandchildren.

The family will celebrate Mr. Lougheed's life in a private service.  Plans for a public memorial will be announced in coming days.

The family would like to thank all the professionals at Alberta Health Services who have helped care for him over the last months and days.  Particular thanks go to Dr. Catherine Heimbach, Dr. Troy Pederson, Dr. Paul LeBlanc, Marilyn Markel and the kind, caring staff at the Peter Lougheed Centre.

Although he was known to many for his contributions to Alberta and to Canada, his first dedication was to his family.  He was a deeply caring and loving husband, father and grandfather.  We will miss him terribly.  Thank you to all Albertans and Canadians for their outpouring of support which has deeply touched our family.

Our father's charitable interests were many, and included sports, health, education, our parks and public spaces and our culture.  The Banff Centre and the Lougheed House Conservation Society were particularly special to him.  In lieu of flowers, any donations or volunteer actions that support his charitable interests would continue to fulfill his hopes and vision for Alberta and Canada.

The Honourable E. Peter Lougheed, PC, CC, AOE, QC

Peter Lougheed was born in Calgary, Alberta on July 26, 1928, the son of Edgar Donald Lougheed and Edna Alexandria Bauld.

Mr Lougheed was the tenth Premier of Alberta, serving 14 years as Premier (1971 to 1985).

Proudly raised in Alberta, Mr. Lougheed received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1950 and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in 1952 from the University of Alberta. During his time at the U of A, he played football for the Edmonton Eskimos for two seasons (1949 and 1950).  At the U of A he met Jeanne Rogers, whom he married in 1952.

In 1954 he received his MBA from the Harvard Business School. Upon completion of his studies he returned to Alberta where he joined Fenerty, Fenerty, McGillivary Prowse & Brennan (now Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP).  Mr. Lougheed joined Mannix Company Limited shortly thereafter in senior roles.  He re-entered private legal practice in 1962.

In 1965, he was elected leader of the Alberta PC Party, a position he would serve in for 20 years. When he became Leader of the Alberta PC's, the PC's held no seats in the Provincial Legislature.  The PC's won 6 seats in 1967 and then went on to win the1971 provincial election with 49 of the 75 seats in the Alberta Legislature. Mr. Lougheed and the PC Party won successive majority mandates in 1975, 1979, and 1982. When he left public life in November 1985 the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party held 75 of 79 seats in the provincial legislature. During his leadership the Party never lost a seat held by an incumbent in a provincial election.

As Premier, Mr. Lougheed was a staunch defender of Alberta's interests.  He considered himself a Canadian first and believed strongly in national unity.  Under his leadership and team of MLA's, their  many accomplishments included development of Alberta's resources, the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund, the Alberta Foundation for Medical Research and the Alberta Bill of Rights.  His leadership supported the arts and culture (and Alberta's first Minister of Culture) and facilities for all Albertans, including Kananaskis Country, Fish Creek Provincial Park and Edmonton's Citadel Theatre, to name but a few. He played a lead role in the patriation of the Canadian Constitution in 1982.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II appointed Mr. Lougheed a member of the Privy Council of Canada in 1982 and in 1987 he was appointed a Companion of the Order of Canada.  In 1989 he was invested into the Alberta Order of Excellence.

After leaving public office, Mr. Lougheed served on the Board of Directors or Advisory Boards of 45 Canadian and international companies.  He proudly lectured at the University of Alberta, University of Calgary and the Banff Centre.  He served as Chancellor of Queen's University from 1996-2002.  Mr. Lougheed was a Partner at Bennett Jones LLP from 1985 until 1998 and remained as Counsel until the time of his death.

Mr. Lougheed has received many honours for his life work, including 7 honourary degrees, receipt of the Harvard Business School Alumni Achievement Award, induction into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame and the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame.  Mr. and Mrs. Lougheed were named honourary fellows of the Banff Centre and the Royal Conservatory of Music and, in June 2012, Mr. Lougheed was chosen as the Best Premier in the last 40 years by the Institute for Research on Public Policy.

Mr. Lougheed lived in Calgary & Edmonton with his wife Jeanne where they raised their four children - Stephen, Andrea, Pam, and Joe. Peter and Jeanne have 7 grandchildren.

SOURCE: Navigator Limited

For all media inquiries and to contact a family spokesperson please contact:

Jason Hatcher
Managing Principal, Navigator Ltd.
[email protected]
403 669 5312