History Maker Peter Lougheed

Peter Lougheed was a true history maker, and a true champion of Canadian history.

The former Alberta premier, who died on September 13, 2012, at the age of 84, towered over the political landscape during his years in office.

His battles with former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau over energy and natural resource rights are legendary; he also played a key role in defending provincial rights during the constitutional talks that led to the 1982 patriation of the Constitution. Called by many Alberta’s greatest premier, he stands tall among the pantheon of great provincial leaders.

Lougheed was also a great champion of history. His passion for the past shone through his support of history related organizations and projects, such as The Canadian Encyclopedia; as premier, he helped fund the encyclopedia’s research, and also enabled the donation of a copy to every school and library in Canada as a gift to commemorate Alberta’s seventy-fifth anniversary.

After his retirement, Lougheed became actively involved in the field of history education, supporting both Canada’s History Society and the then-Historica Foundation of Canada (now Historica-Dominion Institute.)

“He was a strong advocate for the need for greater focus and attention to Canadian history in our schools. He said on more than one occasion that he regretted that there was not more time during his tenure as premier of Alberta to focus on improving history curricula,” said Deborah Morrison, president of Canada’s History Society.

“It would be easy in this day to be cynical about such admissions, but I’ve always admired his sincerity in admitting that, not to mention his personal devotion of time and resources to amending that regret through his support of Canada’s leading historical organizations.”

Red Wilson, the founding chair of the Historica Foundation, recalled how Lougheed was among the first major supporters of the foundation.

“In 1999, I made a speech at York University about the need to do something about improving Canadian history education … The first two pledges of support I received were from Peter Lougheed and Yves Fortier — Peter simply asked, how can I help?”

Wilson also lauded Lougheed's dedication to promoting history education.

“There will be lots of good things said about him and they are all true. His interest in Canadian history was genuine, ardent, and he was prepared to put time and effort into it.”

Canada’s History Society is certainly grateful for Lougheed’s support over the years. Most recently, he was a contributor to our recent book, 100 Days that Changed Canada.

“Peter Lougheed was a great Canadian and very much a product of the Canadian West,” said Richard Pound, the chairman of the History Society’s board of directors. “He was enthusiastic about everything he undertook, sensible and articulate in connection with the many causes he supported, principled in his positions, and relentless in his desire that Canada and Canadians be the best in the world.

“While always aware of the big picture, he never lost sight of, nor contact with, the people of his province or his country. His place in Canadian history will be that of an enlightened builder.”

Edgar Peter Lougheed was born on July 26, 1928, at Calgary, Alberta. He was the son of Edgar D. Lougheed and Edna A. Bauld and was the grandson of Senator Sir James A. Lougheed, Alberta's first Conservative federal cabinet minister.

In 1951 and 1952 respectively, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Alberta. During his years at the University of Alberta, Lougheed played football for the University Golden Bears Intercollegiate Football Club and the Edmonton Eskimos. In 1954, he received a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard University.

On June 21, 1952, E. Peter Lougheed married Jeanne E. Rogers of Camrose, Alberta. They have four children: Stephen, Andrea, Pamela, and Joseph.

Lougheed was called to the Alberta Bar in 1955. A decade later, he was elected leader of the Alberta Progressive Conservatives. Elected to the legislature in 1967, Lougheed’s Tories would take power in the 1971 provincial election.

During his tenure as premier, Lougheed’s priorities were to ensure Alberta retained control over its natural resources, and to prepare future generations for continued prosperity when those resources – primarily oil and natural gas — were exhausted.

To do this, he established in 1976 the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund, a sort of rainy day fund for the province to be used to meet unanticipated future needs. At a time when Prime Minister Trudeau was advocating a powerful central government, Lougheed was pushing a more provincially focused vision of the country.

In later years, he said he was proud to have helped ensure provincial rights in the 1982 constitutional amending formula. He would retire three years after the patriation of the Constitution, renewing his law career while serving on as many as twenty corporate boards.

As Canadians absorbed the news of his death, Lougheed was praised by politicians of all political stripes.

“Today Canada lost a truly great man,” Prime Minister Stephen Harper said. “Peter Lougheed was quite simply one of the most remarkable Canadians of his generation.” “Premier Lougheed was unquestionably devoted to Alberta and Alberta’s interests,” said Alberta Premier Alison Redford said. “He not only believed in a strong and united Canada, he believed that Alberta did not have to succeed at the expense of Canada, but as a proud member of a country working together”.

Liberal MP Justin Trudeau took to Twitter to express condolences.“It is with tremendous sadness that we bid adieu to a giant of Canadian politics. Peter Lougheed was a man of vision, integrity, and heart.”

— with files from our wire services and Alberta provincial legislature records