E. Peter Lougheed, P.C., C.C., Q.C.
Peter Lougheed was always an obvious choice for the List of Firsts at the U of A Law Faculty. He was undoubtedly one of the most distinguished graduates of the Faculty and the first alumnus to become Premier of Alberta. Sadly, the death of Premier Lougheed on September 13, 2012 means that this modest recognition is now posthumous.
Many statements from across Canada and across the political spectrum in recent days have recognized Mr. Lougheed's achievements in public life, properly crediting him as one of the most influential Premiers in Canadian history. This brief tribute will focus only on his strong connection with the Faculty.
In the spring of 1972, shortly after his election as Premier in the previous summer, Mr. Lougheed, together with his friend and Cabinet colleague Merv Leitch Q.C., took the unprecedented step of attending the major student social event of the year. In those days, the event was still dubiously known as "The Stag". Today, it goes by the more proper and amusing title of "The Carbolic Smoke Ball". In 1972, the raucous nature of the event reflected its title and included the hazardous practice of throwing three-day old bread buns at the honoured guests. Both Mr. Lougheed and Mr. Leach participated wholeheartedly in the evening and, as far as bun throwing was concerned, gave as good as they got!
In 2005, Mr. Lougheed acted as host of a dinner in Calgary to introduce the incoming President of the University of Alberta, Dr. Indira Samarasekera, to the leaders among Law alumni in Calgary and prominent members of the Calgary legal profession. As always, he was the consummate host, carefully encouraging conversation between the President and each individual guest. His quiet support opened many doors for the President and the Faculty in Calgary.
Premier Lougheed's last visit to the Faculty of Law occurred in January 2008, when he delivered the Merv Leitch Memorial Lecture. This was an appropriate honour, as Mr. Lougheed had taken a leading role in establishing the endowment that supports the Lecture. It was remarkable that, as he entered the room, he was given a standing ovation by an audience of over 150 law students, none of whom had known him as Premier. The spontaneous reaction of the students provided a reliable measure of the respect which he had earned from his political career. Indeed, it is difficult to think of any other Canadian politician who would have been given such a reception.
We were also in contact with Mr. Lougheed last spring in connection with the celebration of the Faculty of Law's Centenary. He agreed to allow us to use his image in a display of the Faculty's history that featured in the windows of Enterprise Square (formerly the downtown Bay building) over the summer of 2012. He actively participated in this plan and kindly provided us with a copy of the famous portrait by Yousuf Karsh for use in the display.
The Faculty of Law is proud to claim Mr. Lougheed as one of its outstanding alumni.
~ By Professor David Percy (U of A Faculty of Law), Q.C. Borden Ladner Gervais Chair in Energy Law and Policy, M.A. (Oxford), LL.M. (Virginia)
Click here to view Peter Lougheed's page in our List of Firsts, on our Centenary website.