Calgary & Southern Alberta

Ralph and supporters during his first campaign for mayor of Calgary
Courtesy of the Glenbow Collection

Ralph Philip Klein was born in Calgary November 1, 1942. Educated in Calgary, he eventually becoming principal of the Calgary Business College. From 1963 to 1969 Mr. Klein pursued a public relations career with the Alberta Division of the Red Cross and the United Way of Calgary and District. For the next eleven years, he was the Senior Civic Affairs reporter with CFCN Television and Radio.

Mayor Ralph Klein: Courtesy of the Glenbow Collection

On October 15, 1980 Ralph Klein was elected Calgary's 32nd mayor, one of only two mayors born in the city. Re-elected in 1983 and 1986 with among the largest pluralities in the city's history, Mr. Klein's major accomplishments included the 1988 Olympic Winter Games, Calgary's Light Rail Transit System and protection of the Bow River.

Ralph Klein was elected MLA for Calgary-Elbow on March 20, 1989 and on April 14, 1989 was appointed Minister of Environment. Since becoming Premier in 1992, Klein has also served as Minister of Federal and Intergovernmental Affairs (1993) and Minister of Economic Development and Tourism (1994).

Ralph Klein was elected leader of the Progressive Conservative Party on December 5, 1992 in the first one member/one vote leadership race held in Alberta. He was sworn in as Alberta's twelfth premier on December 16 of that year. Several months later, Albertans gave his party a victory in the Provincial general election of June 15, 1993.

Premier Ralph Klein: Courtesy of the Alberta Government

Over the years, Klein has received a number of honours and awards. In 1992, he received a Governor General's Award and in 1993 he became the second white person in history to be adopted into the Siksika (Blackfoot) Nation and was given the name Otskoipiiksi (Bluebird). In 1994 Premier Klein was named Man of the Year by the International Young Entrepreneurs Organization, and he was awarded the Colin M. Brown Freedom Medal by the National Citizens' Coalition. In 1995 he was named Calgary's Outstanding Citizen of the Century, and the first recipient of the Fraser Institute's International Fiscal Performance Award. In 1996, the Blood Tribe made Ralph Klein an honorary chief in the Kainai Chieftainship.