Alumnus fills key role as envoy to U.S.

By Matthew Fox

The Alberta Office in Washington, D.C., will continue to be led by a University of Calgary alumnus. The provincial government has announced that Gary Mar, BComm’84, will become Alberta’s new envoy in the American capital in late October.

Mar succeeds another U of C alumnus, Murray Smith, BA’71, a former Alberta energy minister who had been in the role for several years and joined the private sector in August.

“I am excited about serving Albertans in this new way,” said Mar. “I look forward to the challenge of representing Alberta and advancing our province’s interests with decision makers in the capital city of our largest and most important trading partner.”

Mar, a lawyer in his fourth term as MLA for Calgary-Mackay, has been minister for various provincial portfolios, including health and wellness, community development, education and environment. He was first elected to the Alberta Legislature in 1993.

The Alberta Office is located in the Canadian Embassy in Washington and works with American policymakers on behalf of Alberta’s interests.