Roger Gibbins, a former College of Calgary professor and the ex-president of the Canada West Basis, died this week on the age of 77
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A longstanding and influential political voice in Alberta, Roger Gibbins died this week after a profession that spanned greater than 4 a long time and shaped a blueprint for a lot of Western Canadian politics.
Roger Gibbins, a former College of Calgary professor and the ex-president of the Canada West Basis, died this week on the age of 77. He leaves behind his spouse, Isabel, and their youngsters, Dan and Chris.
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Premier Danielle Smith mentioned in a social media publish Monday she was deeply saddened to study of Gibbins’s passing. She described Gibbins as a “main determine” within the improvement of Western Canada’s political id and mentioned two generations of provincial and federal political leaders got here to depend on his recommendation.
“His dedication to instructing can also be fondly remembered by 1000’s of scholars he taught over his profession,” she mentioned.
Mentioned NDP Chief Rachel Notley: “Dr. Gibbins was a coverage chief whose good concepts and contributions to Alberta helped form our province and western Canadian politics. A devoted instructor, dedicated volunteer, and considerate mentor, he shall be dearly missed.”
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Gibbins was born in Prince George, B.C., in 1947. He studied political science on the College of British Columbia and later earned his grasp’s and doctorate within the topic from Stanford College in California. He turned a fixture in Calgary’s political scene after he took a job as a political science professor on the College of Calgary in 1973, the place he taught till 2002. His phrases and evaluation would usually seem in native newspapers and different media over the following a long time.
From 1998 till his retirement in 2012, Gibbins was president and CEO of the Calgary-based Canada West Basis, a non-partisan suppose tank that focuses on Western Canadian points. In 2013, he acquired the Alberta Order of Excellence for his dedication to bettering Western Canada.
He’s quoted as saying throughout a 2010 speech to the Canada West Basis that “a robust West means a robust Canada. If we will make it possible for the West is all it may be, Canada will profit, and if we change into complacent, all Canadians pays the worth.”
Gary Mar, a former provincial minister and Gibbins’ successor as the pinnacle of Canada West, mentioned Gibbins was an essential drive within the political panorama in Alberta, western provinces and nationwide. Mar mentioned Gibbins’s deep data and kindness made him a go-to sounding board for a lot of politicians of all political stripes throughout his 4 a long time within the enterprise.
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“He might disagree with one thing that you simply mentioned or that you simply did, however he would body it in a form of a mind-set about the issue that will make you suppose twice,” mentioned Mar. “However he did it in such a mild manner that it was very welcomed by me and by a lot of my different colleagues who’ve had the nice fortune to spend time with Roger.”
All through his profession, Gibbins influenced key coverage modifications on every part from Senate reform to vitality and environmental points.
“He was an amazing Albertan, and I hope that individuals will have a look at his legacy very positively,” Mar added.
mrodriguez@postmedia.com
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