Born: July 26, 1928, Calgary, Alberta
Category: Builder in Medicine

When, in 1975, natural resources revenues provided the Province of Alberta with a substantial surplus, Premier Lougheed had the foresight to envision a Heritage Foundation for the future support and development of the potential talent and capacity of young Albertans. Focusing on basic medical research as the prime area to be supported, he consulted with the deans of the province’s two medical schools, and in 1977 created a Health Research Task Force led by Dr. J. E. Bradley to evaluate the present state of medical research in the province, to visit leading medical research facilities in other jurisdictions, and to provide the government with a blueprint for the optimal realization of the project. In October 1979, an Act was introduced in the Alberta Legislature to establish the Alberta Heritage Foundation in Medical Research, which was to be administered at arm’s length from the Provincial Government by an independent Board of Directors. In the succeeding twenty years, this Foundation has supported medical scientists in Alberta with grants totalling $35-40 million annually. Mr. Lougheed was appointed a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1986.