Prentice was a 'true leader' for Canada's national parks as environment minister
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As the federal environment minister in the Conservative government from 2008 to 2010, Jim Prentice is being remembered as a leader who took Canada’s national parks, including Banff National Park, to new heights.
The former Alberta premier and federal minister was one of four people killed in a small plane crash near Kelowna late Thursday.
During Prentice’s two years as environment minister, also responsible for Parks Canada, a retired top bureaucrat with the agency said he was a great leader.
“He was smart, insightful, business-like, humble, cared deeply about his country’s national natural and historic treasures, and its indigenous people,” Alan Latourelle, former chief executive at Parks Canada, said in an email. “Most of all he treated people with respect and embodied the characteristics of a true leader.
“Although he was our minister for only two years, through his personal leadership, drive and passion, he led Parks Canada to a level of accomplishment rarely seen in its 100-year history.”
It included expanding the Nahanni National Park Reserve by 25,000 square kilometres, which has been described as the greatest Canadian conservation achievement in a generation.
Latourelle added that Prentice also had numerous achievements in his home province of Alberta, including:
Kevin Van Tighem, who was superintendent in Banff National Park from 2008 to 2011, suggested Prentice was one of the best environment ministers he served under during his long career with Parks Canada.
“It shows you can get strongly principled public services from any government,” he said. “It goes to the quality of the individual.”
Van Tighem suggested that the Cave and Basin and the Legacy Trail were two of his big achievements in Banff National Park.
“Every time I drive between Canmore and Banff, I’m basically looking at one small part of Prentice’s legacy,” he said, noting Prentice really seemed to get the importance of both connecting people with nature and maintaining ecological integrity.
Latourelle agreed, noting he launched free entry passes for all Grade 8 students to Parks Canada places, launched the Coolest Summer Job program and secured funding for the completion of the Trans Canada Trail.
“Protecting these places forever was not sufficient for Jim, he wanted young Canadians to connect with nature and our heritage places,” said Latourelle. “Because of Jim Prentice’s contribution to his fellow Canadians, in a century from now, his great-great grandchildren and other Canadians will still be able to experience the richness of our diverse natural and cultural heritage.”
The former Alberta premier and federal minister was one of four people killed in a small plane crash near Kelowna late Thursday.
During Prentice’s two years as environment minister, also responsible for Parks Canada, a retired top bureaucrat with the agency said he was a great leader.
“He was smart, insightful, business-like, humble, cared deeply about his country’s national natural and historic treasures, and its indigenous people,” Alan Latourelle, former chief executive at Parks Canada, said in an email. “Most of all he treated people with respect and embodied the characteristics of a true leader.
“Although he was our minister for only two years, through his personal leadership, drive and passion, he led Parks Canada to a level of accomplishment rarely seen in its 100-year history.”
It included expanding the Nahanni National Park Reserve by 25,000 square kilometres, which has been described as the greatest Canadian conservation achievement in a generation.
Latourelle added that Prentice also had numerous achievements in his home province of Alberta, including:
- securing $250 million in funding to expand the twinning of the Trans-Canada Highway from Lake Louise to the British Columbia boundary;
- leading a partnership that would see CP Rail invest $1 million to reduce grizzly bear mortality on railway tracks in the mountain parks; and,
- rehabilitating some key infrastructure in Banff National Park, including a $13-million investment in the Cave and Basin National Historic Site and providing money for the Legacy Trail in Banff.
Kevin Van Tighem, who was superintendent in Banff National Park from 2008 to 2011, suggested Prentice was one of the best environment ministers he served under during his long career with Parks Canada.
“It shows you can get strongly principled public services from any government,” he said. “It goes to the quality of the individual.”
Van Tighem suggested that the Cave and Basin and the Legacy Trail were two of his big achievements in Banff National Park.
“Every time I drive between Canmore and Banff, I’m basically looking at one small part of Prentice’s legacy,” he said, noting Prentice really seemed to get the importance of both connecting people with nature and maintaining ecological integrity.
Latourelle agreed, noting he launched free entry passes for all Grade 8 students to Parks Canada places, launched the Coolest Summer Job program and secured funding for the completion of the Trans Canada Trail.
“Protecting these places forever was not sufficient for Jim, he wanted young Canadians to connect with nature and our heritage places,” said Latourelle. “Because of Jim Prentice’s contribution to his fellow Canadians, in a century from now, his great-great grandchildren and other Canadians will still be able to experience the richness of our diverse natural and cultural heritage.”
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