This column is dedicated to a true visionary, leader and anything but average man, the Hon. Ralph Klein. He was honourable not only in title, but also in the way he led Alberta as our premier and the way he lived his life.
Most of us knew him simply as Ralph. It never seemed right, for some reason, to ever refer to him as anything else.
It didn’t seem right because Ralph talked to everyone on the same level, whether it was world leader or the waitress at the St Louis Hotel in Calgary. He spoke with simply respect.
I was honoured to be in attendance at Ralph’s memorial last Friday. Many dignitaries spoke in fond remembrance and reverence of Ralph, with touching personal stories that reminded us all of what a historic character he really was.
Ralph will always be remembered for leading the province out of debt and that he put Alberta back on the right track fiscally. Ralph knew that things had to get done, steps needed to be taken and he was just the right guy for the job.
Ralph’s old fishing and golfing buddy, former Ontario premier Mike Harris, told stories of how Ralph seemed to have a way to get down to the business at hand when dealing with his “get-it-done” attitude, topped with a “cando” mentality. He also spoke of Ralph’s wonderful “Ralphisms” and the charm that made him who he was.
Former Saskatchewan premier Roy Romanow spoke with a great deal of reverence about a man who at times he was not on the same page as. He spoke of the respect he always had for Ralph and how when all the negotiating was through, Ralph’s personality would come shining through and that would make you forget you were not always in agreement.
On more of a personal note, former Drumheller Stettler MLA and deputy premier Shirley McClellan spoke of not only her former boss, but her very close and dear friend.
Shirley paid a great tribute to Colleen Klein and recognized her for her contributions to the success of her husband. Her personal story of when Ralph made her dawn a Stamps jersey in his absence at a Grey Cup game, even though Shirley is a devote Eskies fan, gave everyone a glimpse into what a wonderful sense of humour he possessed and shared regularly with the people around him.
When she informed Ralph she didn’t own a Stamps jersey, he told her, “Well, get one Shirl,” knowing it would get her goat.
Highlighting how the man lived his life was the video montage that had short three-second clips of ordinary people in their everyday lives working and living in Alberta. Somewhere in the middle of that montage was a clip of Ralph walking among a group of people that he seemed to blend right into.
At that moment, those in attendance erupted in applause. It seemed like we all got it at exactly that moment.
This was a man that led by his principles, believing he was as ordinary as the guy driving a cab or the lady working in the convenience store. Fortunately for us, he wasn’t ordinary — he was extraordinary.
God bless the Klein family for sharing this great man with us and God bless Colleen Klein for making him that extraordinary man he was.
— FROM THE LEGISLATURE