Jim Prentice served as the 16th premier of Alberta from 2014-2015.
Friday started like any other day. It got out of bed, had breakfast, got dressed and headed to work. Work was busy as usual. Soon enough the afternoon arrived. Half the day was over with the weekend fast approaching. During the few spare moments I had, I took a mental break and checked the CBC News website and was shocked by the headlines: Former Alberta premier Jim Prentice among 4 killed in B.C. plane crash. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Alberta has seen its fair share of travesties – the flooding in Calgary, the rise and fall of the oil and gas industry and the Fort McMurray wildfire – but Jim Prentice passing away in such tragic fashion was certainly not something I expected.
Let’s put partisan politics aside for a moment. Whether you liked him or not, you have to respect Prentice. Prentice was a husband, father and grandfather first and foremost. Prentice also had a long, storied career in politics. After a failed bid for office in 1986, Prentice had his first taste of political success, winning his Calgary riding with the federal Conservative Party in 2004. After the Conservatives won a minority government in 2006, Prentice would go on to serve as a key member in Stephen Harper’s cabinet for the next six years.
Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party
After taking a brief hiatus from politics, Prentice threw his hat into the race to replace outgoing Alberta premier Alison Redford in 2014. Prentice won the race in commanding fashion, garnering 76 percent of the vote on the first ballot and was sworn in as the 16th premier of Alberta on September 15, 2014. Prentice wasn’t one to shy away from controversy. In late 2014, in a surreal moment, the leader of the official opposition, Danielle Smith, and eight Wildrose MLAs crossed the floor to join the Progressive Conservative Party.
In April 2015, Prentice rolled the dice and called an early election. The election campaign had plenty of twists and turns. There was his infamous “look in the mirror” remark, where Prentice placed the blame of the province’s financial woes squarely on the shoulders of Albertans. And then there was his controversial “I know math is difficult” comment toward Alberta NDP leader Rachel Notley during a televised election debate. After the Progressive Conservatives finished in third place behind the NDP and Wildrose in the provincial election, ending a 44-year run in government, Prentice immediately resigned as party leader and called it quits in politics.
Be Careful Not to Take Life for Granted
Prentice’s passing is a stark reminder of how lucky we are to be alive. It wasn’t too long ago that former federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty passed away just weeks after retiring from politics. Flaherty was a man that dedicated his entire life to public service. His sudden passing really helped put life into perspective for me. People like Prentice and Flaherty aren’t in politics for the money (they could probably earn a lot more in the private sector). They’re in it to make a positive impact in the everyday lives of Canadians.
Although it can be easy to take life for granted, it’s important not to lose sight of how fortunate we truly are to be alive. You never know when your number will be up. If there’s a lesson to be learned, it’s to make the most of every day. Live life to its fullest and seize the day. Tell your family and friends how much they matter to you everyday because you never know when it could be your last chance to say “I love you.”
Sean Cooper is the bestselling author of the book, Burn Your Mortgage: The Simple, Powerful Path to Financial Freedom for Canadians, available now on Amazon and at Chapters, Indigo and major bookstores, and as an Audiobook on Amazon, Audible and iTunes.