Ex-Alberta premier Ralph Klein to be made an Officer of the Order of Canada

The Canadian Press

OTTAWA - Former Alberta premier Ralph Klein will be made an Officer of the Order of Canada today at Calgary city hall.

Klein is battling a form of dementia and no longer makes public appearances, so Gov.-Gen. David Johnston will present the award to a member of Klein's family.

Johnston said in a news release last week that Klein made ``lasting contributions to the province of Alberta and to public life in Canada.''

Klein was elected leader of Alberta’s Progressive Conservative Party on Dec. 5, 1992 and was sworn in as Alberta's 12th premier nine days later.

He then led the party to victory in 1993 and again in 1997 and 2001.

Prior to entering provincial politics, Klein served three terms as mayor of Calgary, starting in 1980 after a career in the media.