Edmonton, Alberta (July 1, 2010)
The eagerly anticipated list of Alberta’s 50 Most Influential People, Alberta Venture’s annual July issue cover story, is available online now at albertaventure.com and hits newsstands on July 5, 2010. This year’s cover profile is David Emerson, chairman of the Premier’s Council for Economic Strategy and the man “building a business plan for the Alberta of tomorrow.” >
“Suncor will become not just Canada’s biggest energy company but Canada’s biggest company.” >
If you haven’t already cottoned on to the idea that Alberta is an economic, political and cultural power-house, our 12th annual Most Influential list might finally have you convinced >
Meet the people behind the issues -- the declaration sums up this year's list of the province's 50 Most Influential People >
For 10 years now – 11 lists in total – we’ve profiled the Albertans who wield the greatest influence. Below, meet the heaviest hitters who have appeared the most times on our annual list of Alberta’s 50 Most Influential People >
Alberta has been in the national spotlight more than ever over the past year, and justifiably so. From across the province and from every walk of life, these Albertans stepped forward and made their mark >
Sandford Big Plume – Chief, Tsuu T’ina Nation
As chief of the 1,400 people of the Tsuu T’ina Nation situated on the southwestern edge of Calgary, Chief Sandford Big Plume’s efforts have focused on striking what is often a tenuous balance between preserving aboriginal culture and increasing economic opportunities for his people. Since the Tsuu T’ina Nation was first approached about the use of its land for a highway in 1947, Big Plume is credited for breaking the stalemate. >
Ralph Klein – Premier, Province of Alberta
Most incumbents would consider winning 62 of 83 seats and 47% of the total vote as a massive affirmation of their personal popularity. But, as he has proven over a remarkable 25 years in public life, Ralph Klein is no ordinary politician. Despite winning a fourth landslide that would be the envy of any other government in November’s provincial election, Klein was chastened enough by a slight dip in his party’s seat total and popular support from the 2001 campaign to order a postmortem that included ideas for renewing the Tories.
Melissa Blake – Mayor, The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Melissa Blake’s thorough trouncing of incumbent Doug Faulkner in the Wood Buffalo mayoralty race in October caused some surprise among political commentators in Edmonton and Calgary, some of whom mentioned the 35-year-old’s youthful appearance. That same shock didn’t register in Fort McMurray, where the two-term councillor had already earned the respect of the political, social and industrial establishments with her firm grasp of the booming city’s problems – especially its mounting debt load – and her no-nonsense approach in making the community’s case to extract a larger portion of the royalty revenues and tax dollars that flow south to Edmonton.
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