EDMONTON – Albertans, including Premier Alison Redford and members of Edmonton City Council, paused to remember the death of former South African President Nelson Mandela.
Mandela passed away Thursday at the age of 95.
Mandela became one of the world’s most beloved statesmen when he emerged from 27 years in prison to negotiate an end to white minority rule in South Africa.
GALLERY: Nelson Mandela – a life in pictures
“I am deeply saddened by the passing of Nelson Mandela,” said Redford.
She worked with him in the 1990s as part of a team that was tasked with “steering South Africa out of apartheid, rebuilding its legal system, and leading to its first all-race elections that resulted in Mandela becoming president.”
Prior to entering politics, Redford worked as a human rights lawyer.
Her biography explains her role as a technical advisor on the constitutional and legal reform issues in Africa for the European Union, the Commonwealth Secretariat and both the Canadian and Australian governments. Her work there in the 1990s was focused on human rights litigation, education programs and policy reform initiatives.
“Nelson Mandela was a towering icon, a giant of a man and an enormously inspiring individual who courageously spent his life fighting racism, oppression and injustice. He used his days walking this earth to bring freedom, equality and human rights to his people, his country and to the world,” Redford said.
“I will always cherish the opportunity I had to work alongside him.”
“He taught me that the best advice comes from people who have been working in the trenches, and that leaders have to sacrifice. I remember his wisdom, his optimism and his patience. He knew that no matter what he had accomplished that there was always another challenge ahead of him and another hill to climb, and that his work was never done until he breathed his last breath,” she added.
“Now his work on this earth is complete, and it is a far better place because of him. Rest in peace, Madiba, my friend. And thank you.”
READ MORE: World mourns the loss of anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela
Prime Minister Stephen Harper also sent out a message in response to the news of Mandela’s passing.
IN-DEPTH: Nelson Mandela’s historic 1990 visit to Canada
Another tribute was made during an Edmonton City Council meeting on Thursday afternoon.
When Mayor Don Iveson got word of Mandela’s death, he asked council to pause for a moment of silence.
“Two years ago, I took my children there,” said Councillor Michael Oshry, who moved from South Africa to Canada in 1974. “One of the things I wanted to do is show them Robben Island where Mandela spent a good chunk of his life in prison; 18 years of the 27 years. So I took my kids there, we went inside the cell, we had a tour of Robben Island which is right across from Cape Town. I mean, you can see the beautiful country, which it is a beautiful country.. and it’s a pretty emotional experience and it’s one I won’t forget and I’m sure my children won’t either.”
“His view point on life and the world, that he was able to forgive the people that put him in prison and treated him and the other people in South Africa the way they did is unbelievable and it’s mind boggling. It’s mind boggling. I can’t appreciate how you could think like that, but it really has shown the deepest most important part of humanity. I think he was an amazing, amazing person for that.”
READ MORE: Inspiring Nelson Mendela quotes on death, optimism and leadership
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