CALGARY- Calgarians continue to stream into the McDougall Centre in downtown Calgary, to pay their respects to former premier Ralph Klein.
Klein died on Good Friday, after a long battle with dementia. He was 70 years old.
A book of condolences has been set up in the Alberta Legislature as well as in Calgary, and dozens of people showed up on Monday to write their condolences to Klein’s family. One of them was a man who started a food bank with Klein’s help.
“Memories are so deep and that’s the tip of the iceberg and I miss him dearly,” says Joseph Edison. “He was my mentor when I said ‘It’s so difficult for me to start food banks’ because I was at the university. Still, he said ‘No young fellow, you can do this.’”
A couple who hit the dance floor with Klein and his wife 30 years ago also stopped by.
“He made a really good impression, deep on the province and the city,” adds his wife, Vera McIntosh. “You didn’t have a personal connection, but it felt like you did. Everyone loved Ralph.”
An honour guard of Alberta sheriffs, bouquets and photographs of Klein will stay at the McDougall Centre every day this week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
A celebration of life for Klein will be held on Friday at the Jack Singer Concert Hall. It gets underway at 12 p.m. and the general public is welcome to attend. Global News will also be live streaming the service on our website.
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