Eight Albertans named to province's Order of Excellence
The eight recipients—ranging from WestJet founder Clive Beddoe to business leaders and academics—will be invested at a ceremony in Edmonton in October.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
Eight Albertans representing diverse fields—aviation, business, philanthropy, law, and public service—were announced Thursday as the latest recipients of the Alberta Order of Excellence, the province's highest honour.
Lt.-Gov. Salma Lakhani said the recipients exemplify exceptional achievement. "Extraordinary people in Alberta continue to shape our province through academia, business, philanthropy, and public service," she said. "Their contributions come from a commitment to create and contribute to our society."
The Order, created to celebrate exceptional Albertan achievement and service, has recognized 237 people since 1979. The new recipients will be invested at a ceremony in Edmonton in October.
The eight honourees are: Clive Beddoe, founding shareholder and former chair of WestJet, Canada's second-largest airline, who transformed aviation in the country; Heather Culbert, a Calgary-based business leader and co-founder of Axis Connects, who co-led a historic $298-million fundraising campaign for the Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre in Calgary; Kim McConnell, founder of AdFarm and pioneer of agricultural marketing; Ian Holloway, former dean of law at the University of Calgary (2011-2024) and leading legal history scholar; Ron Triffo, Stantec's chairman emeritus and education advocate, for whom MacEwan University named its School of Business; Paul Wynnyk, former Canadian Army commander (2016-2018) and former Deputy Minister of Municipal Affairs; Jodi Abbott, president and CEO of Edmonton's University Hospital Foundation, which she has led to become one of North America's top health-care foundations; and Bruce Bentley, formerly president and CEO of Maclab.