The 2008 Merv Leitch, Q.C. Memorial Visiting Chair in Law Lecture

The Chair was established in honour of C. Mervin Leitch, BA, LLB, QC, who passed away in 1990. The Member of the Legislative Assembly for Calgary-Egmont, he served as Attorney-General and Provincial Secretary, Provincial Treasurer, and Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.  Prior to his political career, he was active in legal profession associations, serving as President of the Calgary Bar Association and as a Bencher of the Law Society of Alberta. He was a partner in the Macleod Dixon law firm in Calgary.  The chair is funded through an endowment established by friends and associates of Mr. Leitch. The endowment is used to invite visiting chairholders who participate in classes in the Faculty and present lectures on topics of public importance.

This year's speaker is Peter Lougheed, who served as Premier of Alberta from 1971 to 1985.  He is currently counsel at the Calgary based law firm of Bennett Jones LLP, and serves as a director of numerous public, private and not-for-profit companies.  He is the Canadian co-chair of the North American forum, a member of the Trilateral Commission and is the chancellor emeritus of Queen’s University.  He is a Companion of the Order of Canada, holds eight honourary degrees from Canadian universities and is the recipient of a Harvard Business School Alumni Achievement Award.