In the society and politics of Alberta, Grant Notley stood out. His goals, his personal integrity, his obvious dedication to social change, his “practical idealism” made him the social conscience of Alberta. He bridged the old and the new, he provided the necessary hard work to forge a link that ensured the continuation of a progressive social party in Alberta. Albertans felt intuitively that he represented a part of their collective being, and his untimely death in 1984 touched them deeply.

Educated in the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, but dedicated to the creation of the New Democratic Party, Grant Notley was one of the living links between the prairie populism of the CCF and the social democracy of the NDP; between the new urban base, and the remaining rural support; between the old leadership of the UFA, and the untested leaders to come.

Grant Notley commanded a tremendous personal loyalty from those who came in contact with him. What prompted such loyalty? How could a shy, solitary, and socially retiring person take such a grip on people? The answer lies somewhere in his hard work, his own devotion to social change, and in the ideals of those that he sought to enlist.

Howard Leeson's biography of Grant Notley is based on his years of association with the NDP. He was Mr. Notley's first executive assistant in the 1971. He is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the University of Regina. He and his wife Ede live on a small farm just outside of Regina.

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