 “Bennett can solve any problem he puts his mind to.
No man is quicker to strip a problem of unnecessary verbiage and translate
it into a simple and understandable language. Some day Bennett will be
called upon to solve the greatest problems in Canada. Some day Canada will
turn to him to get the country out of its difficulties.”
—James A. Lougheed, 19101
 Born and raised on the eastern shores of Canada in
Hopewell Cape, New Brunswick, Richard Bedford Bennett left a legacy in the
West through law, commerce and politics. While a great deal is documented
about his experiences later in life and as the country’s prime minister, the
decades that Bennett spent in Calgary placed him at the centre of a
developing province, which enabled him to make a bold and enduring mark and
lay the foundations for his later achievements.
When he arrived in Calgary in 1897 to join legal forces
with James Lougheed, at 26 Bennett was clearly the junior partner.
Nevertheless, the graduate from Dalhousie University had practiced for
several years in New Brunswick and brought his own strengths to the
partnership. Through his diligent work ethic (never one for social
extravagance, Bennett was known to work 12-hour days, six days a week), he
fostered the firm’s success and raised his own
earnings and profile. His interests soon expanded to real estate, investment
and financing, and over time he established a position of economic influence
that was felt throughout Calgary and Alberta.
 While R.B. Bennett
leaves a legacy of ambition and achievement, he also is remembered for his personality, which colours
recollections of his legal, commercial and political dealings. A devout
Methodist, throughout his life Bennett was sanctimonious, avoiding and
denouncing alcohol, tobacco and the rougher side of frontier life. He was
often thought of as unapproachable and unsympathetic, perhaps because of his unstoppable ambition, lack of
interest in farming and ranching, and counsel to industrial giants such as
the
Canadian Pacific Railway.
 On the other side of the coin, however, Bennett was
loyal to his clients and the causes he believed in, and would always stand
up when he felt an injustice had occurred. Above all, he
greatly valued the ideal of fair play and was adamant about the importance
of gentlemanly behaviour in social and business spheres. As well, over the
years his earlier detachment to Prairie life shifted to appreciation and
fondness.
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R.B. Bennett
Political Highlights
- 1898: Wins election as a Conservative to the Assembly
of the North-West Territories
- 1900: Loses bid for federal parliament
- 1901: Wins territorial by-election for Calgary West
- 1905: Elected interim leader for the provincial
Conservative party; loses seat in the first provincial election
- 1909: Regains seat in provincial legislature
- 1911: Moves to federal politics as Conservative member
for Calgary East
- 1921: Appointed minister of justice; defeated in
general election of the same year
- 1925: Regains seat in parliament as representative for
Calgary West
- 1927-38: Leader of the federal Conservative party
- 1930-35: Prime Minister of Canada
- 1935-38: Leader of the Opposition
- 1941: Secures viscountcy in England
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Heritage Community Foundation Presents
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