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Ralph Klein is born in Calgary to parents Phillip and Florence.
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Ralph Klein surprised many when the TV journalist made the threw his hat into the mayoral race, and surprised many more when he won.
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Klein defeats Sue Higgins to win his second election as mayor of Calgary.
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Klein wins a third term as mayor.
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Then-mayor Klein helped steer the city's Olympic bid to fruition, and the games are counted as part of his legacy.
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Klein makes the move to provincial politics and is elected as MLA in Calgary Elbow in the spring general election. Premier Don Getty names him to cabinet as environment minister.
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Klein garnered controversy when, as environment minister, he gave the finger to a protester who was upset over the decision to allow a pulp mill to be built near Athabasca.
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Klein bested rival Nancy Betkowski on the second ballot, by a whopping 14,000 votes, to succeed Don Getty as leader of the PC Party of Alberta.
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Klein officially sworn in as 12th premier of Alberta.
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Despite being down in the polls, and facing a tough challenger in the form of another former mayor, Liberal leader Laurence Decore, the Klein-led Tories took 51 seats. The Grits managed to gain 24, finishing with 32.
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Acting out on a promise in the spring election, the government begins selling off or closing ALCB stores across Alberta.
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Fulfilling his election promise to reduce the deficit and slay the debt, the Klein government tables a budget with $918 million in cuts.
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Two years earlier than expected, the Klein government tables its first balanced budget.
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Four years after a tightly fought contest, Klein's Tories won a more convincing victory against Grant Mitchell's Liberals, taking 63 of 83 seats.
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Seen by many as a symbol of Klein-era health policy, the long-standing General Hospital was demolished by implosion in 1998, even as demand for health services was on the rise.
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The Tories ushered in "Ralph's World" with a resounding election victory in 2001, taking 74 of 83 seats. Klein also got a second chance to best his former PC leadership rival, trouncing a Liberal party led by Nancy MacBeth (formerly Betkowski).
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Klein's drinking was thrust into the spotlight when he made a seemingly drunken visit to an Edmonton homeless shelter, and was rude to residents, hurling insults and money at them. After the incident, Klein vowed to cut down on his alcohol consumption.
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The premier is assaulted at his Stampede breakfast by pie-wielding protester Christopher Geoghegan, who was upset by Klein's social policies. Geoghegan was eventually sentenced to 30 days in jail for the pastry attack.
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Arguably his largest legacy as premier, Klein announced Alberta was paying down its final debt payment.
"We are not leaving a burden of debt for our children and grandchildren — and that's something every Albertan can be proud of," he said. "Albertans told government to pay down the debt and we did ... emotionally, I feel really good." -
Despite cruising to a fourth strong win against his opponents, the 2004 election campaign is notable for not being that notable. Having paid down the provincial debt earlier in the year, the campaign lacked a central theme, with the Tories announcing little in the way of policy, and Klein making few appearances during the race.The Tories saw about 250,000 PC voters stay home, and lost 11 seats.
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Announced by Klein in Septebmer 2005, a $400 cheque for every man, woman and child in the province — dubbed a "prosperity bonus" arrived in mailboxes across Alberta.
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Following pressure from within the party, Klein announces his intention to resign in October 2007. There are many who feel this is too long to prolong the goodbye.
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Despite receiving 90% in his last leadership review, and his popularity polling higher than his party publicly, Klein's party members give him a mere 55% support at a vote in Calgary. This is well below the 75% support Klein himself said he needed to stay on as premier.
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Klein submits his resignation letter to PC party officials, but will stay on until a successor is chosen.
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The college announces the creation of a new media studies chair. Starting in 2007, Klein would give lectures an tutor in media studies. "I'll explain journalism is no longer the five Ws, it's now all about the five Cs — conflict, controversy, chaos, confusion and confrontation," Klein said at the time.
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After his surprise win in the Tory leadership contest, Klein-era MLA Ed Stelmach succeeds Klein as premier.
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Borden Ladner Gervais announces Klein would be joining the firm in an advisory role.
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Klein becomes the first Calgary mayor to have a park named in his honour, with the dedication of a 200-hectare parcel of land in the city's southeast.
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In a Rick Bell column, it is revealed Klein is suffering from COPD, a form of lung disease. Friends say he is not doing well. It is later revealed he is suffering from a form of dementia called Pick's disease.
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After much campaigning of his supporters, Klein was finally honoured with an order of Canada. But due to his failing health, his wife Colleen had to accept it on his behalf. Gov. Gen. David Johnston appeared in Calgary to bestow the honour.
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It is announced Ralph Klein died early on Good Friday. He passed away at a Calgary care centre, surrounded by family.
