By Patrick Burles - @Patrick Burles on Twitter

Local friends and former politicians react to the loss of Jim Prentice

Oct 14, 2016 | 12:53 PM

LETHBRIDGE – “I was absolutely shocked, you just don’t expect something like this.”

Greg Weadick, the former Progressive Conservative MLA for Lethbridge West, made the statement to Lethbridge News Now Friday morning, shortly after learning of the death of former Alberta Premier Jim Prentice.

“I’d known Jim for a very long time and we’d worked together on the project to bring the conservative parties together federally,” explained Weadick. “He was a very hard working and dedicated man to work with, he had a wonderful wife and three lovely daughters that I know are just going to miss him incredibly, and it’s just a horrible tragedy.”

Weadick went on to discuss Prentice on a personal level, saying he will be deeply missed.

“We had a lot of fun, he always enjoyed sitting down and talking, especially about our province and our country and we always had a great time just when we were together, whether it was visiting or in the legislature, and you know, I don’t think you’d find anybody that worked harder than he did.

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“We owe him a great deal and we just have to thank his family for the time that they gave him to spend on our behalf, and our thoughts and prayers are with them,” Weadick added.

Rick Casson, a close friend of Prentice from their time together with the federal Conservative Party, was devastated by the news.

The former Lethbridge MP recalled Prentice as someone who was always happy to step up and do what needed to be done for the good of the party and Canadians.

“When I chaired the Alberta causes in Ottawa, it’s interesting when you have 25 or 30 people in a room, all type ‘A’ politicians, how things can go along, but he was just a tremendous help to me, he was level headed, voice of reason, well thought out comments,” stated Casson. “Sometimes when the MP’s got to be ministers they didn’t show up at Alberta caucus too often, he never missed. The portfolios he held in Aboriginal Affairs and the environment, I think Prime Minister Harper could have asked him to do anything and he would have done it.”

Casson noted that Prentice had called just last week, as his wife had been dealing with some health issues and Prentice wanted to see how she was doing and wish them both well. Casson then had to pause, working to hold back tears as he processed the memory.

As he regained his composure, Casson lightly chuckled as he went on to talk about how he will remember his friend.

“He had a great sense of humor and he always mixed that in with all the tough decisions he had to make in his life and for the country… he never lost that, he was always smiling and he always had time to talk to anybody, and that’s a rare trait in a politician, and I can say that because I was one.”

Out of respect for Prentice, flags have been lowered to half-mast at all City of Lethbridge facilities.