Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta

Our History

An historical sketch of the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta

In many elections between 1905 and 1971, the Conservative Party of Alberta was unable to elect a single MLA to the Legislature. In other elections, the Party elected a few MLAs but it never came close to forming a government.

By contrast, in 1982, there were 75 Progressive Conservatives in the Legislature out of a total of 79 members (the Party's name changed to Progressive Conservative in the late 1950s).

There is no question that the most important part of Conservative history has taken place since 1965, under leaders Peter Lougheed, Don Getty and Ralph Klein. But the early years form a fascinating contrast.

The difficulties of those years highlight the accomplishments of today's Party members who have helped to shape Alberta in the seventies and eighties. Throughout this history, there are common threads which have bonded Alberta Conservatives together.