The recipient of the 2014 Johnson Award is Joe Lougheed, Artsci’88. The award is presented by the Calgary Branch of the QUAA to those who are active and lifelong contributors to Queen's University, the Alumni Association and the Calgary community.
After completing his studies at Queen's, Joe continued his studies at the London School of Economics and then received his law degree from Dalhousie University. Yet, even while living in another province and country, he never forgot about his alma mater, becoming involved with both the London and Halifax alumni association branches in various capacities.
Since returning to Calgary – where he is a partner at Dentons, practicing corporate and commercial law – he has been QUAA Calgary Branch president, national president of the QUAA (2001-2002), and served on both the Queen's University Council and the Board of Trustees (2003-2012).
Joe also plays significant roles for several Calgary based organizations, including the United Way, Calgary Chamber of Commerce, and the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT). He also holds the title of Honorary Consul for the Consulate of Sweden in Calgary.
In his extra time, he also provides pro-bono legal advice for several not-for-profit organizations across Alberta.
He took some time to answer a few questions from Calgary Branch volunteer Kimberly Molina, Artsci'07.
Question: How does it feel to be this year’s Johnson Award winner?
Answer: It’s very humbling. I know a lot of the previous winners and they’re certainly big shoes to follow in and they’re all terrific people. So, it’s just an absolute honour and it was a big surprise.
Question: As someone who grew up in Alberta, why did you decide to attend Queen’s?
Answer: Initially, I think, like a lot of kids, I wanted to not be at home. I grew up in Alberta, so I thought it would be a great opportunity to see Canada and get a different perspective on our country while going to school. My brother had gone to Queen’s and he spoke very highly of the university. I’d actually never toured the campus. My first day at Queen’s was when I arrived on the first day of frosh week and it was great fun. It’s a great school and it has a great reputation. I wanted to be at a smaller university that has terrific school spirit, while also having a strong academic record. Queen’s fit the bill on everything.
Question: What is your favourite memory from your time at Queen’s?
Answer: I remember the Queen’s-McGill football game in my first year very well. It was a lot of fun. I don’t know why I remember that so vividly, but that was my first week at Queen’s and it was the first Queen’s football game that I had seen. We went to Montreal and the Queen’s engineers stormed the field and ripped down the goal posts. I was just this 18 year-old kid from Edmonton and I was just sort of taken aback by the whole thing. The crowd was chanting and I’d never seen anything like it. It was amazing.
Question: Why has it been important for you to be involved with Queen’s since graduation?
Answer: Well, fundamentally, it was a lot of fun and you met a lot of great people and made a lot of great friends. And that’s how it started. I loved my time at Queen’s. It's a fabulous school and I made great friendships. At the start, it was just having fun and meeting new people that had that common Queen’s experience. Over time, as I got more involved, I wanted to give back to Queen’s through the alumni association and through the Board of Trustees. Queen’s is a great school and it was good to me. So, if I had the opportunity to give back to Queen’s, it was just an honour to do it.
Question: Why is volunteering important to you?
Answer: I grew up in a household where public service was second nature. It’s just important to give back to your community and it’s incredibly rewarding to see what makes our community thrive and to meet so many interesting people. I think if everyone does a little bit in their community, it makes the community a stronger place. And that could be any type of volunteering. I think it makes a city richer and it makes your life very interesting and rewarding.
Question: Your father, former Alberta Premier Peter Lougheed, served as Chancellor at Queen’s between 1996 and 2002. Did your relationship with the school influence him to get involved?
Answer : Well, my brother, Stephen Lougheed, Com’77, also went to Queen’s. I have no doubt that my brother and I twisted his arm when he was asked and convinced him to do it. At first, he was a little reticent. He didn’t know if they wanted an Albertan as Chancellor of an old, established Ontario university. But Roland Michener had been the Chancellor and the Calgary community is important to Queen’s. He ended up really loving his time at Queen’s.
The Johnson Award Reception takes place on Oct. 30. Online registration is now open.
