Eric Harvie

Harvie, Eric Lafferty

Eric Lafferty Harvie, oilman, philanthropist (b at Orillia, Ont 2 Apr 1892; d at Calgary 11 Jan 1975). Harvie was called to the Alberta Bar in 1915. He served overseas in WWI, was wounded in France and achieved the rank of captain. As a Calgary lawyer, he was involved in the oil business and in 1944 purchased the mineral rights held by British Dominions Land Settlement Co. With these he formed Western Leaseholds, Ltd, and Western Minerals, Ltd; in 1947-48, when oil was discovered on several of his leases in the Leduc and REDWATER fields, he became wealthy. In 1955 he turned to philanthropic endeavours. His major achievement was forming the Glenbow Foundation in Calgary and later overseeing the creation of Heritage Pk. A modest man, he kept most of his good works secret, but he was known for his assistance to the Calgary Zoological Soc, BANFF CENTRE School of Fine Arts and Luxton Museum. He was a founding officer of the Canada Council.