The Brian Mulroney Institute of Government Presents
A Premier Experience: The Honourable Rachel Notley
Wednesday, October 7, 2026
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Barrick Auditorium (MulH 2070)
The Brian Mulroney Institute of Government is pleased to announce its newest speaker series: A Premier Experience. The series welcomes current and former provincial premiers to reflect on their experiences in office as leaders and policymakers. The series will launch with The Honourable Rachel Notley, the former premier of Alberta (2015–19), who will draw on her experience to consider the current state of her home province as it prepares for the 2026 Referendums, particularly the question of separation. Sandy Silver, former premier of the Yukon, and current Victor Dahdaleh Practitioner-in-Residence at the Mulroney Institute, will join Ms. Notley in a fireside chat.
The event is co-sponsored by the Gender and Politics Research Lab, a StFX research lab founded and directed by Dr. Rebecca Wallace, the Mila Mulroney Research Chair in Women and Politics.
All are welcome.
Biography
The Honourable Rachel Notley
Serving as premier of Alberta from 2015 to 2019, the Honourable Rachel Notley is best known for leading the NDP from four seats and fourth place to 54 seats and a majority government — ending 44 years of Conservative government.
A lawyer by profession, Notley was first elected in 2008 as one of only two NDP Members of the Legislative Assembly in Alberta. She won the leadership of her party in October 2014 and made history in 2015 when she formed the first NDP government in the historically Conservative province.
Throughout her term, Notley cut child poverty in half and made significant investments in healthcare, infrastructure, and education, including the building of the Calgary Cancer Centre, the Calgary Green Line, the Edmonton Valley Line, and 244 schools across the province. Notley also laid the foundation for diversifying Alberta’s economy and introduced the Climate Leadership Plan, a strategy to combat climate change that included a consumer carbon tax.
In 2019, the NDP lost the election, but Notley stayed on, working to rebuild and strengthen the Opposition caucus. She served as Leader of His Majesty’s Official Opposition from 2019 until her resignation in 2024.
Prior to entering politics, Notley practised labour law and worked as a political staffer for the NDP in both Alberta and British Columbia. She received a degree in Political Science from the University of Alberta and a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School.
She is currently an Associate Counsel at Southern Law LLP, focused mainly on leadership, governance, and conflict resolution.