Ex-Stettler MLA Downey dies at 61

Brian Downey, the Stettler MLA who stepped aside in 1989 to enable then-Premier Don Getty to regain a seat in the Alberta legislature, died Thursday in Red Deer.

Downey, a former Castor farmer, was 61.

“He died suddenly,” Downey’s brother, Dwight, said Sunday night from his Castor home.

“He had a massive stroke on Tuesday and died on the Thursday.”

Brian Downey lived on an acreage outside of Red Deer with his wife of 41 years, Trudy, a Castor native whose maiden name was Fuller.

Downey was the MLA for the former Stettler riding — which stretched from Castor to Bashaw — from 1986 to 1989.

He resigned immediately after the April 1989 general election to give Getty another opportunity to win a seat.

Although his Progressive Conservative party had won a majority government, Getty lost his own Edmonton-Whitemud riding, but he regrouped a month later to win Stettler in a May 1989 byelection that brought the provincial media spotlight on the rural communities that dotted the central Alberta constituency.

Downey’s willingness to resign cleared the way for Getty to continue a seven-year run as premier.

The Castor farmer was forever linked to an oddity in provincial political history.

“I’m sure he had conflicting thoughts on (resigning), but I’m sure he believed it was for the good of the party,” said his brother, Dwight.

“While MLA, Brian worked on equalizing the education tax base in Alberta, which is now legislation.”

“Probably the highlight of Brian’s political career came after resigning from the legislature. He was appointed to the Alberta Grain Commission, where he was instrumental in having barley removed from the monopoly of the Canadian Wheat Board, if only for a short time.”

Politics was just one of the multiple career paths that Brian Downey sampled.

“I think he was always interested in politics,” his brother said. “But he was a guy that liked to do a variety of things. He had six or seven careers during his lifetime. He was everything. He was a farmer and he was a banker and he worked for a finance company. He sold cars, he piloted — he had a plane. He did a lot of things.”

“I’ll always admire that he was able to take on these different career choices and do well with them.”

Most recently, he had been employed as a commissionaire in the Red Deer area for much of the past decade, Dwight said. Downey’s funeral is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday at Balmoral Bible Chapel in Red Deer, with Pastor Fred Lane officiating.

Along with his wife, Downey’s survivors include his son Dustin (Jovina) Downey and their children Chiaki, Duke and Jasmine of Taber, Alta., and daughter Allison (Marc) Downey-Damato and their child Matteo of Edmonton.

Among the survivors listed in his obituary are his father Clifford (Frances) Downey of Edmonton, brothers Bill (Darina) Downey of Calgary, Dwight (Kathy) Downey of Castor, and Darrin Downey of Prince George, B.C., and sister Reena Downey of Red Deer.

Downey’s other survivors include halfbrother Bruce (Heide Andersen) Downey of Castor, half-sister Elisabeth (Steve) Hughes of Edmonton, and stepsisters Michelle Labonté and Cheryl Labonté, both of Edmonton, along with numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Downey was predeceased by his mother, Doreen Downey.

Donations in Downey’s honour can be made to the Salvation Army, 4837—54th St., Red Deer, T4N 2G5, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, 202, 5913—50th Ave, Red Deer, T4N 4C4, or any other charity.