Hugh John Bolton, FCPA, FCA, F.ICD, LLD (Hon)
It is with heavy hearts that our family announces Hugh's passing on December 31, 2020, at the age of 82. Hugh is survived by Margot, his wife of 60 years, his sister Jane (Michael), his children; Rick McKee, Scott (Ellen), Blythe Ibatuan (Kevin) and Cydney (Beau) as well as twelve grandchildren and one great grandchild; Carly (Josh), Taylor (Brittany), Jack, Maddie, Anyssa (Sean), Charlie, Ben, Rylee, Max, Emilie, Tom, Cullen and Freddie. With his children at his side, Hugh's passage was as dignified as his fight against his cancer diagnosis was courageous.
A pillar of the Edmonton community for over five decades, Hugh's achievements in business and public service are remarkable. Hugh was born and raised in the Edmonton neighbourhood of Glenora the son of Margaret (Morrison) and J.B. (Jack) Bolton. He attended Westglen High School and received his BA in Economics from the University of Alberta in 1959. An excellent athlete, Hugh excelled at hockey, football, baseball and basketball. He was a terrific musician and once played keyboard for Johnny Cash at the Edmonton Gardens in 1957 when the regular keyboard player took ill!
Hugh started his business career at the accounting firm Willetts, Berge & Company and achieved his Chartered Accountant designation in 1963. Willets Berge eventually became Willets McMahon & Company and Hugh was Managing Partner from 1976 to 1980. In 1980, Willets McMahon merged with the international accounting firm, Coopers & Lybrand (now PwC). After joining C&L, Hugh rose rapidly in the firm from Edmonton office Managing Partner to Managing Partner of Canadian Operations to Vice-Chairman and finally Canadian Chairman and CEO from 1992 to his retirement in 1998. He remains to this day the only western Canadian CEO of the firm in its history.
After "retirement" Hugh embarked on a second and perhaps even more illustrious career as a Board Director of many of Canada's largest and most respected Corporations including Teck, CN, TD and WestJet. He was also a Director of Matrikon, one of Edmonton's most successful technology firms. However, it was his 18-year chairmanship of EPCOR Utilities, which is Hugh's proudest and longest lasting achievement. It is hard to overstate the significance of his contribution in the evolution of EPCOR and Capital Power to the respected, world class entities which they are today. More broadly, Hugh was a pioneer and long-standing champion of corporate governance in Canadian business. It is not an overstatement to say Hugh's 20-year board career was one of the most distinguished in Canadian corporate history.
Hugh was a significant and generous contributor of his time and resources to numerous charities, public institutions and other worthwhile causes including the University of Alberta School of Business, the Canadian Institute of CPA's, the Institute of Corporate Directors, STARS Air Ambulance, the Canadian Diabetes Association and the University of Alberta Hospital Foundation to name just a few. Hugh was also a trusted mentor and teacher for numerous business and community leaders in Edmonton and throughout Canada. In 2015, the University of Alberta recognized Hugh's achievements by awarding him an honourary Doctor of Laws degree.

Hugh had wide-ranging personal interests and hobbies from woodworking (he was an expert furniture maker), to music (he played guitar and piano), to horses, to gardening, to photography and later in life, painting. But his true passion was hunting the importance of which he believed in. He loved seeing nature unfold such as the annual migration of Canada geese each September in the Peace River country. Hugh and Margot were both happiest in the country, especially at their "ranch" west of Devon, Alberta.
Notwithstanding his many accomplishments, Hugh's family was at the centre of his life. And, his family (particularly children and grandchildren) were part of everything he did. The Bolton family has many, many rich, poignant and funny memories, which we will always cherish. The family was centred on Hugh and Margot's 66 year partnership, which began at a chance meeting at a dance at Seba beach, west of Edmonton in 1954. Hugh was playing in the band and Margot was at the dance. The rest, as they say, is history.
Upon Hugh's retirement as EPCOR's board chair, he was described as a "Leader for our Time". There is no more apt description. Hugh Bolton lived life as it should be lived; fearlessly, with passion, honesty, integrity and loyalty to his family, his friends, his community and his country. He remained a proud Edmontonian his entire life. Hugh will be greatly missed but never forgotten. May he rest in peace.
The Bolton family would like to thank the incredible medical team at the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton led by Dr. Michael Sawyer for their unbending care and support of our father through the course of his illness. The family is planning a celebration of life at a date when we can all meet again. In the meantime, and in lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to be made to the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton.