Charles Alexander Allard (November 19, 1919 – August 11, 1991) was a Canadian banker, broadcaster, businessman, and surgeon who set up the Canadian radio station CHQT and Edmonton's independent television station CITV-TV, and was also the founder of the Bank of Alberta, Allarcom, and the Edmonton Oilers. He was also the fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada, chief of staff at the Edmonton General Hospital, and posthumously inducted in the CAB Hall of Fame in 1996.[1][2][3][4]
Dr. Charles Allard | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | November 19, 1919 |
| Died | August 11, 1991 (aged 71) Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
| Occupation(s) | Banker, broadcaster, businessman, surgeon |
| Known for | Alberta Gas and Chemicals (Founder), Bank of Alberta (Founder), Edmonton Oilers (Founder), Allarcom (Founder) |
| Honours | CAB Hall of Fame (1996) |
Life
editCharles Allard was born in Edmonton, Alberta, in 1919, and graduated from high school in Edmonton. He received his medical degree from the University of Alberta in 1943, and went on to complete his postgraduate studies in surgery at the Montreal General Hospital; Lahey Clinic, Boston; Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal; and Children's Memorial Hospital of Montreal.[1] He was appointed the chief of staff of the Edmonton General Hospital.[1]
Allard died in Edmonton in 1991, at the age of 71.[4]
Business career
editAllard has had a diverse range of entrepreneurial efforts spanning banking, broadcasting, entertainment, health care, mass media, and sports.
In 1965, Allard founded the Edmonton radio station CHQT, and western Canada's first independent TV station, CITV-TV, in 1973.[5] He co-founded Paris Investments, which was later renamed Allarco Developments, and became one of the largest real-estate companies in Canada.[4] He was the founder, chairman of the board, and director of Alberta Gas and Chemicals. Dr. Allard was the founder, chairman of the board, and director of International Jet Air.[4] He was one of the founders of Bank of Alberta, which went on to become the Canadian Western Bank.[2] He consolidated his media interests into Allarcom which was sold to Western International Communications in 1991.[1]
In 1971, he founded the hockey team, the Edmonton Oilers, then a participant in the World Hockey Association, with notable players that included Wayne Gretzky.[3]
Honours and awards
editAllard was the recipient of multiple honours, including:
- Canadian Business Hall of Fame (inducted 1995)[4]
- Canadian Association of Broadcasters Broadcast Hall of Fame (inducted 1996)[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Allard, Charles Alex | History of Canadian Broadcasting". www.broadcasting-history.ca. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
- ^ a b "Figure 29-Dr. Charles Allard was a massive business baron in Western..." ResearchGate. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
- ^ a b "Dr. Charles Allard, 1919-91". www.albertadoctors.org. June 25, 2013. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "Dr. Charles A. Allard | CBHF". cbhf.ca. Archived from the original on August 7, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
- ^ "5 Alberta Legends Who Show What It Means To Be an Entrepreneur". AlbertaVenture.com. Archived from the original on September 23, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2020.