Jim Prentice's top 5 career highlights

Former Alberta premier Jim Prentice, whodied in a plane crash at age 60, had a storied life outside politics.

He was the son of a gold miner who also played pro hockey, earned a law degree while working summers in a coal mine, and wasan entrepreneur and energy analyst.

Prenticewas one of four people aboard a twin-engine Cessna Citation that crashedshortly after takeofffrom Kelowna, B.C.,en route to Springbank Airport, just outside Calgary late Thursday.

Here are some highlights of his life andcareer:

Early life and politics

Prentice was born onJuly 20, 1956, near Timmins, Ont. His father wasthe youngest player ever to sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs at age 17, and latermoved the family toGrand Cache,Alta.,when Jimwas 13.

After an injury sidelined any chance of his own hockey career, Prenticegraduated with a law degree while working summers in a coal mine. He went on to work as an entrepreneur and a lawyer dealing mainly with land and property rights.

Prentice joined the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada when he wasjust 20.In 1986, he lost his bid to be elected member of the legislature for Calgary Mountain View, but remained active in Conservativecircles. He called for theunification of the fractured PCs and the Canadian Alliance, and in 2002, he stepped aside as the PC candidate in Calgary Southwest so that Alliance leader Stephen Harper could run unopposed to represent the centre-right.

• Tory leadership race off and running

2004 to 2010: Federal politics

In 2004, at age 47, Prenticewon the Calgary Centre-Northriding for the newlymerged Conservative Party.

Hewas named toHarper's cabinet in 2006asministerof Indian affairs and northern development, and movedto the environment portfolio in 2008 after a yearas industry minister.

2010 to 2014: Banking career

Jim Prentice's statement

14 years ago

Duration 2:16

Federal Environment Minister Jim Prentice announces his resignation from politics in the House of Commons

In a surprise move in 2010,Prentice announced he was leaving politics toserveas vice-chair and senior executive vice-president with CIBC.

• Prentice leaving politics to join CIBC

2014 to 2015: Provincial politics

RAW: PC Party elects Jim Prentice as leader

10 years ago

Duration 1:04:45

Hundreds gathered at the Edmonton Expo Centre Saturday night as members of the PC Party voted in Jim Prentice as their new leader in the first ballot.

In September 2014,he re-entered politics, setting his sights on the provincial scene.After winning the PC leadership,Prentice replaced Alison Redford as Alberta premier.

• Jim Prentice: From the coal mine to Alberta's top political office

But victory was short-lived, andhe stepped down in May 2015, when the PCs were handed a humiliating defeat by the NDP, after nearly half a century in power.

• Jim Prentice resigns after orange wave sweeps Alberta

Jim Prentice resigns

9 years ago

Duration 5:08

PC Leader Jim Prentice resigns during an election night speech, despite winning his seat

2016: Energy analyst

In February 2016,Prentice began a four-month fellowship at the Wilson Center, a think-tank in Washington, D.C. He worked on a book on energy and environmental issues thatwas due to be published later this year. In June,Prentice landed a job as an energy adviser with New York-based private equity firmWarburgPincus.

• Former Alberta premier Jim Prentice lands job at Washington think-tank
• Jim Prentice lands new job as energy analyst with Warburg Pincus

On Thursday nightPrentice was killed in a plane crashwhile flying back to Calgary from a golfing trip in Kelowna, B.C.

He is survived by his wife, Karen, a lawyer and former executive vice-president ofEnmax, who has served on several high-profile boards, including the National Arts Centre, the Walrus andCanada's National History Society.

He also leavesthree daughters and two grandchildren.