Brian Jean: Wildrose Party Leader

Brian Jean
Party leader since March 2015
Age:52
Occupation before politics:Lawyer
Education:Bachelor of Science,MBA and law degree
First year elected to Alberta legislature:not yet elected
Candidatein FortMcMurray-Conklin

If all goes according to plan, Brian Jean will face off against former federal Conservative colleague Jim Prentice in the Alberta legislature.

Jean, 52, fended off Wildrose MLA Drew Barnes and former Strathcona County mayor Linda Osinchuk to win the race to replace Danielle Smith as party leader.

As Wildrose Leader, Jean will try to resurrect the party in the post-Smith era and become an effective checkto the Prentice and the governing PCs.At his the launch of his leadership campaign, Jean admitted the party is unlikely to win the next election.

"I don't think it's one we can win at this stage," he said. "It is a rebuilding one, but we need in Alberta a strong, solid opposition that can keep the government to account."

The two party leaderswere first elected to the House of Commons in 2004: Prentice in Calgary-Centre North, Jean in Fort McMurray-Athabasca.

Prentice spent six years in Ottawa before leaving federal politics in 2010. Jean served as MP for a decade before stepping down in January 2014.

Jean's decision to join the Wildrose leadership wasn't a complete surprise. The party has long been viewed as the provincial wing of the federal Conservatives. In 2012, the majority of Conservative Alberta MPs supported then-leader Danielle Smith instead of then-Progressive Conservative leader Alison Redford.

Personal tragedy

Jean was endorsed by a number of Wildrose candidates during the race, including Derek Fildebrandt, the former Alberta director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federationrunning in Strathmore-Brooks.

The campaign was marked by personal tragedywhen Jean's 24-year son Michael suddenly passed away on March 20.

The young man had recently been diagnosed with lymphoma. Jean said his son's troubles with the health-care system werebehind his return to politics.

Jean took time off from the leadership campaign, but vowed to stay in the race.

Jean was born in Kelowna. He moved to Fort McMurray when he was four years old.

He has a Bachelor of Sciencefrom Warner Pacific University in Portland, Oregon;a Masters of Business Administration and a law degree, both from Bond University in Australia. Upon his return to Canada, he obtained his Canadian law degree equivalency at the University of Calgary.

Jean practiced law in Fort McMurray for a decade before heading to Ottawa. He is also involved with City Centre Group, which owns a number of businesses in Fort McMurray.