Manmeet Bhullar '11
Remembering Alberta MLA Manmeet Bhullar, ’11
Alberta Progressive Conservative MLA Manmeet Bhullar, 35, passed away yesterday in a car accident while driving on icy roads from Calgary to Edmonton. The Windsor Law alum was hit after getting out of his car to assist a motorist whose car had rolled over in the median. He died doing what he loved to do, helping others.
Manmeet was a native of Calgary who came to Windsor in 2006. At the age of 28, as a second-year law student with a sociology degree, he was first elected to the Alberta legislature. One of Alberta’s youngest MLAs, he was a rising star in Alberta’s Progressive Conservative party, and one of only ten Tories to survive the spring election.
His classmates and professors knew him as a "force of social justice". “Manmeet was a memorable student and a great person,” says Professor Richard Moon. “The circumstances of his death remind us of his selfless commitment to others - which is what made him such an outstanding public servant.” Professor David Tanovich says "Manmeet embodied all that Windsor Law tries to instill in its students - compassion, empathy, understanding and passion for social justice and commitment to service." Today’s Calgary Herald calls Manmeet a “warrior for fairness and justice,” who put others ahead of himself in politics and in his personal life. Recently Manmeet took up the cause of religious minorities in Afghanistan and was pressing Ottawa to speed their refugee claims.
Accolades have poured in from across the country with heartfelt stories of the impact Manmeet has had and the significant contributions he has made to public life. Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi said in a statement he was "utterly gutted" by the news of Bhullar's death. "A public servant, a true warrior for fairness and justice, a big man with a giant heart, a friend," Nenshi said.
All flags on Alberta provincial buildings have been lowered to half-mast until sunset on the day of his funeral and the legislature will not sit today, observing a day of mourning.
A memorial scholarship has been established by the Faculty of Law at the University of Windsor, in Manmeet’s name. For details contact Karen Momotiuk, in the Alumni and Fund Development Office.
More stories and news are in our latest Access Windsor Law newsletter.