Pallister’s politics much like his b-ball

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This article was published 23/04/2016 (3455 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BRANDON — The Progressive Conservative election win Tuesday was especially special for Brandon University.

Premier-designate Brian Pallister will be the first BU graduate to become premier of Manitoba once he’s sworn in next month.

Pallister earned arts and education degrees at BU in the 1970s, served as Brandon University Students’ Union president and played with the school’s Bobcats basketball team.

Longtime Bobcats coach Jerry Hemmings was new to the university when Pallister showed an interest in basketball.

“He had hair down to his shoulder and was probably 40 pounds overweight,” he said .

The two hit it off, and Pallister evolved into a tenacious centre and a valuable “sixth man” for Hemmings’ Bobcats.

“One thing I learned about Brian is you don’t win championships until you have players that are willing to get in the trenches — and that was Brian Pallister,” Hemmings said.

He recalled repeatedly sending Pallister out against a powerful centre from BU’s rival, the University of Winnipeg.

“My first move was to go to Brian. Between playing him physical, playing him real gritty and throwing in some trash talk, (the other centre) was finished,” he said.

Pallister was on the 1979-80 squad that won the Great Plains conference and came within a win of a Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union (now CIS) championship.

“Years later, I see the same thing in his politics. He doesn’t mind answering the tough questions. He’s very witty,” Hemmings said.

“I think he’s going to do a tremendous job. We’re all pulling for him.”

He’s not the first notable politician to come from BU, however.

Douglas Campbell, the 13th premier of Manitoba, spent two years at what was then called Brandon College in the mid-1910s.

Tommy Douglas, dubbed the Father of Medicare, also attended Brandon College. He served as premier of Saskatchewan from 1944 to 1961.

Reg Helwer, who was returned to Winnipeg by the Brandon West electorate, was also a BUSU president, and served as chairman on BU’s board of governors. He graduated with a BA in political science.

Edward Schreyer, Manitoba premier from 1969 to 1977, was Brandon University chancellor from 2002 to 2008.

— Brandon Sun