MLA Manmeet Bhullar's deep commitment celebrated at memorial

Thousands packed Calgary'sJubilee Auditorium and overflow seating on Sunday to say goodbye to "peaceful warrior"ManmeetBhullar.

TheProgressive Conservativemember of thelegislatureforCalgary-Greenwaywas only 35 when he waskilled by a semi-truckon a snowy Queen Elizabeth II Highway north of Red Deer on Monday.Fittinglyfor a man with a reputation for helping others,Bhullarwas out of his car coming to the aid of a stranded motorist.

The crowd at his service included federal and provincial cabinet ministers, Calgary MayorNaheedNenshi andover 40MLAs, as well asfamily and regular citizens who were touched byBhullar'sgenerosity. The master of ceremonies was former premier Jim Prentice, who had known Bhullar since he was age 10.

"In a world where there is much darkness, he showed us all, seemingly effortlessly and always with that broad smile, that it is always the best in humanity that wins out," said Prentice.

'An exemplary man'

With over 2,000 people packed into the Jubilee and over 400 watching in the nearbySAITgymnasium, Prentice saidBhullarwould have had a chuckle and a smile over theturnout.

Following the singing of the Canadian and Sikh national anthems, Prentice read a statement from Prime Minister JustinTrudeau."Today we remember an exemplary man who devoted his life, publicly and privately, to helping others," said the statement.

Prentice praisedBhullar'sgenerosity and optimism and his"shining belief in the ability of young people to change the world."

His sister,TarjinderKaurBhullar,spoke of how her parents,BaljinderSingh andSukhvirKaurBhullar,could never have imagined their son being so honoured by so manywhen they immigrated to Canada.

Commitment to public service

Manmeet Bhullar remembered, courtesy of his family

9 years ago

Duration 12:17

A slideshow celebrating the life of late PC MLA Manmeet Bhullar, shown at his memorial.

She said his commitment to public service cost him. His love for his job and his community sometimes wore him down, particularly during his time as minister of human services.

His shoulders were broad, she said, but they sometimes "softened" under the load of his responsibilities.

She worried about him, sayingolder sisters always worry about their brothers.

"Asthe sister of a politician, that protective instinctis unbelievablyfierce," she said. "Rest now,because you have earned it. Rest,my peaceful warrior."

Later, Calgary's mayor foughtback tears, speaking of the loss of his friend.

"This isn't right, we shouldn't be here," Nenshi said, before celebrating Bhullar'saccomplishments.

He made a promise toBhullar'sfamily, which included not only his wife, parents and sister, but also a younger brother, Appy, and of course extended family:"We will be there for you, the way he was always there for us."

Those sentiments were echoed by Canada's minister of defence,HarjitSajjan.

He saidBhullarlooked up to him for some reason, but in truth it wasBhullarwho was the pillar on whichSajjanand so many others stood.

"Now we are duty bound by his example," Sajjan said in a video statement played at the memorial."It is up to us to do right by his tremendous life."

Sense of humour

Bhullar's sense of humour was a theme throughout the memorial, and all participants spoke of his good nature and quick smile.

"I know you're smiling because you oversold the Jubilee," said his friendTonyDhaliwal, who expressed his trepidation attaking the stage after so many politicians.

He said thatjust last week,Bhullarcrashed a friend's date, bought a lot of chewy candy and then threw the candy at the couple during a movie.

ButDhaliwalalso spoke ofBhullarbeing there for him in hard timesand holding him as he cried.

He said he returned the favour, but there was one critical difference.

"I cried for myself and you cried for others," he said, speaking ofBhullar'sstruggles with the suffering he encountered as minister of human services.

He was also among those who spoke of Bhullar's faith, Sikhism, whichgave him the convictions of seva selfless work.

"You increased the significance of the turban. You have shown this world what a true Sikh is."

Commitment to family

His cousinAmardeepSinghLailsaid he wouldn't be alive today if it weren't forBhullarand his commitment to family, and he promised to ensure his daughter remembers that.

"She has a dad becauseMeethanever gave up," he said, breaking down in tears.

Closing the ceremony,Bhullar'swife,Namrita,thanked everyone for their support and celebrated her husband's accomplishments.

"Not everyone dies a hero:Meethanot only passed away a hero, but he livedas one," she said.

Cabinet posts

Bhullarwas first elected to the legislature in March 2008, at age 28, after beingappointed by thenpremier EdStelmachto carry the Torybanner inCalgaryMontrose.

Alison Redford namedBhullarto the cabinet in 2011asService Alberta minister.

In December 2013, Redford movedBhullarto replace veteran Dave Hancock as human services minister.

In that role,Bhullarhelped rewrite a law that placed an automatic ban on the release of the names of children who died in provincial care.That controversial ban had prevented even parents from speaking out.

In September 2014, he became infrastructure minister in the short-lived Prentice government.

Bhullarwas re-electedtwice andnarrowly avoided being caught up in the NDP tide that swept the province in May, winning his riding by about 800 votes.

Powerful community advocate

Born in Calgary, he earned a bachelor of arts fromAthabascaUniversity and a bachelor of lawfrom the University of Windsor.

Before running for office, hefounded the Inspire Youth Development Society, which works with at-risk youth, and worked on several political campaigns.

When Prentice ran for the Conservative leadership in 2014,Bhullarchaired his campaign.

Nenshisaid city landmarks wouldbe lit navy blue on Sunday in tribute.

By early evening Sunday landmarks including the Calgary Tower andLangevin Bridge were lit inBhullar's honour.