EDMONTON - Lying on her deathbed, Helen Redford remained a true-blue Tory and proud parent as she encouraged her daughter Alison to attend the final leadership debate in the race to become Alberta's next premier.
The 71-year-old died unexpectedly Tuesday from an infection while at Rockyview General Hospital in Calgary.
Alison Redford has cancelled some upcoming events leading up to Saturday's final Tory leadership vote, but she planned to attend the Wednesday night debate, broadcast on television and radio.
"Her mother wanted her to participate," said spokesman Stephen Carter. "Alison will be continuing with her mother forefront in her mind and it has strengthened her resolve."
Carter described the elder Redford as a "pistol" who volunteered with the Progressive Conservatives for many years. He met Helen Redford in 1997 when he was tasked with carrying the luggage of the party's visiting national leader, Jean Charest, and she was busy running the party's campaign office in Calgary.
"She ran a tight ship and made sure we were all doing what needed to be done," he said.
Although she suffered some minor strokes in recent years, she continued to live in her own home in High River, south of Calgary, said Carter. She helped organize her daughter's campaign in the community and even hosted a coffee party before the first ballot vote two weeks ago.
Redford placed a distant second to Gary Mar on the first ballot, but ahead of Doug Horner. Her mother "was the reason we did as well as we did down south," Carter said.
The senior fell ill Friday and was taken to a local hospital, then transferred to Calgary Tuesday. Doctors there determined her medical condition was grave and she died a few hours later.
Carter said a funeral for Redford's mother probably won't be held until after Saturday's runoff vote. The family is waiting for one of Redford's two sisters, Melody, to travel home from Malaysia, where she teaches English.
Condolences have poured into Redford's campaign office, said Carter.
"So smart and good that you spent her last day with her. That's showing leadership under pressure," Brenda Gladstone wrote on Redford's Facebook page.
Calgary Hays MLA Art Johnston, who has endorsed Redford since the race began, said the death of a parent is reason enough to halt a campaign. He's impressed with her determination to continue.
"It does say it all," Johnston said. "To me that indicates she's going to get the job done under any circumstance."
© The Canadian Press, 2011