Persona

Wright, Clifford Emerson

1927-2014

Cliff Wright was born on Sept 21, 1927 in Saskatoon, and died Dec 9, 2014. He attended Nutana Collegiate and briefly studied engineering at the University of Saskatchewan before joining Smith Brothers and Wilson Construction as a carpenter’s apprentice. He eventually became Saskatchewan Vice President, and in 1987 bought out the Saskatchewan assets of the company, re-naming it Wright Construction.

He served on Saskatoon City Ciouncil from 1967-1988, including sitting as mayor from 1976-1988, when he retired from politics. He served on a variety of public boards including both the City Hospital and University Hospital Boards, the Saskatoon District Health Board, and the Saskatchewan Potash Corporation Board. In the early 1990s, he served as Treaty Land Commissioner. Other agencies he was involved with included the Saskatchewan Abilities Council, Parenting Incorporated, Cosmopolitan Industries, the United Way, YMCA and YWCA, Big Brothers, and Big Sisters.

Cliff Wright was made CFQC Citizen of the Year in 1988, the same year he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Saskatchewan. He received the Canada 125 Medal in 1992, was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1998, was awarded the Saskatchewan Order of Merit in 1999 and the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal in 2005.

Jan 9, 2022

Jen Pederson. A Seat on Council. (City of Saskatoon Archives, revised, 2022)
Obituary, Saskatoon Star Phoenix, Dec 10, 2014