Article content

There was no ceremony, no dignitaries, not even an advance warning.

When former Alberta premier Alison Redford had her official portrait unveiled at the legislature Thursday morning, there wasn’t even an unveiling. And there was no Alison Redford, either.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Graham Thomson: Alison Redford portrait is hung unceremoniously at the Alberta legislature Back to video

Just two maintenance workers with a ladder who unceremoniously added the portrait to the gallery of past premiers on the third floor of the legislature.

This was by design, not by accident.

Redford, Alberta’s first female premier, but also one of the most divisive and controversial leaders in the province’s history,had requested her portrait simply be hung with no fanfare at all.

The $12,500 painting — by Calgary artist Liela Chan — has Redford in a maroon jacket holding what is reportedly a swatch of her family tartan in her right hand. Her left hand rests on a stack of books with partially obscured titles, but with key words standing out: Equality, Diversity, Respect, Energy, Opportunity and one title that is upside down: “Global Perspectives.”