Wes MacAleer

Weston J. MacAleer, known throughout Prince Edward Island as Wes, was a publisher, entrepreneur, Progressive Conservative MLA and cabinet minister whose public life stretched from Yellowknife city politics to Charlottetown's Legislative Assembly and long afterwards into Island civic causes. Born on 12 February 1944 in Summerside, the son of John Francis MacAleer and Helen Blanche Campbell, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Saint Dunstan's University in 1966 and married Constance Marie Bateman on 12 April 1969. They had two children, Gillian and Darren Roberts.

From 1969 to 1989 MacAleer lived and worked in the Northwest Territories. He helped organise the first Arctic Winter Games in 1970, founded small businesses in communications, construction, property development and insurance, and served two terms on Yellowknife municipal council. After returning to Prince Edward Island he became publisher of The Guardian and the Evening Patriot, the Island's leading newspapers, before entering provincial politics.

First elected to the Legislative Assembly in the 18 November 1996 general election for Charlottetown-Spring Park, he was re-elected in 2000 and 2003 and served until 28 May 2007. Premier Pat Binns appointed him Minister of Economic Development and Tourism on 27 November 1996. On 31 July 1998 he became Minister of Community Services and Minister Responsible for the Human Rights Act, and from 9 January 1999 until April 2000 he also served as Attorney General. He chaired standing committees on fisheries, intergovernmental affairs and transportation and sat on Public Accounts, privileges and private bills, climate change and Treasury Board.

Colleagues and friends remembered a competitive tennis player who remained a constant gentleman on and off the court, a publisher who walked into the newsroom like a friend rather than a boss, and a retiree who never really stopped serving. After leaving elected office he gave time to the University of Prince Edward Island, innovation and entrepreneurship networks, the Rotary Club of Charlottetown, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Junior Achievement, the Canadian Cancer Society, United Way, Scouts Canada and other Island organisations. He played music for residents in long-term care homes and was named the Canadian Red Cross Humanitarian of the Year in 2014. He was president of Wesmac Holdings Ltd., a private Island investment firm.

Premier Rob Lantz confirmed MacAleer's death and paid tribute on social media, saying he had dedicated much of his life to public service and that after leaving office he continued to give his time and energy to UPEI, innovation, Rotary and many other Island causes. Tennis partners Lorne Acorn and Gordon Christie and former Guardian journalist Barb McKenna recalled his kindness, quiet intellect and genuine interest in other people.

Wes MacAleer died in September 2026 at the age of 82. CBC News reported the death on 20 September 2026, the date under which Wikipedia's list of 2026 deaths records the announcement; the precise private calendar day of death was not published in that coverage, and the cause was not made public.