The following statement was read in the House of Assembly today by the Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador:

Speaker, I rise in this House to pay tribute to the life of Albert Williams, a family friend and a dedicated and hardworking Newfoundlander and Labradorian.

Most in here know him as the chair of the board of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro and, in that role, he admirably served the people of the province. However, his contributions to the province go far deeper.

Born in Grand Bank, Albert graduated from the engineering program at Memorial University before starting his own firm. Through NewPlan Engineering, he helped build the roads and bridges that connect the communities of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Later, he moved on to serve as CEO of SNC Lavalin, Atlantic Division.

Retirement was not a word in Albert’s dictionary, though, so after leaving Lavalin, he quickly took on many other projects and, in 2022, the role of board chair at Hydro.

Like many people from the Burin Peninsula, Albert loved to be on the land, either on foot, in a boat or a snowmobile. In fact, he took part in one of the most gruelling outdoor events in the world, the Cain’s Quest snowmobile race in Labrador. Pretty impressive!

More than anything, Albert was a family man who was happiest when spending time with Thelma. He was especially proud of his children Stephen and Jonathon, and his treasured grandchildren, Jesse, Sam, Alison, Alexa and James. You would regularly find Albert at a hockey rink or sporting event cheering on his grandkids.

Speaker, I ask all members to take a moment to remember the life of Albert Williams.