Pat Carlson, BSc (Eng)’75
Arch Award Recipient - Distinguished Alumni Award for Lifetime Achievement
Profile
Pat Carlson has made extraordinary contributions to the energy sector, and his Distinguished Alumni Award for Lifetime Achievement celebrates his commitment to environmental and social responsibility and his unwavering dedication to community engagement.
From the beginning of his career, Carlson, who majored in chemical engineering, advocated for sustainable practices and inclusive community involvement long before these values became mainstream in corporate mission statements. His innovative approach and commitment to Indigenous communities have set him apart as a leader who embodies the principle of thinking seven generations ahead — a philosophy inspired by the Iroquois and integral to his professional practice.
Carlson's career was marked by the founding of five successful energy companies: Passage, Krang, North American Oil Sands, Seven Generations Energy and Kiwetinohk Energy Corp. Each of these ventures has driven economic growth in Alberta and Canada while prioritizing community and environmental stewardship. Seven Generations Energy was the first natural gas producer worldwide to achieve the EO100 Standard for Responsible Energy Development. This rigorous certification covers corporate governance, human rights, Indigenous People's rights, fair labour and environmental sustainability.
Under Carlson's leadership, Seven Generations Energy engaged deeply with Indigenous communities, employing local residents and supporting numerous community initiatives. These included roadside cleanups, providing meals at local shelters, establishing a shuttle service for Indigenous communities, and contributing significantly to the health-care infrastructure in the city of Grande Prairie, Alta. Such efforts earned Carlson the 2016 Business Citizen of the Year Award from the Grande Prairie Chamber of Commerce.
Carlson's current venture, Kiwetinohk Energy Corp, continues his legacy of integrating environmental and social governance into its operations. Kiwetinohk focuses on sustainable energy solutions, including solar power, natural gas and carbon capture, under a strategy called Wells to Watts. The company's initiatives reflect its commitment to community involvement, training programs for Indigenous operators, funding for Indigenous entrepreneurs and extensive environmental-restoration projects.
Beyond his professional achievements, Carlson has made significant philanthropic contributions, including more than $4 million to the University of Calgary. His donations have supported the expansion of the Schulich School of Engineering and initiatives like the Werklund School of Education’s Strengths in ADHD Project.
"Education is the cornerstone of innovation and leadership,” says Carlson. “My contributions to the Schulich School of Engineering are aimed at ensuring future engineers have the resources and environment they need to excel."
Carlson’s pioneering spirit and dedication to sustainable development have earned him numerous accolades, including the Schulich School’s Distinguished Alumni Award for Leadership and the Canadian Engineering Leadership Award. His induction into the Canadian Petroleum Hall of Fame and recognition by the Alberta Chamber of Resources underscore his influential role in pushing the boundaries of innovation and technology in the energy sector.
"The University of Calgary provided me not just with an education, but with a foundation of community and ethical responsibility,” says Carlson. “These values have been instrumental throughout my career in the energy sector."
The Distinguished Alumni Award for Lifetime Achievement celebrates Carlson’s extraordinary impact on the energy industry, his commitment to environmental and social responsibility, and his profound contributions to the communities he serves. Carlson’s career stands as a testament to the enduring value of integrating ethical practices and community engagement into the fabric of professional success.
Distinguished Alumni Award for Lifetime Achievement
The highest honour awarded by the UCalgary Alumni Association, this award recognizes graduates who, over the course of their lives, have made notable contributions that have improved their profession and community. Having reached the pinnacle of professional and personal success, they enrich the lives of others through their leadership, shared knowledge, creativity and innovation.
Courtesy Pat Carlson
Join us for Alumni All Access!
The Arch Awards is one of many Alumni All-Access events! Everyone is welcome to join us from October 15 to 30 for two weeks of amazing programs to discover new ideas and explore what UCalgary has to offer.
Universities are not just places of learning; they are incubators for the leaders of tomorrow. The initiatives and projects supported by alumni can significantly enhance the learning experience and prepare students for real-world challenges.
Pat Carlson
BSc (Eng)’75
Getting to know Pat Carlson
Was there any professor at the University that you always recall?
There was a professor named Gordon Hoover, who is still there. He was my favorite professor, partly because he taught thermodynamics, which was a part of chemical engineering. It's a lot of fun. It’s, if I try to put hot water in a pipe and get it to do how much you get and how much gets lost to the other, that's thermodynamics. He was my favorite professor. That was my favorite subject. I still use it today.
Is there any social issue which concerns you most?
I am worried that climate change will be inadequately addressed because climate change is a global problem requiring a global solution and so it is hard for any one government to set a mandate for companies in their jurisdiction that doesn’t advantage or disadvantage business in that country relative to others in the same economic circle.
Is there anything in your experience that you wish others knew about in your many fields?
The world of finance became less ominous to me in the 1990s when I worked for a small Canadian public company. I got involved for the first time in my career in investor relations. It turns out that investors are just people too – not as scary as I had imagined. They are just as nervous as anybody in the investment management world.
What is something you learned early on that you would encourage new entrepreneurs to learn?
I think that risk management: how to avoid risks, how to minimize impacts, identifying opportunities that result if the risks occur. If the business environment stays level then it is hard for an entrepreneur to enter the business and fund the initial costs. Disruption (the occurrence of risks) presents the opportunity to provide different and better solutions and to gain ground on the competition.
Do you think that you are misunderstood?
I think I'm recognized in the business world as a guy who creates a bit of stress. But it's rewarding and it's fun and it's fair and all of the right values are there.
Any books you would recommend?
Will to Last is Jim Collins' books. And Organizing Genius by Peterman is a co-author, and it's very good. What Your President Should Know About is a very good book on Climate Change. It's written by a Berkeley professor who was at first a skeptic, decided to investigate it in depth, came to the conclusion that climate change is real. It’s caused in significant part by CO2 emissions from human activities.
What do you like to listen to?
All kinds of music, especially ‘55 to ‘75 classic rock but James Taylor and Carole King and Simon & Garfunkel plus Mac Davis would be high on my list.
Do you have a favorite restaurant?
The number 1 place — the River Café, on Prince’s Island. And Sushi Zipang in Bridgeland, where the General Hospital used to be. It’s the best I've ever had, including the ones I've had in Japan and Vancouver.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Walking, holding Connie’s hand, on the beach at sunset.
What is your greatest fear?
Snakes, I hate snakes. Of course, everybody fears snakes the most (and don’t try to tell me some aren’t poisonous), so the question should have been, “After snakes, what is your greatest fear?” – to which the answer is: I really fear letting down, failing to meet the expectations of those I work with and my friends and family.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
I have really become lazy in my organization in recent years. I just don’t give it enough attention and then the next thing I know is I have missed a meeting and let somebody down.
Which living person do you most admire?
Anyone who can get the Tab settings in Microsoft Word to work the way they want them to. Other than that, Connie is the most loving person I know.
What is your greatest extravagance?
Two retirement/vacation properties in British Columbia: Tofino and Okanagan.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Equanimity, temperance, self-restraint — these are traits that don’t work well with passion, courage, diligence. Where would we be if Beethoven had been temperate?
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“Pardon me.” “Please repeat what you just said.”
Which talent would you most like to have?
I would like to be able to sing and play a musical instrument.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I would like to be more organized.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
My greatest professional achievement is contributing to the success of five successful energy companies.
Which historical figure do you most identify with?
I have made a bit of a study of U.S. presidents. The ones that articulate a grand vision for significant change impress me the most. These include: Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, Barack Obama. Lincoln’s eloquence in expressing the boldest of visions for change is especially noteworthy.
Who are your heroes in real life?
Barack and Michelle Obama, Brian Mulroney.
These incredible alumni are changing the world with vision and purpose. Meet the 2024 Arch Award recipients.