Mathew Martyn Baldwin

The family of Mathew Baldwin is deeply saddened to announce his sudden passing at the age of 96. Matt was predeceased by his parents, Norman and Lillian, his brothers, Newton and Erving, and his daughter, Susan. He is survived by his wife of 72 years Betty-Jean, daughters Sally and Leslie, five grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Matt began life in Blucher, Saskatchewan – a small town outside of Saskatoon. Blucher played a significant role in shaping who Matt would become as a person. His early years were simple but meaningful and he developed a great appreciation for the small things in life. The legacy of Blucher lived on through his stories which regularly mentioned Blucher’s infamous alkali slough and the many antics he got up to as a young boy growing up in rural Saskatchewan.

After completing high school in Saskatoon, he enrolled in mechanical engineering at the University of Saskatchewan and, already hooked on curling, organized the first Western Canada intercollegiate curling competition involving Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Manitoba. When a petroleum engineering major was established at the University of Alberta he transferred there and graduated in the first class of Petroleum Engineers with a B.Sc. in 1951.

He brought his enthusiasm for curling with him from his native province and in the late 1940’s succeeded in establishing his sport as a recognized event on the intercollegiate calendar, as well as gaining a 3-year strangle hold on the western Canadian championship in curling for Alberta. A talent for salesmanship, which served him well in later years, resulted in success in removing the unfortunate distinction between so-called “major” and “minor” sports which opened the way for many student athletes, including himself, to earn the Block “A” in sports other than football, basketball, or hockey.

In the spring of 1950, Matt and fellow-student George Knoll recognized an opportunity in the emerging oil production activity in Alberta and Saskatchewan and established an oilwell servicing company that would soon become one of the largest Canadian companies of its kind. The original Baldwin and Knoll company evolved into a group of companies, of which Matt served as chairman, providing a range of diversified services to the oil and gas industry. Professionally he is recognized as a pioneer in the industry and is a member of the Canadian Petroleum Hall of Fame and the Saskatchewan Oil and Gas Hall of Fame. He was a founding director of the Alberta Energy Company since its inception in 1975 and served for 25 years.

Aside from his successes in business, Albertans and many Canadians recognize Matt as one of the greatest curlers in the history of the game. That reputation rests on achieving five Alberta curling championships and as a three-time winner of the Brier Tankard, emblematic of the Canadian men’s curling championship (1954, ’57, and ’58). In recognition of his achievements he was elected to the Edmonton, Alberta, and Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, as well as the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame.

Additionally, Matt served on the executive of the community-owned Edmonton Eskimo Football Club, including a two-year term as president. He was a founding member of the Derrick Golf & Winter Club and he served as its president from 1951-1961. Through the Matt & Betty Jean Baldwin Foundation, he helped improve the lives of patients undergoing brain, heart, and kidney treatment, and supported numerous other charitable causes. In recognition of his life achievements in business, philanthropy, and sports he was made a member of the Order of Canada in 2019.

A celebration of life will be held on Friday April 21, 2023 at 11:30 AM at The Derrick Golf & Winter Club. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Edmonton Down Syndrome Society (EDSS) or the Humane Animal Rescue Team (HART).