Days after his family announced Peter Lougheed’s passing; current politicians and those who worked alongside him had their first chance to pay their respects, personally, to the beloved former premier.

On Monday morning, a number of provincial dignitaries, including Premier Alison Redford, Lieutenant Governor Donald Ethell, and a number of former premiers, opposition leaders and MLAs reflected on the indelible mark Lougheed left on Alberta.

Lougheed’s casket arrived in Edmonton in a motorcade from Calgary on Sunday night – his family, after grieving his death privately, once again sharing the man with Albertans.

“As you walk down and see the family, memories just flood back,” Former Premier Ed Stelmach said. “I’m glad that I got to work with him, he never ever refused a call from me when I was premier, and even when I was minister.”

Emotions ran high for many – including current Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk.

“My thoughts were saying ‘Thank you’,” Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk said. “Thank you for committing yourself to our province, our country for everything that you gave up in your personal life, to give us the Alberta we enjoy today.”

Lougheed has been called the ‘Architect of Alberta’ by many – his effect on the province was clear to many who watched much of his political career.

“From the 1960s when I came on the scene, Alberta was already on the move,” Former NDP leader Raj Pannu said. “It needed a leader like him to push it, move faster, and find a direction to move, and he found that direction, and provided energy and leadership that was needed badly in 1971.”

While he was driven, he was also compassionate – especially after the sudden death of then-NDP leader Grant Notley in a plane crash in 1984.

“I saw the man himself when Grant Notley [died],” Former NDP MLA Ray Martin said. “He went out of his way, I was the only NDP [MLA] in there, he went out of his way to be helpful, for me, it’s political and personal.”

Monday was the first of two days where Lougheed will lie-in-state in Alberta’s capital; Albertans will be able to pay their respects until 8 p.m. on Monday, and between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

With files from Kevin Armstrong