Clayton Riddell was awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, at the 2 p.m. ceremony on Saturday, November 15, “in recognition of his brilliant career in business and his thoughtful contributions to higher education as well as to good governance in Canada.”
Born near Treherne, Manitoba, Clayton Riddell grew up in Winnipeg, graduating from the University of Manitoba in 1959 (BSc Geology). He began his career with Chevron but by 1969, his entrepreneurial spirit
took over. Over the next nine years, Mr. Riddell accumulated the assets necessary to establish Paramount Resources Ltd. Between 2003 and 2005, Paramount spun off two new public entities, Paramount Energy
Trust and Trilogy Energy Trust.
Mr. Riddell has served on several scientific, industry and volunteer boards, including as president of the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists and chairman of the Canadian Association of Petroleum
Producers. He also has significant interest in several business trusts, restaurants, thoroughbred horse racing and the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League.
He received an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University of Manitoba, and the Outstanding Explorer Award from the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, as well as various business awards recognizing his entrepreneurial success. The Faculty of Environment, Earth and Resources at the University of Manitoba bears his name. Mr. Riddell funded the creation of the Clayton H. Riddell Graduate Program in Political Management at Carleton University.
In 2006, Mr. Riddell was inducted into the Calgary Business Hall of Fame and, in 2008, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.