
PETROLEUM HISTORY SOCIETY
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND 2007 AWARDS
MARCH 26, 2008
FAIRMONT PALLISER HOTEL AT 4:00 P.M.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
James K. Gray
on
The Creation of Canadian Hunter and the Search for Tight Gas in Western Canada
Mr. Gray received his early education in Kirkland Lake, Ontario and his secondary and post-
secondary education at Ridley College in St. Catharines, Ontario and at the University of British
Columbia. For the past 50 years, Mr. Gray has been engaged in the oil and natural gas
exploration business in Western Canada. In 1973, Mr. Gray co-founded Canadian Hunter
Exploration Ltd., one of Canada's larger natural gas producers. Over the 28 years of his
involvement with Canadian Hunter, he served in the positions of Executive Vice President,
President and CEO, and Chairman until the company was purchased by Burlington Resources in
December 2001 for $3.4 billion ($Cdn).
Mr. Gray has participated in a wide range of community activities and projects. Among his
current activities, he is Chairman of the Canada West Foundation, a member of the Board of
Governors of the Calgary Academy, a Director of the Max Bell Foundation and an Honourary Life
Director of the Calgary YMCA. Mr. Gray was awarded an Honourary Doctor of Laws degree in
1991 by the University of Calgary, a Citation for Citizenship by the Government of Canada in
1992 and the Fellowship of Honour by the YMCA, Canada. He was appointed an Officer of the
Order of Canada in 1995. In March of 2001, Mr. Gray received the Energy Person of the Year
Award from the Energy Council of Canada. He was inducted into the Canadian Petroleum Hall of
Fame in October 2001. In October 2002, Mr. Gray was invested as a Member of the Alberta
Order of Excellence by Her Worship, Lieutenant Governor Lois Hole. Mr. Gray was inducted into
the Calgary Business Hall of Fame in October 2004 and the Canadian Business Hall of Fame in
May of 2005.
Petroleum History Society Archives, February 2008, Volume XIX, Number 2
Page 8