Prince Edward Island's premier shares a history with
Lloydminster. Born in Weyburn, Saskatchewan, Pat Binns moved with his parents,
Stan and Phyllis Binns, and his sister Barb (Doyle) to Lloydminster in 1960.
Here he attended school from Grade 6 to Grade 12. Among his many fond memories
from this time were evenings spent playing hockey on the Husky sloughs as well
as the many small, outdoor rinks which popped up all over town in the late fall.
Pat attended the University of Alberta from which he graduated in 1971 and after
a brief time spent in Alberta, the family has resided on the Island since 1972.
Pat, a sheep and bean farmer on the Island's eastern coast, found politics
suited him and became a member of the PEI legislature from 1978 to 1983. He
entered federal politics in 1984 and served as MP for one term before leaving
politics to work in private business. He returned to the political ring in 1996
and ran for the provincial PC leadership. During the May convention, he won that
vote and in the November election became premier of the first non-Liberal
government in a decade.
Premier Binns proudly attended
Lloydminster's Centennial celebrations in 2003.