Rotary Program October 30, 2008
Born in Lac la Biche, Alberta and raised in Edmonton, LaForge enjoyed a lengthy career with Molson Breweries of Canada where he ascended to Vice President of International Marketing, working in the United Kingdom, Japan and across Canada. He also enjoyed a leadership position within Olympics Canada, as President and CEO of Alpine Canada Alpin and served on the Executive Board of the Canadian Olympic Committee.
In July 2000 LaForge was appointed President and CEO of the Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club. Since that day he has worked diligently to build pride of ownership for the organization in "Oil Country" while seeking to strengthen and stabilize the club commercially. In the spring of 2008, the Oilers were purchased by leading Edmonton entrepreneur, Daryl Katz. Today, working from one of the smallest markets in the League, the Oilers are ranked in the top seven most financially successful Clubs in the NHL and rated as a Top 10 sports club in the world by Money Magazine.
In 2003 and again in 2004, ESPN the Magazine named the Edmonton Oilers in the top ten "fan satisfying" professional sports franchises in all of North America. "Without question, having ESPN Magazine score the Oilers as the most fan friendly pro-sport franchise in Canada in 2004, was something very special for all Oilers employees, especially Kevin Lowe and I" says LaForge.
One of LaForge's most broadly known achievements has to be his role in producing the FIRST regular season NHL game played outdoors. The Heritage Classic featured two storied NHL franchises, the Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens playing in front of 57,167 hockey-crazy fans at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton on a bone-chilling winter day in November 2003. The Heritage Classic also featured the most watched NHL Alumni hockey game ever played with a star-studded roster that included hockey icons Guy Lafleur, Mark Messier and the Great One - Wayne Gretzky playing the game they loved and mastered so well. The Heritage Classic is known now as a watershed event for the NHL, who now hosts an annual outdoor hockey game, attracting NHL fans worldwide.
Another major achievement has to be the return of the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League to the Alberta capital in 2007. The once legendary major junior team won two Memorial Cups before leaving town in 1976 and under the Oilers stewardship, it is anticipated that they will be Canadian champions again soon.
As President and CEO LaForge is responsible for keeping the Club on strategy - working with Hockey Operations and Ownership in every way possible to bring the next championship to our wonderful fans. In addition, LaForge's priorities are to enhance the organizations financial viability, maintain a positive community image for the Club(s) and build quality relationships with Oilers and Oil Kings fans, sponsors and customers in Oil Country.
Currently, Patrick is an Alternate Governor for the Oilers in the NHL and Governor of the Oil Kings in the Western Hockey League. He is completing a term as Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, Chair of the Board and is also on the Advisory Board of the Edmonton Amateur Sports Council and is a Rotarian.
LaForge is a graduate of the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) and has attended the University of Western Ontario, School of Business and completed the Executive Management Program at the University of Michigan.
Away from the workplace Patrick cherishes every minute spent with his wife and children.