It will be a bittersweet weekend for British Consul General Jonathan Turner, as he leaves behind his adopted Calgary home after five remarkable years.
During his time as U.K. representative for Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Turner witnessed the latter days of the COVID epidemic across the prairies, the rebirth of a separatist movement in this province and became a father, when his wife, Alex, gave birth to a daughter three years ago.
Through it all he grew to realize there was something different about Alberta.
“I think Brits generally view the various regions of Canada as quite similar. But what struck me was that it definitely feels a bit different here — a different mentality and that ‘get it done’ attitude.”
“I wasn’t quite expecting that difference and the benefits it brings for Alberta in being more appealing from a business perspective,” said Turner.
His return to the U.K. comes after almost a decade working abroad on diplomatic duties. Before Calgary he spent four years as an economic and trade expert with the British High Commission in Singapore.
He expects it will take a while getting used to being back in a post-Brexit England — the vote for leaving the EU having just passed when he moved abroad. He hasn’t been told of his new role, though it will be in London.
“The world seems like a different place now. During the time I’ve been here we’ve had the invasion of Ukraine and then all these other issues. And, of course, the U.K. has a new prime minister, so it will be interesting to see what his plan is for the country,” he said.
When arriving in Calgary, Turner expected his tour to revolve around investment and business opportunities, and although he had some initial briefing about Alberta separatism, it was a surprise to see that movement become more mainstream during the past few years.
“People have talked about the similarities with Brexit, but it seems more similar to the earlier Scottish referendum, where one country wanted to leave from within the U.K. rather than the different relationship that involved the EU.”
Pro-Brexit activist Joseph Afrane wears a Leave button as he demonstrates outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London on March 28, 2019. June 23, 2026 marks 10 years since the UK voted for Brexit, upending the country’s politics and triggering fraught negotiations that finally concluded when it left the European Union in January 2020.
“There are definitely some similarities in terms of the issues and people having different views about the outcome. It has been a fast-changing set of circumstances here,” added Turner.
The separatist surge in Alberta is watched closely in the U.K., given its close relationship with Canada.
“Not everything about Alberta gets reported in British newspapers, as you’d expect. But that’s the one thing that does have a lot of interest. Also, because of their experiences with Brexit, I think British businesses are more attuned to what is happening than in other countries,” he said.
Turner is being replaced by Rob Fitzpatrick, who takes up the post next month, although he’s already had a taste of Calgary hospitality as he and his wife spent a week here during Stampede.
“The first thing I did was make sure Rob got a good pair of cowboy boots and then we hit the Stampede pretty hard. We also went up to the oilsands, which was a great opportunity for him to see it first-hand.”
Turner said he’ll miss the many green spaces in Calgary, and the beauty of the river valley along with the nearby Rockies. He’ll also miss watching hockey, though he’ll finally be able to see his football team, West Ham, in person again. (Though not in the English Premier League — the club was relegated last season.)
What else will he enjoy, back home after a decade away?
“A proper English pub,” he said.
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