12 Facts About Cal Nichols

Cal Nichols was born on April 25,1942 and is a Canadian businessman who spearheaded the group which would later become the Edmonton Investors Group which owned the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers.

Cal Nichols worked hard to win the local farmers' custom, became involved in the local community playing sports, and was elected Councillor at 23.

Cal Nichols married Edna, a St Walburg girl and after 7 years in 1969, they moved to Edmonton.

Cal Nichols was the commission bulk agent for Esso in Edmonton from 1972 through 1981 and served as Chairman of the Esso Agents Prairie Region Advisory Board.

Cal Nichols sold substantially all of Gasland's petroleum marketing business in 1996 to Husky Energy but retained Gasland Properties Ltd.

Cal Nichols was awarded the Queens Golden Julnilee Medal created in 2002 to commemorate the 50th anniversary to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to the throne and awarded to persons who had made outstanding contributions to both their community and to Canada.

Cal Nichols had played hockey and was a season-ticket holder of the Oilers hockey team in Edmonton.

In 1996, Cal Nichols co-chaired the Friends of the Oilers ticket drive campaign, and mainly through his efforts the 13,000 season tickets deadline was reached.

The success of the Oilers brought a US$145 million offer from local billionaire Daryl Katz for the franchise, although Nichols subsequently said the team was not for sale.

The offer was accepted and Cal Nichols resigned as chairman of the board of directors for the EIG in December 2007.

In 2007 Cal Nichols banded together with a group of businessmen to form the Alberta Enterprise Group.

Cal Nichols was chairman and in November 2011 a new chairman and Board were elected and he became Chairman Emeritus, an honorary title.