Lowering the Flag: Dr. Brian Paisley

The University of Alberta banner is flying at half-mast from August 20-24, 2026, in honour of Dr. Brian Paisley.

Dr. Brian Paisley
Honorary Degree Recipient (2023)
Doctor of Letters
July 2, 2026

Brian James Paisley was born on November 10, 1946 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He died on July 2, 2026 in Puerto Escondido, Mexico, from complications due to severe pneumonia after a lengthy stay in hospital. 

A writer, producer, and true cultural innovator, Brian Paisley fundamentally revolutionized Canadian theatre. He is most widely recognized for founding the Edmonton International Fringe Festival, which debuted in 1982. The festival began with 7,500 attendees and has expanded into a world renowned event drawing over 800,000 visitors each year—inspiring similar festivals across North America. Not only has the Fringe provided thousands of artists with a platform to exhibit their creativity but it also helped transform Old Strathcona into the bustling, vibrant neighbourhood we see today. Prior to the Fringe, Paisley founded the theatre department at Northern Lights College and co-founded the Chinook Theatre for young audiences, which became the Varscona.

Paisley received the Confederation of Canada medal in 1993, a Sterling Award in 2001, Edmonton’s City Excellence Award in 2001, the Order of Canada in 2010, an honorary PhD from Athabasca University and the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal in 2012. Also in 2012, the City of Edmonton named a new suburban neighbourhood in the Heritage Valley in his honour. And in 2023, he was the recipient of an honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of Alberta.

He was the loving father of Stuart and Erinne.

For information about lowering the University of Alberta banner, visit the In Memoriam webpage.