Don Getty, Alberta's 11th premier, has passed away, a family member has confirmed to CTV. He was 82.

Getty served the province from 1985 to 1992, and also served as a minister under Premier Lougheed.

He is best remembered for introducing Family Day and investing a large amount of funding into several failed projects, resulting in an $11B provincial debt.

He also played for the Edmonton Eskimos for 10 years.

Getty was in and out of hospital over the past few years and was living in a long-term care facility at the time of his death.

Born in Quebec in 1933, Getty moved to Alberta when he was 22 to play as quarterback for the Edmonton Eskimos.

He helped the team win two Grey Cups in his 10 years with them, after which Peter Lougheed, then leader of the Alberta Progressive Conservative, asked him if he wanted to get into politics.

Getty was made head of the Department of Federal and Intergovernmental Affairs in Lougheed's adminstration and then Energy Minister.

Taking a break from politics in 1979, he returned six years later to the post of party leader and then Premier.

His tenure had a number of highs and lows, including a collapse in oil prices in the 1980s.

On Friday morning, during a flood mitigation funding announcement, Premier Rachel Notley gave a statement on Getty's passing. "His contributions to our province are many, including his work to establish Alberta's constitutional rights as owners of our province's natural resources, his role in the creation of the Heritage Savings Trust Fund, the introduction of self-government for Metis settlements, and economic diversity in the fields of forestry, tourism, technology, and non-conventional energy."

Notley called Getty a 'dedicated Albertan' and says one of his greatest legacies can be enjoyed by all Albertans in the province.

"The introduction of Family Day; a holiday where families could spend time together, remember their strength and bonds, and reconnect. Several other provinces have since followed suit."

She said that she has already spoken with Don's widow and offered her and her family the support of all Albertans during the difficult time.

Notley's father, Grant Notley, served in the legislature opposite Getty as leader of Alberta's former NDP Party. She said that Don and her father both had a great deal of respect for one another during their time working together.

"Premier Getty was a foundational leader building what we all love best about our province today and he will be missed."

Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi also spoke briefly about Don Getty on Friday morning, celebrating his life and calling him an 'exemplary role model for all of us'.

Tributes to the former premier poured in from a number of political figures from around Canada on Friday morning:

Funeral details are not immediately available.

He leaves behind his wife Margaret and four sons; Dale, David, Darin, and Derek.