Peter Petrasuk (July 12, 1926 – April 11, 2016[1][2]) was a Canadian businessman, former lawyer, and former politician. Petrasuk changed his name to Peter Peterson following his criminal conviction.[3]
Early life
Born in Ukraine in 1926, Petrasuk came to Canada when his family immigrated in 1931. The family settled at first in Calgary, Alberta, but moved in 1941 to Rosebud, Alberta, where they operated a local hotel.
In 1981, Petrasuk pleaded guilty to twelve counts of theft and breach of trust under the Criminal Code after stealing almost $1-million from clients of his law practice, including his own mother. He was sentenced to ten years in the Bowden Institution, a federal penitentiary in central Alberta.[3] Petrasuk was paroled in 1987, but had his parole revoked in 1990 due to helping two inmates who escaped from Drumheller prison.[3] Compensation claims related to Petrasuk's actions depleted the Law Society of Alberta's assurance fund and totaled $3.9-million, requiring lawyers in the province to pay $1,000 each to top up the fund.[3][4] Petrasuk was disbarred on February 6, 1982.[4]
