Career
He served as the 30th Mayor of Calgary from 1969 to 1977 and as leader of the Alberta Social Cr Party from 1980 to 1982. Sykes quit as party leader in 1982, frustrated by Social Cr"s internal and financial problems. In 1984, he was nominated by Alan Clarke, Calgary East Federal Liberal Riding Association Vice President, to run for the Liberal Party for a seat in the House of Commons, in the former riding of Calgary East.
At the time this was the largest riding in Canada.
Sykes was acclaimed at a nomination meeting with over six-hundred members in attendance. Despite being the only Liberal candidate endorsed by the Calgary Sun that year, he lost to Progressive Conservative Alex Kindy in the general election.
Sykes was born in 1929 in Montreal, Quebec, and was primarily raised in Victoria, British Columbia. He attended Sir George Williams University in Montreal.
He also has a sister, Anne, who lives in Victoria.
