Jim Silye

Who is Jim Silye?

Jim Silye is a Canadian politician, businessman, and former professional football player for the Canadian Football League.

Born in Vöcklabruck, Austria, he emigrated to Arnprior, Ontario in 1951. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Ottawa in 1969. He played on the Calgary Stampeders from 1969 to 1975 wearing numbers 28 and 33. He holds the CFL record for most punt returns in a season with 123. He was part of the 1971 Grey Cup winning team.

In the 1993 federal election, he was elected as the Reform Party candidate in the riding of Calgary Centre. He ran as a Progressive Conservative in the 2000 election in the riding of Calgary West and was defeated. In 2004, he ran in the Alberta Senate nominee election for a place in the Canadian Senate. He finished in fifth place, and was not put on the list of proposed Alberta senators.

He is the President and CEO of Eagle Rock Exploration Limited, an oil and gas exploration company based in Calgary, Alberta.