‘A great Edmontonian’: Businessman, Philanthropist Bruce Saville passes away
Posted October 14, 2025 5:56 pm.
Last Updated October 14, 2025 7:21 pm.
A lifelong Edmontonian has passed away.
Bruce Saville was a businessman who created Saville Systems — a software company in the 1980s — employing over a thousand people. It was later sold, and Saville became a philanthropist, sitting on numerous non-profit boards and spending his time largely in the local sports community.
His longtime partner of 27 years, Cathy King, made the difficult announcement on social media.
“My dear friends, it is with much pain and sadness to tell you that the love of my life passed away yesterday morning while in the hospital recovering from back surgery six weeks ago,” the post read.
“After 27 years of Bruce by my side, I will miss him dearly. My heart is completely broken, missing my best friend.”
In the late 1990s, the Oilers were on the verge of relocating to Houston. The Edmonton Investors Group swooped in and saved the franchise. Saville was a part of the group.
He later received an honourary degree from the University of Alberta and became a governor. His name was put on the Saville Community Sports Centre, housing numerous facilities and sports organizations.
“He was an Edmonton kind of guy,” said Bryn Griffiths, a local former sports personality and a friend of Saville’s.
Griffiths worked for the Oilers when the investor group came on. He says Bruce was devoted to Edmonton.
“He was so charitable and so accessible. Those are the things I’ll remember. I just think he was a great Edmontonian. If there was a need, he would find a way to bring groups together to make sure that need was looked after,” Griffiths said.
His longtime partner of 27 years said on Facebook that Bruce was her best friend, and he died of a suspected heart attack while recovering from surgery. Plans for a funeral are not yet set.
