Stephen Harper's life in politics

Stephen Harper is bowing out of federal politics after servingas prime minister for nearly a decade. At his concession speech, delivered in Calgary in October, Harper summed up his defeat with the line: "the people are never wrong."

A tribute to Harper will be heldThursday night in Vancouver.

The former prime minister is expected to give a short speech at theConservative Party'snational convention.

Here he is in one of his last high-profile appearanceswith then prime minister-designate JustinTrudeau. The twolaid a wreath markingthe one year anniversary of the attack on Parliament Hill on Oct. 22, 2015.

Harper has kept a low profile since the election.

After the election, Harper, who was re-elected as MP for Calgary Heritage,stepped down as his party's leader. He's avoided public appearances but shows up in the Commons for mostvotes. *There is a grainy picture of him in the House takenduring the #elbowgate incident on May 18.

Here he is sharing a laughwith fellow MP's after a votein theHouse in December.

Harper launched his 5th federal election campaign in August 2015.

On a sweltering Augustlong weekend, Harper stood outsideRideauHall dressed in Conservative blue to launchhis fifth federal election campaign as Conservative Party leader. He appealed to Canadians to considerhis experienceas a central issue as they headed to the polls.

The 2015 election campaign was one of the longest ever.

Here he is witha copy of his party's platform during a campaign stop in Richmond, B.C., on Oct. 9. The 2015 election campaign, which lasted11 weeks, or 78days, was one of the longest in Canada's history.

He was born in Toronto but represents Calgary.

Although born in Toronto in 1959, Harper's federal political career began in Calgary. He'sbeen the member of Parliament for the riding of Calgary Southwest since 2002. That riding was dissolved and he now represents the riding of Calgary Heritage.Here he isservingchili at the Calgary Military Family Resources Centre onJuly 7, 2015.

Harper was prime minister for nearly a decade.

Harper led the Conservatives for 13 years andsaw his party win the first majority government in over a decade in the May 2, 2011election, with 166 seats.

From theReform Party to the Canadian Alliance

After taking over the Canadian Alliance (formerly the Reform Party) fromStockwellDay, Harper became leader of the Opposition in 2002. A year later, he struck a deal with then Progressive Conservative leader PeterMacKayto form the current Conservative Party of Canada, of which Harper was named leader in 2004.

Right after announcing his bid for the leadership of the newly formed Conservatives, Harper got a taste of comedian Mary Walsh's lipstick during an interview withMargDelahunty, the Princess Warrior.

The Duffy scandal.

Harper, pictured with Senator Mike Duffy in 2007, has maintained he did not know his former chief of staff Nigel Wright paid the Conservative senator's expenses, but the Senate expense scandal was nonetheless a major irritant for the prime minister.

Duffy was found not guiltyon all charges in April.

Harper had aNorthern strategy.

His summer visits to northern communities, along with boosting our military presence and promoting Arctic tourism,included photo-ops like this one withChief of Defence Staff Walt Natynczykon an iceberg offResolute, Nunavut, in2010.

Harper is likely headed to the private sector.

On Thursday, CBC News reported that Harper had taken steps to launch his own consulting firm.

He lives in Calgarywith his wife Laureen and daughter Rachel. His son, Ben, is studying at Queen's University in Kingston, Ont.