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Calgary (provincial electoral district)

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Coordinates: 51°02′42″N 114°03′26″W / 51.04500°N 114.05722°W / 51.04500; -114.05722
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Calgary
Alberta electoral district
Defunct provincial electoral district
LegislatureLegislative Assembly of Alberta
District created1905
District abolished1913
District re-created1921
District re-abolished1959
First contested1905
Last contested1957

Calgary was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada, mandated to return one to six members to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1905 to 1913, and again from 1921 to 1959.[1] The district largely encompassed the boundaries of the City of Calgary, and was revised accordingly as the city grew.

Calgary history

[edit]

Boundary history

[edit]

Electoral history

[edit]

The first iteration of the Calgary provincial electoral district in Alberta was created in the 1905 provincial boundary distribution. The district was known in that first election as Calgary City. Prior to 1905 when Calgary was still part of the Northwest Territories there were two districts East Calgary and West Calgary, which were split from the original Calgary Northwest Territories district in 1894. Calgary district first came into existence when Calgary had a sufficiently large population to meet the requirements to elect members in the Northwest Territories in 1884.[8]

The first election in the district was held with the provincial general election of 1905. The election saw Liberal Minister of Public Works William Cushing win election against Conservative leader Richard Bennett. Cushing was named to the Rutherford prior to the election.

The number of seats in Calgary was increased to two in 1909. In that election Bennett and Cushing both won election, each elector in Calgary had two votes to vote for each seat. Bennett resigned to run for federal office and a by-election was held in 1911 to replace him.

The district was abolished and broken up into three electoral districts in 1913. The riding's were South Calgary, Centre Calgary and North Calgary. In 1921 the Liberal government promised to bring in proportion representation. They did not and instead decided to combine the three Calgary districts and add two more seats. Voters had the option of casting up to five votes and the top five candidates were elected by plurality Block Voting). As previously under Block Voting, Calgary voters did not vote the straight party line and two Independent, two Labour and a Liberal MLA were elected.

The United Farmers of Alberta passed legislation in 1924 that changed both Edmonton and Calgary to Single Transferable Vote multi-member districts. The rest of the province had single member constituencies and used Alternative Vote, where vote transfers were conducted if the leading candidate did not have a clear majority of 50% on the first count.

The 1926 and 1930 elections saw Calgary elect all opposition candidates because the United Farmers government decided not to field any candidates there. Under Single Transferable Voting the number of spoiled ballots jumped sharply as a sizable number of electors continued marking ballots with an "X". Calgary's first STV election produced mixed representation with no party taking all the seats. The 1935 election saw Social Credit candidates sweep to power But Calgary again elected a mixture of SC and non-SC MLAs.

By the 1950s, Calgary and Edmonton had gone through significant growth. arriving at the final results in both cities would take days and was complicated in terms of counting the vote transfers. The length in terms of names on the ballots was causing long line-ups at polling stations, with electors taking as long as 15 minutes to mark their preferences. However, Calgary's ballot in 1955 held only 23 names and the voter was under no dictate to rank all the candidates on the list.

In 1957 the Social Credit government passed legislation standardizing the electoral system to First Past the Post across the province. The government passed a separate redistribution bill that divided Calgary and Edmonton into single member districts. In Calgary those districts were Calgary West, Calgary Glenmore, Calgary Bowness, Calgary North East, Calgary South East, Calgary Centre and Calgary North. The last election held in the district, a by-election in 1957, was conducted under the first past the post method.

Party composition by date

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1905-1913

[edit]
Affiliation 1905 1909 1911
Nov 9 Mar 22 Sep 21 Oct 31
  Liberal 1
  Conservative 0 1 0 1
Vacant 0 1 0
 Total
 1 2

1921-1959

[edit]
Affiliation 1921 1922 1923 1926 1930 1932 1933 1934 1935 1937 1940 1943 1944 1948 1952 1955 1957
Jul 18 Nov 14 Jan 15 Jun 28 Jun 19 Oct 14 Jan 19 Nov 10 Jan 15 Aug 22 Aug 9 Mar 21 May 23 Jul 8 Aug 17 Mar 1 Aug 5 Jun 29 ? Oct 2
Liberal 1 2 1 2 1 0 1 2
Conservative 0 2 3 2 1
Progressive Conservative 1 0 1
Social Credit 4 3 2 1 2 3 4 3
Co-operative Commonwealth 0 1 0
Dominion Labor 2 1
Canadian Labor 1 0
Independent Labor 0 1 0
Independent 2 1 2 0 1 0 1 3 2 1 0
Vacant 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0
 Total 5 6 5 6

Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs)

[edit]
Members of the Legislative Assembly for Calgary[9]
Assembly Seat 1 Seat 2 Seat 3 Seat 4 Seat 5 Seat 6
Name Party Name Party Name Party Name Party Name Party Name Party
1st 1905 William Cushing Lib.
2nd 1909 Richard Bennett Con.
1911 Thomas Tweedie
See Centre Calgary, North Calgary and South Calgary 1913-1921
5th 1921 Alex Ross Dom.
Lab. 		Robert Edwards Ind. Fred White Dom.
Lab. 		Robert Marshall Lib. Robert Pearson Ind.
1923 William Davidson
6th 1926 Alexander McGillivray Con. George Webster Lib. John Irwin Con. Robert Parkyn IL
7th 1930 Hugh Farthing Can.
Lab. 		John Bowlen Lib. Harold McGill Con.
1933 Norman Hindsley Ind.
1934 William Ross
8th 1935 Edith Gostick SC Ernest Manning SC Fred Anderson SC John Hugill SC
1937 Ind.
1940 Ind.
9th 1940 James Mahaffy Ind. William Aberhart Andrew Davison Ind.
1943 Vacant
10th 1944 Rose Wilkinson SC Howard MacDonald Ind. Aylmer Liesemer CCF
11th 1948 Fred Colborne Hugh MacDonald Lib.
1952 SC
12th 1952 Paul Brecken PC Arthur Dixon SC
13th 1955–1957 Arthur Smith PC Grant MacEwan Lib.
1957 Vacant
1957–1959 Ernest Watkins PC
See Calgary North East, Calgary South East 1959-1963, Calgary Bowness, Calgary Centre, Calgary North 1959-1971, Calgary Glenmore, Calgary West 1959-present

Election results

[edit]

1905

[edit]

The Calgary electoral district was created when Alberta became a province independent of the Northwest Territories in 1905. Calgary had previously had two seats when it was represented in the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. This change created controversy because Conservatives accused the Liberals of creating more seats in northern Alberta where their support and organization was stronger. The two riding's previously represented in the city were West Calgary and East Calgary.

1905 Alberta general election results[10] Turnout unknown Swing
Affiliation Candidate Votes % Party Personal
  Liberal William Cushing 1,030 42.39% *
  Conservative Richard Bennett 993 40.86% *
  Labor Alex D. Macdonald 407 16.75% *
Total 2,430 100%
Rejected, spoiled and declined Records not kept
Unknown eligible electors
  Liberal pickup new district Swing N/A
Returning Officer Ruben Askin Janes[11]

The election was a three-way contest but was primarily a two-way race. Richard Bennett the Conservative candidate and party leader was a well known lawyer and former Northwest Territories MLA. William Henry Cushing the Liberal candidate had previously been a prominent Calgary municipal politician including serving as mayor. He also had a number of private enterprises in the building materials industry. Rounding out the field was labor activist and independent candidate Alex Macdonald.

The 1905 election was mired in controversy as election results see-sawed back and forth, claims of Conservative supporters being denied access to polling stations were made with supporters of Cushing having been found to run the polling stations. After the official results were released Cushing was declared the winner by 47 votes. Macdonald placed well behind in third place but still with a respectable showing taking close to 20% of the popular vote. The result in Calgary had been seen by the Conservatives as an embarrassing personal defeat for Bennett as the party got nearly shut out of office province wide. Bennett quickly resigned as leader and was replaced by Albert Robertson.

1909

[edit]

About 6000 voters cast votes in this election.

1909 Alberta general election results[12] Turnout N/A%
Affiliation Candidate Votes %
  Liberal William Cushing 2,579 26.90%
  Conservative Richard Bennett 2,423 25.27%
  Liberal William Egbert 1,933 20.16% *
  Conservative Thomas Blow 1,907 19.88% *
Socialist George Howell 747 7.79% *
Total 9,589 100%
Rejected, spoiled and declined Records not kept
Unknown eligible electors

The 1909 Alberta general election saw a second seat added to the Calgary electoral district. The riding was not split however. Instead the members were elected by Block Voting with electors having the right to select up to two candidates on the ballots. Voters did not cast their votes solidly for the two candidates of their preferred party so members of two different parties were elected.

The Conservatives and Liberals ran a slate of two candidates each, while the Socialists fielded one. William Cushing Minister of Public Works decided to run for a second term in office. The other Liberal candidate was prominent medical doctor William Egbert.

The Conservatives ran former party leader Richard Bennett who had previously contested the district in 1905. Thomas Blow who was also a medical doctor rounded out the slate. Bennett was unanimously acclaimed at the party nominating convention held on March 1, 1909 despite not attending. The second spot on the slate was contested between Blow and J.A. Carson. The two candidates were left over from ten nominees who either had their nomination withdrawn for various reasons or the candidates themselves or refused to let their name stand.[13]

The Socialist Party selected George Howell to be its candidate. Howell worked as the secretary for the Calgary Trades and Labor council.[14] Howell was a surprise choice by the Socialist nominating convention as he had not been running for the party nomination.

The results of the election showed a roughly even split between the Liberals and Conservatives, although with each voter casting up to two votes, the picture is far from clear. Each major candidate received approximately a quarter of the votes cast. But it seems voters did not vote solidly for a slate. The leading candidate of the Liberals and Conservatives took more votes than their running mates, so in the end one of each party took the seats. The Conservatives picked up one seat and the Liberal incumbent held his.

SPC candidate Howell took more votes than the Calgary Labour candidate had taken in 1905. He received support from about 12 percent of the voters. Howell's candidacy was not much of a factor, but Howell kept either of the main parties from gaining a clear majority in the popular vote.

1911 by-election

[edit]
October 31, 1911 by-election results[15] Turnout unknown Swing
Affiliation Candidate Votes % Party Personal
  Conservative Thomas Tweedie 2,931 63.65% 18.50% *
  Liberal Thomas Skinner 1,674 36.35% -8.80% *
Total 4,605 100%
Rejected, spoiled and declined Records not kept
Unknown eligible electors
  Conservative hold Swing N/A

1921

[edit]

This election was conducted using Plurality block voting. Each voter had up to five votes. If all the voters who voted for the leader in the polls, Alex Ross, the most-popular Dominion Labour man, had voted consistently for the whole DLP slate and if the DLP had run five candidates, DLP would have taken all the seats. But as voters did not place all their votes along party lines, mixed representation was produced. The five seats offered only limited flexibility. The Liberals received just shy of enough votes to win two seats; the Conservatives far more than needed to win two. But the results, rough as they were, were relatively fair.

1921 Alberta general election results[16] Turnout 53.82% Swing
Affiliation Candidate Votes % Personal
  Dominion Labor Alex Ross 7,294 9.64% *
  Independent Robert Edwards 6,400 8.46% *
  Dominion Labor Fred White 6,190 8.18% *
  Liberal Robert Marshall 5,246 6.93% *
  Independent Robert Pearson 5,141 6.79% *
  Liberal George Webster 4,391 5.80% *
  Liberal Clinton Ford 4,230 5.59% *
  Dominion Labor Robert Parkyn 4,082 5.39% *
  Conservative Michael Costello 3,808 5.03% *
  Conservative C.F. Adams 3,332 4.40% *
  Liberal F. Langford 3,282 4.34% *
  Conservative Thomas Blow 3,090 4.08% *
  Liberal F.S. Selwood 2,969 3.92% *
  Independent Herbert Adshead 2,878 3.80% *
  Independent Labor Frederick Potts 2,864 3.78% *
  Conservative Edward Crandell 2,663 3.52% *
  Independent Labor Hannah Gale 2,386 3.15% *
  Conservative Samuel Hillocks 2,282 3.02% *
Socialist Frank Williams 1,745 2.31% *
  Independent Alex Davidson 1,423 1.87% *
Total votes 75,696 100%
Total ballots 17,187 4.40 votes per ballot
Rejected, spoiled and declined 90
32,103 eligible electors

Note:

  • Voters could cast votes for as many as five candidates.

1921 by-election

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December 9, 1921 by-election results[15] Turnout N/A% Swing
Affiliation Candidate Votes % Party Personal
  Dominion Labor Alex Ross Acclaimed *
Total N/A 100%
Rejected, spoiled and declined N/A
32,103 eligible electors
  Dominion Labor hold Swing N/A%

1923 by-election

[edit]

Shortly after the 1923 by-election, a deputy returning officer Alexander Davidson was convicted for voting more than once during the by-election and sentenced to a year in prison and a $400 fine.[17]

January 15, 1923 by-election results[15] Turnout 57.95% Swing
Affiliation Candidate Votes % Party Personal
  Independent William Davidson 9,930 54.40% *
  Citizens' Candidate Clinton Ford 8,325 45.60% * 40.01%
Total 18,255 100%
Rejected, spoiled and declined Unknown
31,500 eligible electors
  Independent William Davidson pickup vacant seat Swing 36.75%

1926

[edit]

In this election for the first time Calgary elected MLAs through Single transferable voting. In the First Count, the five top spots were held by two Conservatives, two Liberals and Parkyn. Vote transfers elevated a DLP candidate to the top positions, while Liberal McClung did not receive many vote transfers and fell out of the top runners. In the end, Calgary elected a balanced and mixed crop of MLAs - two Conservatives, a Liberal, a DLP-er and an Independent-Labour man. About 80 percent of the voters saw their vote used to actually elect someone. About half the voters saw their first choice elected; the other 30 percent saw their vote used to elect someone they preferred over others, as well as seeing their first choice elected without the help of their vote.[18]

34,287 eligible electors

1926 Alberta general election results[19] Turnout 53.82% 1st
count
swing
Affiliation Candidate Quota (the vote threshold guaranteed to win a seat) 3,290
1st % 2nd* 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th* 9th 10th
Conservative Alexander McGillivray 5,928 30.04% 3,290 *
Conservative John Irwin 1,662 8.42% 3,334 3,290 *
Liberal George Webster 2,941 14.90% 3,144 3,158 3,191 3,523 3,290 9.10%
Dominion Labor Fred J. White 1,222 6.19% 1,247 1,248 1,467 1,478 1,479 1,500 2,676 2,923** -1.99%
Independent Labor Robert Parkyn 2,467 12.50% 2,506 2,514 2,554 2,582 2,583 2,595 2,664 2,852** 7.11%
Liberal Nellie McClung 1,928 9.77% 1,971 1,975 1,980 2,191 2,193 2,363 2,433 2,622 *
Conservative Michael Costello 1,221 6.19% 1,817 1,827 1,838 1,864 1,903 1,924 1,946 1.16%
Dominion Labor Alex Ross 1,265 6.41% 1,282 1,298 1,419 1,444 1,445 1,454 -3.23%
Liberal Robert Marshall 626 3.17% 651 651 654 -3.76%
Dominion Labor John Russell 423 2.14% 435 438 *
Independent Frederick Potts 54 0.27% 60 -3.51%
Total 19,737 100% 19,737 19,733 19,727 19,716 19,716 19,716 19,598 18,276
Rejected, spoiled and declined 644 Distributed 2,638 56 432 643 44 233 1,336 624
Exhausted 0 4 6 21 0 0 118 1,322
  • 2nd, 3rd and 8th counts -- transfer of surplus votes not needed by successful candidates elected in previous count. (transfers done in 3rd count not shown in above table)
    • White and Parkyn elected without quota as they were last two candidates in the running with two seats remaining to be filled.

1930

[edit]

Five MLAs elected through STV

Eligible voters 43,217[20] Turnout 56.70%

1930 Alberta general election results[21] Turnout 56.70% 1st
count
swing
Affiliation Candidate Quota (vote threshold guaranteed to take a seat) 3495
1st % 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th
Conservative John Irwin 5,520 22.61% 3,495 14.19%
Liberal George Webster 3,651 14.95% 3,651 3,494 -0.05%
Canadian Labor Fred J. White 2,585 10.59% 2,659 2,673 2,874 2,916 3,335 3,515 3,492 4.40%
Conservative Hugh Farthing 2,279 9.33% 2,957 2,966 2,979 2,994 3,001 3,132 3,133 3,731 *
Liberal John Bowlen 2,598 10.64% 2,667 2,700 2,711 2,721 2,727 2,821 2,823 2,869 3,588 *
Conservative Harold McGill 1,634 6.69% 2,226 2,238 2,252 2,260 2,266 2,446 2,449 3,089 3,293 *
Independent Robert Parkyn 1,544 6.32% 1,608 1,616 1,699 1,856 1,933 2,056 2,067 2,106 2,296 -6.18%
Liberal Robert Wier 1,191 4.88% 1,260 1,328 1,339 1,344 1,359 1,502 1,508 1,579 *
Conservative H.S. Patterson 1,007 4.12% 1,368 1,374 1,382 1,395 1,405 1,480 1,480 *
Citizens' Candidate A.C. MacKay 992 4.06% 1,078 1,083 1,092 1,097 1,107 *
Canadian Labor W.E. Turner 575 2.36% 589 590 590 590 *
Communist John O'Sullivan 460 1.88% 469 469 469 *
Canadian Labor Thomas Vickers 381 1.57% 390 391 *
Total 24,417 100% 24,417 24,417 24,376 24,162 24,122 23,941 23,941 23,855 21,093
Rejected, spoiled and declined 253 Distributed 2,025 157 350 255 550 926 23 1,394 0
43,513 eligible electors Exhausted 0 0 41 214 40 181 0 86 2,296

1933 by-election

[edit]
January 19, 1933 by-election results Turnout 69.40% 1st
count
swing
Affiliation Candidate 13,919 vote threshold
1st % 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
Independent Norman Hindsley 12,532 45.03% ? ? ? 14,128 %
Canadian Labor Amelia Turner 10,504 37.74% ? ? ? 12,307 %
Independent Labor Robert Parkyn 2,003 7.20% ? ? ? %
Independent A.C. McKay 1,775 6.37% ? ? %
United Front John O'Sullivan 539 1.94% ? %
Independent D.R. Crighton 478 1.72% %
Total 27,831 100% 26,435
Rejected, spoiled and declined 202 Distributed
? eligible electors Exhausted 1396

The Canadian Labor Party Alberta branch nominated candidate Amelia Turner under their banner. The Co-operative Commonwealth executive decided to support and endorse her election campaign but did not nominate her as a candidate for the organization.[22] Norman Hindsley ran as an Independent but was endorsed and supported by the Conservative party.[22]

1934 by-election

[edit]
January 15, 1934 by-election results Turnout 50.88% 1st
count
swing
Affiliation Candidate 10,994 vote threshold
1st % 2nd 3rd
Liberal William Ross 8,665 39.41% 8,955 10,801
Canadian Labor + Co-operative Commonwealth Amelia Turner 8,058 36.65% 8,277 8,326
People's Candidate Charles Jamieson 4,168 18.96% ?
Progressive Labor Ernest Starr 1,096 4.98%
Total 21,987 100% 19,127
Rejected, spoiled and declined 202 Distributed
? eligible electors Exhausted 0

Charles Jamieson was originally nominated as a Conservative candidate but left the party and changed to the People's Candidate banner midway through the election.

1935

[edit]
1935 ballot transfer results Turnout 80.39%
Affiliation Candidate 5,885 quota
1st % Votes Count
  Social Credit Ernest Manning 6,087 14.78% 6,087 1st
  Conservative John Irwin 2,529 6.14% 6,092 13th
  Social Credit Fred Anderson 5,058 12.28% 6,638 15th
  Liberal John J. Bowlen 3,874 9.41% 8,478 17th
  Social Credit Edith Gostick 3,787 9.19% 5,886 18th
  Social Credit John Hugill 3,152 7.65% 4,399 18th
  Social Credit Walter Little 2,963 7.19% Eliminated 18th
  Liberal Robert Wier 1,774 4.31% Eliminated 16th
  Social Credit Oscar Devenish 3,032 7.36% Eliminated 14th
  Conservative Hugh Farthing 2,090 5.07% Eliminated 13th
  Labor Fred J. White 1,024 2.49% Eliminated 12th
  Liberal George Millican 1,566 3.80% Eliminated 11th
  Conservative Joseph Follett 886 2.15% Eliminated 10th
Communist Pat Lenihan 820 1.99% Eliminated 9th
  Liberal Richard Watson 786 1.91% Eliminated 8th
  Labor Aylmer Liesemer 449 1.09% Eliminated 7th
  Independent Charles Jamieson 469 1.14% Eliminated 6th
  Conservative James Milvain 451 1.10% Eliminated 5th
  Independent Labor Robert Parkyn 224 0.54% Eliminated 4th
  Labor William Southern 172 0.41% Eliminated 3rd
Total 41,193 100% 18 counts

1940

[edit]

Five members elected Quota 7653

1940 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes
1st count		 % Votes
final count		 Elected
Independent Movement Andrew Davison 12,465 27.15% 7,653 Green tickY
Social Credit William Aberhart 12,122 26.40% 7,653 Green tickY
Independent James Mahaffy 3,645 7.49% 9,449 Green tickY
Independent John J. Bowlen 3,447 7.51% 7,247 Green tickY
Social Credit Fred Anderson 1,939 4.22% 8,020 Green tickY
Co-operative Commonwealth Fred J. White 2,846 6.20%
Independent Joseph Tweed Shaw 2,685 5.85%
Social Credit Edith Gostick 1,605 3.50%
Independent Norman Dingle 1,480 3.22%
Social Credit H.D. Tarves 1,386 3.02%
Co-operative Commonwealth Robert Alderman 1,298 2.83%
Independent Harry Pryde 576 1.26%
Independent Labor D. V. Mitchell 251 0.55%
Independent J.F.M. Moodie 169 0.35%
Votes cast 46,619
Eligible electors / turnout 59,338 78.6%
Source(s)
[23]
Note: Five seats were awarded in the Calgary Electoral District through single transferable vote. The Hare Quota, the number of votes needed to win a seat, was 7,653. There were a total of 10 ballot counts with Andrew Davison and William Aberhart elected on the first count.

1944

[edit]

Five members elected

6,562 quota

(Armed Forces voters are identified separately in the First Count but are included in the un-bracketed total.)

1944 ballot transfer results Turnout 80.39%
Affiliation Candidate 6,562 quota
1st (Forces*) % Peak Votes Count
  Independent Andrew Davison 7,754
(137) 		7,754 1st
  Social Credit Fred Anderson 6,655
(123) 		6,655 1st
  Social Credit Rose Wilkinson 5,042
(103) 		8,338 15th
  Independent Howard MacDonald 2,365
(20) 		6,897 17th
  CCF Alymer Liesemer 3,560
(76) 		6,077 17th
  CCF Robert Alderman 2,088
(43) 		Eliminated 17th
  Independent John J. Bowlen 2,192
(25) 		Eliminated 16th
  Social Credit Art Larsen 1,351
(33) 		Eliminated 15th
  CCF C.W.J. Helmer 1,655
(72) 		Eliminated 14th
  Independent R.C. Carlile 1,433
(10) 		Eliminated 13th
  CCF Ken Tory 1,462
(49) 		Eliminated 12th
  Social Credit Edward Geehan 1,162
(42) 		Eliminated 11th
Labor–Progressive Pat Lenihan 491
(25)		 Eliminated 10th
  Social Credit C.M. Baker 834
(30) 		Eliminated 9th
  CCF Herbert Wiertz 504
(4) 		Eliminated 8th
Labor–Progressive Lionel Edwards 304
(3)		 Eliminated 7th
Labor–Progressive Mike Daniels 258
(9)		 Eliminated 6th
Labor–Progressive Gordon Wray 128
(5)		 Eliminated 5th
Labor–Progressive Audrey Staples 71
(1)		 Eliminated 4th
Total 39,309
(810) 		100% 17 counts

Note:

  • In the 1944 election, some Canadian Forces personnel voted in the Calgary district. They were given special ballots intended to track how they voted. Service vote results are only available for the 1st count. They were included in the 39,309 valid vote total for the district. Later in this election, other Armed Forces voters, who had not already voted, voted for separate representation - by electing an Army, an Air Force and a Navy representative.

1948

[edit]

Five members elected 39,101 valid votes Quota 6517

1948 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes
1st count		 % Votes
final count
Social Credit Rose Wilkinson 7,153 18.29% 6,528
Social Credit Frederick C. Colborne 3,923 10.03% 6,520
Independent Howard B. Macdonald 3,840 9.82% 6,339
Labour Peter Newton Russel Morrison 3,579 9.15% –
Co-operative Commonwealth Alymer J. E. Liesemer 2,475 6.33% 5,742
Social Credit James Leslie Hill 2,464 6.30% –
Liberal Hugh John MacDonald 1,977 5.06% 6,215
Social Credit R.B. Estabrook 1,751 4.48% –
Liberal J. Roger Flumerfelt 1,691 4.32% –
Liberal Mrs. Mary Dover 1,602 4.10% –
Liberal Michael J. McCormick 1,237 3.16% –
Independent M.V. Anderson 1,233 3.15% –
Social Credit George M. Whicher 1,091 2.79% –
Liberal Loftus Dudley Ward 949 2.43% –
Independent Social Credit A.P. van Buren 737 1.88% –
Independent Mrs. Edwina Milvain 578 1.48% –
Independent Social Credit Art Larsen 563 1.44% –
Co-operative Commonwealth George Ellinson 539 1.38% –
Co-operative Commonwealth George R. Austin 518 1.32% –
Labor–Progressive Terry Levis 516 1.32% –
Co-operative Commonwealth W. Orr 442 1.13% –
Co-operative Commonwealth Mrs. Mary A. Hart 243 0.62% –
Total 39,101 – –
Rejected, spoiled and declined 2,359 – –
Eligible electors / turnout 76,939 53.98% -11.02%
Source(s)
Source: "Calgary Official Results 1948 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
Note: Five seats were awarded in the Calgary Electoral District through single transferable vote. The Hare Quota, the number of votes needed to win a seat, was 6,520.

1952

[edit]
1952 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes
1st count		 % Votes
final count
Social Credit Rose Wilkinson 6,796 16.31% 5,967
Social Credit Howard B. Macdonald 4,214 10.11% 5,957
Social Credit Frederick C. Colborne 3,974 9.54% 5,959
Conservative Paul Brecken 3,126 7.50% 6,269
Independent Labour Donald Fraser McIntosh 2,927 7.02% –
Social Credit Thomas Glen 2,820 6.77% –
Liberal Hugh John MacDonald 2,711 6.51% 5,216
Social Credit Arthur J. Dixon 2,677 6.42% 5,966
Social Credit Clifford Norman Clark 2,390 5.74% –
Co-operative Commonwealth Aylmer J. E. Liesemer 1,991 4.78% –
Conservative Philip P. C. Haigh 905 2.17% –
Liberal Melvin E. Shannon 857 2.06% –
Conservative John James Zubick 806 1.93% –
Conservative W. R. Irwin 764 1.83% –
Conservative Ronald M. Helmer 670 1.61% –
Co-operative Commonwealth Robert T. Alderman 633 1.52% –
Liberal Alberta Clark 563 1.35% –
Liberal Collier Maberley 555 1.33% –
Labour W. Longridge 527 1.26% –
Co-operative Commonwealth George E. Ellinson 378 0.91% –
Co-operative Commonwealth H. J. Ryan 333 0.80% –
Liberal Richard Thomson 313 0.75% –
Liberal J. A. Murray Green 287 0.69% –
Co-operative Commonwealth Harold L. Livegant 243 0.58% –
Co-operative Commonwealth Ronald W. Stirling 213 0.51% –
Total 41,673 – –
Rejected, spoiled and declined 1,694 – –
Eligible electors / turnout 91,289 47.51% -7.47%
Source(s)
Source: "Calgary Official Results 1952 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
Note: Six seats were awarded in the Calgary Electoral District through single transferable vote. The Hare Quota, the number of votes needed to win a seat, was 5,953. A total of 18 counts occurred.

1955

[edit]
1955 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes
1st count		 % Votes
final count
Conservative Arthur Ryan Smith 9,745 15.59% 8,940
Liberal Hugh John MacDonald 7,501 12.00% 8,932
Social Credit Frederick C. Colborne 5,470 8.75% 8,931
Conservative Paul Brecken 5,034 8.06% –
Social Credit Rose Wilkinson 4,973 7.96% 8,930
Social Credit Arthur J. Dixon 4,566 7.31% 7,698
Social Credit Howard B. MacDonald 4,423 7.08% –
Liberal Grant MacEwan 4,019 6.43% 8,338
Liberal V. A. Cooney 2,536 4.06% –
Social Credit Ian F. Smith 2,290 3.66% –
Social Credit C. M. Willmott 1,745 2.79% –
Social Credit E. R. A. Temple 1,715 2.74% –
Co-operative Commonwealth G. E. Ellinson 1,277 2.04% –
Liberal Mary Dover 1,201 1.92% –
Liberal Harold Cush 1,065 1.70% –
Liberal Collier Maberley 1,025 1.64% –
Conservative Roy V. Devell 927 1.48% –
Co-operative Commonwealth Herbert J. Ryan 648 1.04% –
Labor–Progressive A.L. Roberts 579 0.93% –
Conservative P. P. C. Haigh 577 0.92% –
Independent Arthur H. Wray 471 0.75% –
Co-operative Commonwealth K. A. Halliday 462 0.74% –
Co-operative Commonwealth Paul J. Katzalay 245 0.39% –
Total 62,494 – –
Rejected, spoiled and declined 2,166 – –
Eligible electors / turnout 106,609 60.65% +13.15%
Source(s)
Source: "Calgary Official Results 1955 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
Note: Six seats were awarded in the Calgary Electoral District through single transferable vote. The Hare Quota, the number of votes needed to win a seat, was 8,890. A total of 10 counts occurred.

1957 by-election

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October 2, 1957 by-election results[15] Turnout 34.37% Swing
Affiliation Candidate Votes % Party Personal
  Progressive Conservative Ernest Watkins 17,565 43.69% *
  Social Credit Samuel Helman 15,010 37.33% *
  Labor Frank Bodie 3,916 9.74% *
  Liberal Reginald McCollough 3,023 7.52% *
  Independent Cliff Harris 693 1.72% *
Total 40,207 100%
Rejected, spoiled and declined Unknown
117,000 eligible electors
  Progressive Conservative hold Swing ?%

The October 1957 by-election held on October 2, 1957 was the last election held in the Calgary electoral district before it was officially split in 1959. This was the first election province wide since Single Transferable Vote was implemented in 1924 that First Past the Post was put to use.[24] The changes were implemented in 1956 in An Act Representing Members of the Legislative Assembly.[25]

The election was called after Progressive Conservative incumbent, Arthur Ryan Smith resigned to run in the 1957 Canadian federal election.[26]

Five candidates offered themselves in the election.[15] Social Credit ran high-profile lawyer Samuel Helman. During the campaign Premier Ernest Manning promised to promote Helman to Attorney General as soon as he was elected to the district.[27] The Progressive Conservatives ran lawyer Ernest Watkins, who had arrived from England in 1952. Rounding out the field was Frank Bodie who ran on a Labor banner. Liberal candidate Reginald McCollough and Independent Cliff Harris who was running in the election to protest Alberta's liquor laws in force at the time.[27]

The election proved to be low turnout with 35% of 117,000 eligible voters casting ballots in the election. Advanced turnout was very quiet with just 148 votes being cast. Ernest Watkins won with 43% of the vote and held the seat for his party. The race turned out to be a primarily two-way race, with the other three candidates finishing well back.[27]

Plebiscite district results

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1948 electrification plebiscite

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District results from the province wide plebiscite on electricity regulation:

Option A Option B
Are you in favour of the generation and distribution of electricity being continued by the Power Companies? Are you in favour of the generation and distribution of electricity being made a publicly owned utility administered by the Alberta Government Power Commission?
26,325     69.63% 11,478     30.37%
Province wide result: Option A passed.

1957 liquor plebiscite

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1957 Alberta liquor plebiscite results: Calgary[28]
Question A: Do you approve additional types of outlets for the
sale of beer, wine and spirituous liquor subject to a local vote?
Ballot choice Votes %
Yes 47,382 77.41%
No 13,830 22.59%
Total votes 61,212 100%
Rejected, spoiled and declined 391
114,986 eligible electors, turnout 53.57%
Question B1: Should mixed drinking be allowed
in beer parlours in Calgary and the surrounding areas?
Ballot choice Votes %
Yes 49,669 81.12%
No 11,561 18.88%
Total votes 61,230 100%
Rejected, spoiled and declined 379
114,986 eligible electors, turnout 53.58%

On October 30, 1957 a stand-alone plebiscite was held province wide in all 50 of the then current provincial electoral districts in Alberta. The government decided to consult Alberta voters to decide on liquor sales and mixed drinking after a divisive debate in the legislature. The plebiscite was intended to deal with the growing demand for reforming antiquated liquor control laws.[29]

The plebiscite was conducted in two parts. Question A, asked in all districts, asked the voters if the sale of liquor should be expanded in Alberta, while Question B, asked in a handful of districts within the corporate limits of Calgary and Edmonton, asked if men and women should be allowed to drink together in establishments.[28] Question B was slightly modified depending on which city the voters were in.[28]

Province wide Question A of the plebiscite passed in 33 of the 50 districts while Question B passed in all five districts. Calgary voted overwhelmingly in favor of the plebiscite posting a super majority for the yes side. The district recorded a strong voter turnout, well above the province wide average of 46%.[28]

Calgary also voted on question B1 to decide the issue of allowing men and women to drink together within the corporate limits of Calgary. Like question A, city residents also voted for mixed drinking with a super majority. Oddly question B1 experienced a slightly higher voter turnout than question A.[28]

Official district returns were released to the public on December 31, 1957.[28] The Social Credit government in power at the time did not consider the results binding.[30] However the results of the vote led the government to repeal all existing liquor legislation and introduce an entirely new Liquor Act.[31]

Municipal districts lying inside electoral districts that voted against the plebiscite were designated Local Option Zones by the Alberta Liquor Control Board and considered effective dry zones. Business owners who wanted a license had to petition for a binding municipal plebiscite in order to be granted a license.[32]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Election results for Calgary". abheritage.ca. Wayback Machine: Heritage Community Foundation. Archived from the original on December 8, 2010. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  2. ^ "2". Statutes of the Province of Alberta. Government of Alberta. 1909. p. 24.
  3. ^ "5". Statutes of the Province of Alberta. Government of Alberta. 1921. p. 37.
  4. ^ "3". Statutes of the Province of Alberta. Government of Alberta. 1926. p. 19.
  5. ^ "14". Statutes of the Province of Alberta. Government of Alberta. 1930. p. 92.
  6. ^ "94". Statutes of the Province of Alberta. Government of Alberta. 1939. p. 442.
  7. ^ "36". Statutes of the Province of Alberta. Government of Alberta. 1950. p. 196.
  8. ^ Ordinances of the North-West Territories. Government of the Northwest Territories. 1884. pp. v–vi.
  9. ^ "Members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta 1905-2006" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 30, 2007. Retrieved May 20, 2009.
  10. ^ "Calgary Official Results 1905 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Foundation. Archived from the original on December 8, 2010. Retrieved August 10, 2008.
  11. ^ "Territories Elections Ordinance; Province of Alberta". Vol VI No. 12. The Rocky Mountain Echo. October 30, 1905. p. 4.
  12. ^ "Calgary results 1909 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 17, 2009.
  13. ^ "Two Very Strong Candidates Nominated By Conservatives". No. 7400. The Calgary Daily Herald. March 2, 1909. pp. 1, 4.
  14. ^ "Are Getting Into Harness". 7401. The Calgary Daily Herald. March 3, 1909. p. 1.
  15. ^ a b c d e "Past By-Election results". Elections Alberta. Archived from the original on June 7, 2009. Retrieved May 17, 2009.
  16. ^ "Calgary results 1921 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 17, 2009.
  17. ^ "Alex. Davidson Sentenced to Year's Imprisonment". Calgary Herald. February 10, 1923. p. 1. ProQuest 2252596025.
  18. ^ A Report on Alberta Elections 1905-1982
  19. ^ "Calgary results 1926 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 17, 2009.
  20. ^ official "Statement of Count of Ballots"
  21. ^ "Calgary results 1930 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 17, 2009.
  22. ^ a b "N. Hindsley takes seat in Calgary". Vol XXXII No. 16. Edmonton Bulletin. January 20, 1933. pp. 1–2.
  23. ^ "Election results for Calgary, 1940". Alberta Online Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on December 8, 2010. Retrieved December 8, 2010.
  24. ^ "Voters Go To Polls Wednesday - In Calgary". Vol L No. 248. The Lethbridge Herald. October 1, 1957. p. 1.
  25. ^ Statutes of the Province of Alberta. Government of Alberta. 1956 [1955]. p. 84.
  26. ^ "Calgary South 1957". Parliament of Canada. Retrieved May 23, 2009.
  27. ^ a b c "Watkins Is Winner In Calgary Vote Tories Retain Seat". Vol L No 250. The Lethbridge Herald. pp. 1, 19.
  28. ^ a b c d e f Alberta Gazette. Vol. 53 (December 31 ed.). Government of Alberta. 1957. pp. 2, 247–2, 249.
  29. ^ "Albertans Vote 2 to 1 For More Liquor Outlets". Vol L No 273. The Lethbridge Herald. October 31, 1957. pp. 1–2.
  30. ^ "No Sudden Change In Alberta Drinking Habits Is Seen". Vol L No 267. The Lethbridge Herald. October 24, 1957. p. 1.
  31. ^ "Entirely New Act On Liquor". Vol LI No 72. The Lethbridge Herald. March 5, 1968. p. 1.
  32. ^ "Bill 81". Alberta Bills 12th Legislature 1st Session. Government of Alberta. 1958. p. 40.

Further reading

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