On September 27, 1911, the voters of Edmonton approved by plebiscite the amalgamation of Edmonton with Strathcona. A majority of Strathcona voters also voted in favour of amalgamation.[1]
Amalgamation was effected February 1, 1912. In anticipation of this, no election was held December 11, 1911 as would normally have been required (municipal elections in Edmonton at the time being held the second Monday of every December). Instead, elections were fixed for February 16, 1912.
A cartoon appearing in the Edmonton Bulletin on the morning of the election, depicting George S. Armstrong and B.J. Saunders vying for the mayoralty.
With the amalgamation, Council's size was increased by two members, bringing the total number of aldermen to ten.
Due to a clause of the amalgamation agreement, in this election (and in each council hereafter to 1960) at least two of the elected councillors were required to come from the south side of the North Saskatchewan River.
In order to keep the staggered electoral system of aldermen in place, the five most popular of the aldermen elected in this election, (Henry Douglas, Charles Gowan, John Tipton, John Lundy, and Thomas J. Walsh), were elected to two-year terms, and the next five to one-year terms. The exception being that the most popular southside candidate was elected to a two-year term and the next-most-popular one to a one-year term.[2]
In addition to electing city council, the February 1912 elections also elected the entirety of the seven member board of trustees for the public school division (four members - Walter Ramsey, B H Nichols, Samuel Barnes, and Frank Crang - to two-year terms, three others to one-year terms) and three of five members of the board of trustees for the separate school division (Wilfrid Gariépy and Milton Martin having been elected to two-year terms in 1910).
Voter turnout
There were 2870 ballots cast. Information about the number of eligible voters is no longer available.
Aldermanic election was conduced using Plurality block voting. Each voter could cast up to ten votes, About 17,000 votes were cast by the 2870 voters who participated in this election.[3]
Elected
Henry Douglas - 1640 elected to two year term (candidate for the Retail Merchants Association)[4]
Bessie Nichols was the first woman to run for public office in Edmonton. As a property owner or tenant, she was able to vote and she owned property in Edmonton so was not barred from running for that reason but her candidacy was not secure until an amendment to the city charter was rushed through the Alberta Legislature just before the election was held.[6]
february, 1912, edmonton, municipal, election, september, 1911, voters, edmonton, approved, plebiscite, amalgamation, edmonton, with, strathcona, majority, strathcona, voters, also, voted, favour, amalgamation, amalgamation, effected, february, 1912, anticipat. On September 27 1911 the voters of Edmonton approved by plebiscite the amalgamation of Edmonton with Strathcona A majority of Strathcona voters also voted in favour of amalgamation 1 Amalgamation was effected February 1 1912 In anticipation of this no election was held December 11 1911 as would normally have been required municipal elections in Edmonton at the time being held the second Monday of every December Instead elections were fixed for February 16 1912 A cartoon appearing in the Edmonton Bulletin on the morning of the election depicting George S Armstrong and B J Saunders vying for the mayoralty Contents 1 Positions to be elected 2 Voter turnout 3 Results 3 1 Mayor 3 2 Aldermen 3 3 Public School Trustees 3 4 Separate Catholic School Trustees 4 ReferencesPositions to be elected EditWith the amalgamation Council s size was increased by two members bringing the total number of aldermen to ten Due to a clause of the amalgamation agreement in this election and in each council hereafter to 1960 at least two of the elected councillors were required to come from the south side of the North Saskatchewan River In order to keep the staggered electoral system of aldermen in place the five most popular of the aldermen elected in this election Henry Douglas Charles Gowan John Tipton John Lundy and Thomas J Walsh were elected to two year terms and the next five to one year terms The exception being that the most popular southside candidate was elected to a two year term and the next most popular one to a one year term 2 In addition to electing city council the February 1912 elections also elected the entirety of the seven member board of trustees for the public school division four members Walter Ramsey B H Nichols Samuel Barnes and Frank Crang to two year terms three others to one year terms and three of five members of the board of trustees for the separate school division Wilfrid Gariepy and Milton Martin having been elected to two year terms in 1910 Voter turnout EditThere were 2870 ballots cast Information about the number of eligible voters is no longer available Results Edit bold indicates elected italics indicate incumbent Mayor Edit George S Armstrong 1791 Bryce J Saunders 1072Aldermen Edit Aldermanic election was conduced using Plurality block voting Each voter could cast up to ten votes About 17 000 votes were cast by the 2870 voters who participated in this election 3 Elected Henry Douglas 1640 elected to two year term candidate for the Retail Merchants Association 4 Charles Gowan 1230 elected to two year term John Tipton 1227 South Side elected to two year term John Lundy 1220 elected to two year term James East Labour affiliated 1214 elected to one year term Joseph Clarke 1174 elected to one year term Herman McInnes 1164 elected to one year term Thomas J Walsh 1049 South Side elected to two year term Gustave May 993 elected to one year term Hugh Calder 795 South Side elected to one year termNot elected D B Campbell 835 J H McDonald 779 South Side J J Denman 757 Thomas Grindley 708 Thomas Malone 707 South Side candidate for the Retail Merchants Association 5 J Pollard 659 South Side George Elliott 526 South Side A Boileau 297Public School Trustees Edit Election was conduced using Plurality block voting Each voter could cast up to four votes Walter Ramsey 1531 Bessie H Nichols 1446 Samuel Barnes 1348 William Clark 1145 John Park 1139 Frank Crang 839 South Side J G MacKenzie 610 South Side unsuccessful candidates not shown here Bessie Nichols was the first woman to run for public office in Edmonton As a property owner or tenant she was able to vote and she owned property in Edmonton so was not barred from running for that reason but her candidacy was not secure until an amendment to the city charter was rushed through the Alberta Legislature just before the election was held 6 Separate Catholic School Trustees Edit John Cashman James Collisson and Joseph Henri Picard were elected Detailed results are no longer available References Edit Monto Old Strathcona Edmonton s Southside Roots p 318 Rek Municipal elections in Edmonton p 20 Rek Municipal elections in Edmonton p 20 Edmonton Bulletin Feb 5 1912 Edmonton Bulletin Feb 5 1912 Edmonton Bulletin Feb 7 1912 City of Edmonton Edmonton Elections Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title February 1912 Edmonton municipal election amp oldid 1139177265, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
