1953 Edmonton municipal election

Last updated

The 1953 municipal election was held October 14, 1953, to elect six aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and four trustees to sit on the separate school board, while the mayor and four trustees for the public school board were acclaimed. The electorate also decided five plebiscite questions.

Contents

There were ten aldermen on city council, but four of the positions were already filled: Edwin Clarke, James MacDonald, Frederick John Mitchell, and Ethel Wilson were all elected to two-year terms in 1952 and were still in office. Richmond Francis Hanna (SS) had also been elected to a two-year term in 1952, but had been elected to the House of Commons of Canada and had resigned; consequently, Hu Harries (SS) was elected alderman for a one-year term to complete his term.

There were seven trustees on the public school board, but three of the positions were already filled: Charles Cummins, Robert Rae, and Harry Fowler had been acclaimed to two-year terms in 1952 and were still in office. The same was true on the separate board, where Francis Killeen, James O'Hara, and Adrian Crowe (SS) were continuing.

Voter turnout

There were 12,146 ballots cast out of 107,687 eligible voters, for a voter turnout of 11.2%.

Results

Mayor

PartyCandidateVotes
Citizens' Committee William Hawrelak Acclaimed

Aldermen

PartyCandidateVotesElected
Citizens' Committee Harold Tanner 11,267SSGreen check.svgY
Citizens' Committee Rupert Clare10,936 Green check.svgY
Citizens' Committee Abe Miller 9,845 Green check.svgY
Citizens' Committee Charles Simmonds8,362 Green check.svgY
Citizens' Committee Cliffard Roy8,334SSGreen check.svgY
Citizens' Committee Hu Harries 7,889SSGreen check.svgY
Independent Sidney Bowcott7,395
Independent Phoebe McCullough5,377
Independent Julia Kiniski 3,471

Public school trustees

PartyCandidateVotesElected
Citizens' Committee Mary ButterworthAcclaimedSSGreen check.svgY
Citizens' Committee William CowleyAcclaimedGreen check.svgY
Citizens' Committee James FalconerAcclaimedGreen check.svgY
Citizens' Committee John ThorogoodAcclaimedSSGreen check.svgY

Separate (Catholic) school trustees

PartyCandidateVotesElected
Independent Andre Dechene2,305 Green check.svgY
Independent William Sereda1,869 Green check.svgY
Independent Amby Lenon1,680SSGreen check.svgY
Independent Catherine McGrath1,662 Green check.svgY
Independent John Kane1,401

Plebiscites

Paving

Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $1,250,000 for the City share of paving arterial and residential streets?

  • Yes - 8,271
  • No - 757

Engineering Equipment

Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $200,000 for the purpose of buying Engineers Department Equipment, consisting of scavenging equipment, oil distributor, front end loaders, oil and gas tenders, sweepers and other construction equipment?

  • Yes - 7,720
  • No - 1,090

Swimming Pool Renovations

Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $75,000 for providing new filtration system and reconstructing dressing rooms and sun deck area in Borden Park Swimming Pool?

  • Yes - 6,413
  • No - 2,067

Playgrounds

Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $50,000 to develop public playgrounds, playground shelters, wading pools and to provide other public recreation facilities?

  • Yes - 7,410
  • No - 1,270

New Building at the Royal Alexandra Hospital

Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $355,000 being part of the cost of construction of a building to contain kitchen and dining room, storage and other facilities, at the Royal Alexandra Hospital?

  • Yes - 7,299
  • No - 1,439

References