Albert Thomas Alsbury (21 April 1904 – 21 July 1990) was a Canadian politician, educator, and soccer player. He served as the 29th mayor of Vancouver, British Columbia from 1959 to 1962 and was a goalkeeper in the Pacific Coast League from the 1920s through to the early 1940s.[2]

Albert Thomas Alsbury
29th Mayor of Vancouver
In office
1959–1962
Preceded byFrederick Hume
Succeeded byWilliam Rathie
Personal details
Born
Albert Thomas Alsbury

21 April 1904[1]
Edinburgh, Scotland
Died21 July 1990(1990-07-21) (aged 86)
Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
NationalityCanadian
Political partyNon-Partisan Association
ChildrenThomas Bruce Alsbury, Diane Alsbury Wiesner
Alma materUniversity of British Columbia
ProfessionAthlete, Educator
Association football career
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Vancouver St. Saviours
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Alsbury was born in Edinburgh, Scotland after which he moved to Vancouver in 1907. He studied education at the University of British Columbia, where he received a degree.[3] He was later a vice-principal at Grandview High School of Commerce in Vancouver, before the school and himself were relocated to Vancouver Technical Secondary School.[4]

Alsbury defeated Frederick Hume by 11,000 votes to become mayor. He left this office after 1962 and then worked for the University of British Columbia, although by that time his policies led to the loss of support from the Non-Partisan Association.[5]

As Mayor in 1959, Alsbury helped kick off the new Pacific Coast Soccer League season at Callister Park.[6]

Alsbury formed the senior citizen advocacy group Pensioners for Action Now in 1972.[3] Alsbury became a recipient of the Civic Merit Award on June 28, 1983.[7]

References edit

  1. ^ "1904 Alsbury, Albert Thomas (Statutory registers Births 685/3 508)". Scotland's People. National Records of Scotland and the Court of the Lord Lyon.
  2. ^ Canada Soccer (2017). "The Connaught Series". Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  3. ^ a b Canadian Press (23 July 1990). "Ex-Vancouver mayor formed senior's group". The Globe and Mail. p. D11.
  4. ^ "Grandview High to Be Closed Down". The Vancouver Sun. 7 March 1950. p.15
  5. ^ Mackie, John (30 November 2002). "The mayors of Vancouver". The Vancouver Sun. p. B4.
  6. ^ Al Sheehan (20 April 1959). "Soccer opener". Google. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  7. ^ https://vancouver.ca/your-government/civic-merit-award.aspx

External links edit