1950 Edmonton municipal election

The 1950 municipal election was held November 1, 1950 to elect five aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council. The electorate also decided eleven plebiscite questions. There was no mayoral election, as Sidney Parsons was on the second year of a two year-term. There were no elections for school trustees, as candidates for both the public and separate school boards were acclaimed.

There were ten aldermen on city council, but five of the positions were already filled: Harold Tanner (SS), Armour Ford, Rupert Clare, Kenneth Lawson, and William Hawrelak (SS) were all elected to two-year terms in 1949 and were still in office.

There were seven trustees on the public school board, but four of the positions were already filled: George Brown, Mary Butterworth (SS), J W K Shortreed, and John Thorogood (SS) had been acclaimed to two-year terms in 1949 and were still in office. The same was true on the separate board, where Joseph Gallant, Lawrence Keylor (SS), Ambrose O'Neill, and Joseph Pilon were continuing.

Voter turnout edit

There were 27,484 ballots cast out of 93,406 eligible voters, for a voter turnout of 29.4%.

Results edit

Aldermen edit

Party Candidate Votes Elected
Citizens' Committee Edwin Clarke 17,421  Y
Citizens' Committee Duncan Innes 16,279 SS  Y
Citizens' Committee Richmond Francis Hanna 16,112  Y
Citizens' Committee Frederick John Mitchell 15,307  Y
Independent Athelstan Bissett 14,089 SS  Y
Independent Sidney Bowcott 13,315
Citizens' Committee Carl Berg 12,891
Independent George Gleave 10,975
Independent Thomas Graham 7,123
Independent George Linney 5,789
Independent Charles Simmonds 5,640
Independent Frederick Speed 1,851

Public school trustees edit

Harry Fowler, Robert Rae, and Charles Cummins were acclaimed.

Separate (Catholic) school trustees edit

Adrian Crowe (SS), Francis Killeen, and James O'Hara were acclaimed.

Plebiscites edit

  • Financial plebiscite items required a minimum two-thirds "Yes" majority to bring about action

Civic Centre edit

Are you in favour of the City entering into the proposed agreement with the First New Amsterdam Corporation for development of the Civic Centre area as finally approved by City Council on September 29, 1950?

  • Yes - 11,843
  • No - 7,641

Paving edit

Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $1,225,095.00 for City share of paving of arterial streets, bus routes and elsewhere?

  • Yes - 16,442
  • No - 1,478

High Level Bridge edit

Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $500,000.00 to be applied toward the cost of providing a four lane vehicular traffic deck on the High Level Bridge to relieve serious traffic congestion?

  • Yes - 9,174
  • No - 8,588

Equipment for Engineers' Department edit

Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $100,000.00 to purchase equipment for the Engineers’ Department including a flusher, a sweeper, mud pump and grader?

  • Yes - 14,432
  • No - 2,741

Fire Department edit

Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $175,000.00 for the erection of Fire Department Buildings, namely, fire hall at Jasper Avenue and 92 Street, one drill tower and one drill school utility building for training firemen?

  • Yes - 15,147
  • No - 2,230

Fire Fighting Equipment edit

Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $76,000.00 to purchase equipment for the Fire Department consisting of two pumpers and one aerial ladder?

  • Yes - 15,971
  • No - 1,499

Police Station edit

Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $250,000.00 for additions to the main Police Station Building including one additional court room, increased office space, added prisoner cells and full sized gymnasium?

  • Yes - 12,804
  • No - 4,216

Renfrew Ball Park edit

Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $50,000.00 to erect a concrete grandstand to seat 1,200 people at Renfrew Ball Park?

  • Yes - 10,877
  • No - 6,253

Royal Alexandra Maternity Ward edit

Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $1,035,000.00 for the erection of new maternity building at the Royal Alexandra Hospital to relieve serious over-crowding of present facilities?

  • Yes - 16,218
  • No - 1,752

Royal Alexandra Hospital edit

Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $1,200,000.00 for additions and renovations to Royal Alexandra Hospital including improved operating rooms, laboratories, X-ray Department, cafeteria, plus renovation of plumbing in present main building?

  • Yes - 15,844
  • No - 2,060

Outdoor Pool edit

Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $150,000.00 for the construction of an out-door swimming pool in the City?

  • Yes - 12,865
  • No - 4,461

References edit