1955 Edmonton municipal election

The 1955 municipal election was held October 19, 1955, to elect five aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and six trustees to sit on the public school board, while the mayor and four trustees for the separate school board were acclaimed. The electorate also decided ten plebiscite questions.

There were ten aldermen on city council, but five of the positions were already filled: Edwin Clarke, Frederick John Mitchell, Ethel Wilson, Laurette Douglas, and Giffard Main (SS) were all elected to two-year terms in 1954 and were still in office.

There were seven trustees on the public school board, but one of the positions were already filled, as Donald Bowen was elected to a two-year term in 1954 and was still in office. William Roberts and Rex Stevenson had also been elected to two-year terms in 1954, but had resigned; accordingly, John Thorogood (SS) and Herbert Turner were elected to one-year terms. On the separate board, there were four vacancies, as James O'Hara, Adrian Crowe (SS), and John Kane were continuing.

Voter turnout edit

There were 14,248 ballots cast out of 126,990 eligible voters, for a voter turnout of 11.2%.

Results edit

Mayor edit

Party Candidate Votes
Citizens' Committee William Hawrelak Acclaimed

Aldermen edit

Party Candidate Votes Elected
Citizens' Committee Abe Miller 11,773    Y
Citizens' Committee Cliffard Roy 11,539 SS  Y
Citizens' Committee Hu Harries 10,343 SS  Y
Citizens' Committee James Falconer 10,207    Y
Citizens' Committee William Connelly 9,679    Y
Independent Charles Simmonds 8,467 SS
Independent Tempest Aitken 5,945 SS
Independent George Solomon 3,289

Public school trustees edit

Party Candidate Votes Elected
Citizens' Committee Mary Butterworth 10,639 SS  Y
Citizens' Committee Herbert Smith 10,240 SS  Y
Citizens' Committee James Hanna 9,290    Y
Citizens' Committee William Henning 8,982 SS  Y
Citizens' Committee John Thorogood 8,907 SS  Y
Citizens' Committee Herbert Turner 7,352    Y
Independent Louis Broten 3,713
Independent David Graham 6,562
Independent Laura Tuomi 3,167

Separate (Catholic) school trustees edit

Party Candidate Votes Elected
Independent Amby Lenon Acclaimed SS  Y
Independent Andre Dechene Acclaimed  Y
Independent Orest Demco Acclaimed  Y
Independent Catherine McGrath Acclaimed  Y

Plebiscites edit

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

Paving edit

Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $320,000 for the City share of standard paving of arterial and residential streets?

  • Yes - 9,764
  • No - 1,072

Asphalt Surfacing I edit

Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $300,000 for the City share of asphalt surfacing on gravel for existing gravelled roads?

  • Yes - 9,490
  • No - 1,136

Asphalt Surfacing II edit

Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $400,000 for the City share of asphalt surfacing on gravel for new roads at various locations within the City?

  • Yes - 8,930
  • No - 1,427

Bridge edit

Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $2,000,000 for the construction of a bridge in concrete or steel or a combination of both, across the North Saskatchewan River at such location within the city as, in the opinion of Council, will most quickly and effectively improve the cross river traffic conditions, together with provision for approaches thereto including acquirements of all necessary lands?

  • Yes - 7,884
  • No - 3,030

Zoo edit

Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $400,000 for the establishment and development in Laurier Park of a Zoo including provisions for sewer, water, roads, buildings, structures, animals, and necessary equipment?

  • Yes - 8,699
  • No - 2,184

Miscellaneous Neighbourhood Improvements edit

Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $250,000 for the establishment and improvement of neighborhood parks, traffic circles, buffer zones, ravine side boulevards and works of a similar nature, including where necessary new roads, sewers, drains, fences, and general re-building?

  • Yes - 8,724
  • No - 2,764

Library edit

Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $75,000 for the establishment, improvement, extension of library facilities including construction of a new building?

  • Yes - 7,418
  • No - 2,764

Health Clinic edit

Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $60,000 for the purpose of a health clinic to look after inoculations, also the supervision of babies and pre-school children and preventative dental services?

  • Yes - 9,419
  • No - 1,251

Royal Alexandra Hospital (New Building) edit

Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $700,000 to complete and furnish a new building at the Royal Alexandra Hospital containing kitchen, dining and other facilities, also additional facilities for nurses living quarters and nurses study and recreation facilities?

  • Yes - 7,704
  • No - 2,851

Swimming Pool edit

Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $250,000 for the construction of an indoor swimming pool in the City south of the North Saskatchewan River at a location, which, in the opinion of Council, is most suitable and convenient for residents of Edmonton South?

  • Yes - 6,997
  • No - 3,477

References edit