January 1894 Calgary municipal election
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January 15, 1894 (1894-01-15)
 
Candidate Wesley Fletcher Orr William Henry Cushing
Popular vote 244 220
Percentage 52.59% 47.41%

Mayor before election

Alexander Lucas

Elected Mayor

Wesley Fletcher Orr

The January 1894 Calgary municipal election was scheduled for January 15, 1894 to elect a Mayor and nine Councillors to sit on the first Calgary City Council from January 17, 1894 to January 7, 1895. In addition, two members were elected as school trustees.[1]

Background

This was the first election to take place after Calgary was officially incorporated as The City of Calgary under Chapter 33, Ordinance of North-West Territories on January 1, 1894. This was also the first election to establish a Ward system for the election of councillors, splitting the City into three wards, with three representatives each.

The prior Town Charter required municipal elections to take place in December 1893, however the new City Charter came into effect in such a way as to prevent the election from occurring in December 1893, and would require the election to take place in December 1894. The whole of Calgary City Council resigned to force a January election, which was eventually validated as a general election through the legislature.[2]

Voting rights were provided to any male, single woman, or widowed British subject over twenty-one years of age who are assessed on the last revised assessment roll with a minimum property value of $200.

The election was held under combination of First-past-the-post voting and Plurality block voting where each elector was able to cast a vote for the mayor and up to three votes for the candidates running to be ward councillors.[3]

Results

Mayor

January 1894 Calgary municipal election: Mayor
Party Candidate Votes%Elected
-Wesley Fletcher Orr24452.59%Green tickY
-William Henry Cushing22047.41%
Total valid votes 464-
Source(s)

Aldermen

In each ward, each voter was able to cast up to three votes (Plurality block voting). The number of total votes cast thus is much larger than it would have been if each voter cast just one vote. Under Block Voting, the largest voting block often takes all the seats, leaving none to the other voters who might make up the majority of voters.

Ward 1

January 1894 Calgary municipal election: Councillor Ward 1
Party Candidate Votes%Elected
-Arthur Leslie Cameron15524.68%Green tickY
-Joseph McKay Bannerman14623.25%Green tickY
-Alexander Lucas13721.82%Green tickY
-Eugene Watson8313.22%
-James Reilly7912.58%
-William Henry Lee284.46%
Source(s)

[1]

Election was held under multiple non-transferable vote where each elector was able to cast a ballot for the mayor and up to three ballots for separate councillors.

Ward 2

January 1894 Calgary municipal election: Councillor Ward 2
Party Candidate Votes%Elected
-Joseph Edward Jacques13824.21%Green tickY
-John August Nolan11119.47%Green tickY
-Robert John Hutchings8615.09%Green tickY
-H. Douglas7312.81%
-W. Maloney6912.11%
-Joseph Henry Millward6711.75%
-T. Ede264.56%
Source(s)

[1]

Election was held under multiple non-transferable vote where each elector was able to cast a ballot for the mayor and up to three ballots for separate councillors.

Ward 3

January 1894 Calgary municipal election: Councillor Ward 3
Party Candidate Votes%Elected
-John Simcoe Feehan10026.88%Green tickY
-Alexander McBride9826.34%Green tickY
-Thomas Underwood5915.86%Green tickY
-John Creighton5113.71%
-F. J. Claxton4712.63%
-H. Douglas92.42%
-J. Reilly82.15%
Source(s)

[1]

Election was held under multiple non-transferable vote where each elector was able to cast a ballot for the mayor and up to three ballots for separate councillors.

School Trustee

Party Candidate Votes  % Elected
IndependentA. Allan19931.39%Green tickY
IndependentS. McComb18729.50%Green tickY
IndependentThomas B. Braden12419.56%
IndependentNeville James Lindsay12419.56%
Total valid votes 634

By-Elections

  • Howard Douglas acclaimed on February 28, 1894 after Thomas Underwood failed to be sworn in within one month of the January 1894 election due to inability to return from England in time.[4][5]
  • Joseph Henry Millward elected in a by-election scheduled July 4, 1894 following Joseph Edward Jacques' resignation which was accepted by Council on June 12, 1894. Millward defeated Thomson, and George Murdoch for the seat.[6]
  • James Stuart Makie elected in a by-election scheduled October 2, 1894 following Joseph Henry Millward's resignation.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "The Municipal Elections". The Calgary Herald. No. 38. January 16, 1894. p. 4. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  2. Bly, David (October 9, 2001). "City Hall history provides tantalizing tales". Calgary Herald. p. B4.
  3. Ordinances of the North-West Territories; An Ordinance Respecting Municipalities, R.O.N.W.T. 1888, c. 8
  4. "City and District". The Calgary Herald. No. 50. February 27, 1894. p. 5. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  5. "City and District". The Calgary Herald. No. 51. March 2, 1894. p. 5. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  6. "City and District". The Calgary Herald. No. 86. July 6, 1894. p. 8. Retrieved 14 March 2020.

Sources

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