Gleichen (electoral district)

Gleichen was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada, mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1905 to 1963.[1]

Gleichen
Alberta electoral district
Defunct provincial electoral district
LegislatureLegislative Assembly of Alberta
District created1905
District abolished1963
First contested1905
Last contested1959

History

Gleichen was one of the original 25 electoral districts contested in the 1905 Alberta general election upon Alberta joining Confederation in September 1905. The electoral district was merged with Drumheller prior to the 1963 Alberta general election to form the short lived Drumheller-Gleichen electoral district.

The district was named after the town of Gleichen, Alberta, that is situated north of Siksika Nation.

Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs)
Members of the Legislative Assembly for Gleichen
Assembly Years Member Party
1st  1905–1906     Charles A. Stuart Liberal
 1906–1909 Ezra H. Riley
2nd  1909–1910
 1910–1911 Archibald J. McArthur
 1911–1913     Harold Riley Conservative
3rd  1913–1917     John Peter McArthur Liberal
4th  1917–1921     Fred Davis Conservative
5th  1921–1926     John C. Buckley Social Credit
6th  1926–1930
7th  1930–1935
8th  1935–1940 Isaac M. McCune
9th  1940–1944     Donald J. McKinnon Independent
10th  1944–1948     George E. Bell Social Credit
11th  1948–1952
12th  1952–1955
13th  1955–1959
14th  1959–1963
See Drumheller-Gleichen electoral district from 1963-1971

Election results

1905 general election
1905 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalCharles A. Stuart66751.03%–
ConservativeJohn W. Hayes64048.97%–
Total 1,307––
Rejected, spoiled and declined N/A––
Eligible electors / turnout 1,307100.00%–
Liberal pickup new district.
Source(s)
Source: "Gleichen Official Results 1905 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1906 by-election
Alberta provincial by-election, December 7, 1906
Upon Charles Stuart's appointment to the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories in October 1906
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalEzra Riley56056.28%–
ConservativeWilliam L. Walsh43542.72%–
Total 995––
Rejected, spoiled and declined N/A––
Eligible electors / turnout N/AN/A–
Liberal hold Swing N/A
Source(s)
"By-elections". Elections Alberta. Retrieved May 26, 2020.

1909 general election
1909 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalEzra H. Riley72057.83%6.80%
ConservativeJames Shouldice52542.17%-6.80%
Total 1,245––
Rejected, spoiled and declined N/A––
Eligible electors / turnout 1,66674.37%–
Liberal hold Swing 6.80%
Source(s)
Source: "Gleichen Official Results 1909 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1910 by-election
Alberta provincial by-election, October 3, 1910
Upon resignation of Ezra Riley in protest against leadership of his party
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalArchibald J. McArthur1,11954.91%–
IndependentEzra Riley91945.09%–
Total 2,038––
Rejected, spoiled and declined N/A––
Eligible electors / turnout N/AN/A–
Liberal hold Swing N/A
Source(s)
"By-elections". Elections Alberta. Retrieved May 26, 2020.

1911 by-election
Alberta provincial by-election, October 31, 1911
Upon the death of Archibald J. McArthur on June 5, 1911
Party Candidate Votes%±%
ConservativeHarold Riley1,37056.29%–
LiberalJohn Peter McArthur1,06443.71%–
Total 2,434––
Rejected, spoiled and declined N/A––
Eligible electors / turnout N/AN/A–
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing N/A
Source(s)
"By-elections". Elections Alberta. Retrieved May 26, 2020.

1913 general election
1913 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalJohn Peter McArthur64152.67%-5.16%
ConservativeGeorge McElroy57647.33%5.16%
Total 1,217––
Rejected, spoiled and declined N/A––
Eligible electors / turnout 1,56577.76%3.39%
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing -5.16%
Source(s)
Source: "Gleichen Official Results 1913 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1917 general election
1917 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
ConservativeFred Davis76242.76%-4.57%
LiberalJohn Peter McArthur71239.96%-12.72%
Nonpartisan LeagueJohn W. Leedy30817.28%–
Total 1,782––
Rejected, spoiled and declined N/A––
Eligible electors / turnout 2,71165.73%-12.03%
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing -1.27%
Source(s)
Source: "Gleichen Official Results 1917 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1921 general election
1921 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
United FarmersJohn C. Buckley1,56559.51%–
LiberalH. Scott1,06540.49%0.54%
Total 2,630––
Rejected, spoiled and declined N/A––
Eligible electors / turnout 3,70870.93%5.20%
United Farmers gain from Conservative Swing 8.10%
Source(s)
Source: "Gleichen Official Results 1921 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1926 general election
1926 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
United FarmersJohn C. Buckley1,58456.90%-2.61%
ConservativeHugh Miller72225.93%–
LiberalFrank Lount47817.17%-23.32%
Total 2,784––
Rejected, spoiled and declined 166––
Eligible electors / turnout 4,42866.62%-4.31%
United Farmers hold Swing 5.98%
Source(s)
Source: "Gleichen Official Results 1926 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1930 general election
1930 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
United FarmersJohn C. Buckley1,56659.43%2.53%
IndependentH. S. B. Chamberlain1,06940.57%–
Total 2,635––
Rejected, spoiled and declined 104––
Eligible electors / turnout 4,07467.23%0.61%
United Farmers hold Swing -6.05%
Source(s)
Source: "Gleichen Official Results 1930 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1935 general election
1935 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Social CreditIsaac M. McCune2,09352.38%–
United FarmersJohn C. Buckley89522.40%-37.03%
LiberalV. S. Kimpton56914.24%–
ConservativeT. S. Hughes43910.99%–
Total 3,996––
Rejected, spoiled and declined 141––
Eligible electors / turnout 4,90884.29%17.06%
Social Credit gain from United Farmers Swing 5.56%
Source(s)
Source: "Gleichen Official Results 1935 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1940 general election
1940 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
IndependentDonald J. McKinnon2,25551.46%–
Social CreditIsaac M. McCune1,45733.25%-19.13%
Co-operative CommonwealthJ. H. Coldwell67015.29%–
Total 4,382––
Rejected, spoiled and declined 212––
Eligible electors / turnout 6,11275.16%-9.13%
Independent gain from Social Credit Swing -5.88%
Source(s)
Source: "Gleichen Official Results 1940 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1944 general election
1944 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Social CreditGeorge E. Bell2,03250.22%16.97%
IndependentDonald J. McKinnon1,07226.50%-24.97%
Co-operative CommonwealthB. C. Henricks94223.28%7.99%
Total 4,046––
Rejected, spoiled and declined 111––
Eligible electors / turnout 5,56074.77%-0.40%
Social Credit gain from Independent Swing 2.76%
Source(s)
Source: "Gleichen Official Results 1944 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1948 general election
1948 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Social CreditGeorge E. Bell2,35464.37%14.15%
IndependentJonathan M. Wheatley1,30335.63%9.13%
Total 3,657––
Rejected, spoiled and declined 221––
Eligible electors / turnout 5,92665.44%-9.33%
Social Credit hold Swing 2.51%
Source(s)
Source: "Gleichen Official Results 1948 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1952 general election
1952 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Social CreditGeorge E. Bell2,06168.49%4.12%
LiberalCharles County67522.43%–
Co-operative CommonwealthAubrey E. Gibson2739.07%–
Total 3,009––
Rejected, spoiled and declined 161––
Eligible electors / turnout 5,19261.06%-4.38%
Social Credit hold Swing 8.66%
Source(s)
Source: "Gleichen Official Results 1952 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1955 general election
1955 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Social CreditGeorge E. Bell1,91251.73%-16.76%
LiberalCarman Ellis1,78448.27%25.84%
Total 3,696––
Rejected, spoiled and declined 202––
Eligible electors / turnout 5,22874.56%13.50%
Social Credit hold Swing -21.30%
Source(s)
Source: "Gleichen Official Results 1955 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1959 general election
1959 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Social CreditGeorge E. Bell2,26760.08%8.35%
Progressive ConservativeA. John Van Wezel75419.98%–
LiberalCarman A. Parkyn75219.93%-28.34%
Total 3,773––
Rejected, spoiled and declined 9––
Eligible electors / turnout 5,24472.12%-2.44%
Social Credit hold Swing 18.32%
Source(s)
Source: "Gleichen Official Results 1959 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

Plebiscite results

1948 Electrification Plebiscite

District results from the first province wide plebiscite on electricity regulation.

Option A Option B
Are you in favour of the generation and distribution of electricity being continued by the Power Companies? Are you in favour of the generation and distribution of electricity being made a publicly owned utility administered by the Alberta Government Power Commission?
2,007     56.04% 1,574     43.96%
Province wide result: Option A passed.

1957 liquor plebiscite
1957 Alberta liquor plebiscite results: Gleichen[2]
Question A: Do you approve additional types of outlets for the
sale of beer, wine and spirituous liquor subject to a local vote?
Ballot Choice Votes %
Yes 1,440 61.02%
No 920 38.98%
Total Votes 2,360 100%
Rejected, Spoiled and Declined 13
4,885 Eligible Electors, Turnout 48.58%
Question B1: Should mixed drinking be allowed
in beer parlours in Calgary and the surrounding areas?
Ballot Choice Votes %
Yes 5 100.00%
No 0 0.00%
Total Votes 5 100%
Rejected, Spoiled and Declined 0
19 Eligible Electors, Turnout 26.32%

On October 30, 1957 a stand-alone plebiscite was held province wide in all 50 of the then current provincial electoral districts in Alberta. The government decided to consult Alberta voters to decide on liquor sales and mixed drinking after a divisive debate in the Legislature. The plebiscite was intended to deal with the growing demand for reforming antiquated liquor control laws.[3]

The plebiscite was conducted in two parts. Question A asked in all districts, asked the voters if the sale of liquor should be expanded in Alberta, while Question B asked in a handful of districts within the corporate limits of Calgary and Edmonton asked if men and woman were allowed to drink together in establishments.[2] Question B was slightly modified depending on which city the voters were in.[2]

Province wide Question A of the plebiscite passed in 33 of the 50 districts while Question B passed in all five districts. Gleichen voted overwhelmingly in favor of the plebiscite. The district recorded about average voter turnout, being a couple points above the province wide 46% average.[2]

Gleichen also voted on question B1 with just 19 residents lying inside the electoral district within the corporate limits of Calgary. Only 5 residents showed up to vote, they unanimously voted to allow mixed drinking.[2]

Official district returns were released to the public on December 31, 1957.[2] The Social Credit government in power at the time did not considered the results binding.[4] However the results of the vote led the government to repeal all existing liquor legislation and introduce an entirely new Liquor Act.[5]

Municipal districts lying inside electoral districts that voted against the Plebiscite were designated Local Option Zones by the Alberta Liquor Control Board and considered effective dry zones, business owners that wanted a license had to petition for a binding municipal plebiscite in order to be granted a license.[6]

By-Election reasons
  • December 7, 1906—Appointment of Mr. Charles Stuart to the Judicial Bench.
  • October 3, 1910—Resignation Ezra Riley in protest against leadership of his party.
  • October 31, 1911—Death of Mr. Archibald J. McArthur.

See also

References
  1. "Election results for Gleichen". abheritage.ca. Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  2. Alberta Gazette. Vol. 53 (December 31 ed.). Government of Alberta. 1957. pp. 2, 247–2, 249.
  3. "Albertans Vote 2 to 1 For More Liquor Outlets". Vol L No 273. The Lethbridge Herald. October 31, 1957. pp. 1–2.
  4. "No Sudden Change In Alberta Drinking Habits Is Seen". Vol L No 267. The Lethbridge Herald. October 24, 1957. p. 1.
  5. "Entirely New Act On Liquor". Vol LI No 72. The Lethbridge Herald. March 5, 1968. p. 1.
  6. "Bill 81". Alberta Bills 12th Legislature 1st Session. Government of Alberta. 1958. p. 40.

Further reading

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