Harry Dean Ainlay

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This page discusses a Canadian politician. For the school of the same name, see Harry Ainlay Composite High School.

Harry Dean Ainlay (January 3, 1887 – 1970) was a prominent educator and politician. He was the mayor of Edmonton, Alberta from 1946 to 1949.

Ainlay was born in Brussels, Ontario, but soon moved west with his father who was a carpenter. He eventually started his own real estate business on Jasper Avenue in the heart of downtown Edmonton. He then went on to receive his teaching certificate and served as vice-principal of the Queen Alexandra School and principal of the Garneau and Strachcona high schools (all in Edmonton). He then entered politics and was elected alderman on the Edmonton City Council from 1932-1935 and from 1942-1945. He eventually became mayor of Edmonton from 1946-1949. While in office, he officially extended the mayoral term from one year to two and also introduced Daylight Savings into Edmonton while the rest of the province stayed on Standard time. He then moved British Columbia and tried for a seat in the B.C. legislature for the Dewdney constituency under the CCF in the 1952 B.C. election, but was defeated. A high school was officially named after him in Edmonton on Nov 25, 1966. Also he has left a $500 legacy to the best academic achieving student in Harry Ainlay Composite High School.