| George Wilbert Smith | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of Red Deer | |
| In office 1916–1918 |
|
| Preceded by | John Carswell |
| Succeeded by | William Lord |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta | |
| In office July 18, 1921 – August 1, 1931 |
|
| Preceded by | John Gaetz |
| Succeeded by | William Payne |
| Constituency | Red Deer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 24, 1855 Maitland, Nova Scotia |
| Died | August 1, 1931 (aged 76) Red Deer, Alberta |
| Political party | United Farmers |
| Occupation | teacher politician |
George Wilbert Smith (April 24, 1855 – August 1, 1931)[1] was a teacher, businessman and politician on the municipal and provincial levels of government in Alberta, Canada. He served various posts on the city of Red Deer, Alberta council and as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1921 until his death in 1931 sitting with the United Farmers caucus in government.
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George Wilbert Smith was born in 1855 in the town of Maitland, Nova Scotia.[2] He moved west to the Northwest Territories settling in the Red Deer area in 1883. Smith became the first school teacher in central Alberta.[2]
Smith was also a business man. He founded and served as a director on the Smith Lead Company Ltd. and also served on the board of directors for the Western General Electric Company.[2]
Smith served as an Alderman on Red Deer city council for several years before becoming the mayor in 1916. He held the mayoralty until 1918.[2]
Smith ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature in the 1921 Alberta general election as a candidate under the United Farmers banner. He defeated incumbent John Gaetz in a two way race with a landslide majority to pick up the Red Deer electoral district for his party.[3]
Smith ran for a second term in the 1926 Alberta general election. He ran against Gaetz for the second time and Conservative candidate William Payne in a hotly contested three way race. Smith defeated Payne on the second vote count to hold his seat.[4]
Smith ran for a third term in office in the 1930 Alberta general election. He faced Payne for the second time in a two way race. The race was very close with Payne finishing 88 votes behind.[5]
Smith's health started to decline, he was hospitalized in Red Deer, Alberta in July 1931 due to ailing kidney's. He died on August 1, 1931 of a heart seizure shortly before he was to have surgery for his condition.[2]