Edmonton municipal election, 1955

The 1955 municipal election was held October 19, 1955 to elect five aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council (William Hawrelak was acclaimed for a third term as mayor) and six trustees to sit on the public school board (Amby Lenon, Andre Dechene, Orest Demco, and Catherine McGrath were acclaimed to two-year terms on the separate board). 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 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 and Herbert Turner were elected to one-year terms. On the separate board, there were four vacancies, as James O'Hara, Adrian Crowe, and John Kane were continuing.

Voter turnout

There were 14248 ballots cast out of 126990 eligible voters, for a voter turnout of 11.2%.

Results

(bold indicates elected, italics indicate incumbent)

Mayor

Party Candidate Votes
Citizens' CommitteeWilliam Hawrelak Acclaimed

Aldermen

Party Candidate Votes Elected
Citizens' CommitteeAbe Miller 11,773   Green tick
Citizens' CommitteeCliffard Roy 11,539 SS Green tick
Citizens' CommitteeHu Harries 10,343 SS Green tick
Citizens' CommitteeJames Falconer 10,207   Green tick
Citizens' CommitteeWilliam Connelly 9,679   Green tick
IndependentCharles Simmonds 8,467 SS
IndependentTempest Aitken 5,945 SS
IndependentGeorge Solomon 3,289

Public school trustees

Party Candidate Votes Elected
Citizens' CommitteeMary Butterworth 10,639 SS Green tick
Citizens' CommitteeHerbert Smith 10,240 SS Green tick
Citizens' CommitteeJames Hanna 9,290   Green tick
Citizens' CommitteeWilliam Henning 8,982 SS Green tick
Citizens' CommitteeJohn Thorogood 8,907 SS Green tick
Citizens' CommitteeHerbert Turner 7,352   Green tick
IndependentLouis Broten 3,713
IndependentDavid Graham 6,562
IndependentLaura Tuomi 3,167

Separate (Catholic) school trustees

Party Candidate Votes Elected
IndependentAmby Lenon Acclaimed Green tick
IndependentAndre Dechene Acclaimed Green tick
IndependentOrest Demco Acclaimed Green tick
IndependentCatherine McGrath Acclaimed Green tick

Plebiscites

Paving

Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $320,000.00 for the City share of standard paving of arterial and residential streets?

Asphalt Surfacing I

Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $300,000.00 for the City share of asphalt surfacing on gravel for existing gravelled roads?

Asphalt Surfacing II

Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $400,000.00 for the City share of asphalt surfacing on gravel for new roads at various locations within the City?

Bridge

Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $2,000,000.00 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?

Zoo

Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $400,000.00 for the establishment and development in Laurier Park of a Zoo including provisions for sewer, water, roads, buildings, structures, animals, and necessary equipment?

Miscellaneous Neighbourhood Improvements

Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $250,000.00 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?

Library

Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $75,000.00 for the establishment, improvement, extension of library facilities including construction of a new building?

Health Clinic

Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $60,000.00 for the purpose of a health clinic to look after inoculations, also the supervision of babies and pre-school children and preventative dental services?

Royal Alexandra Hospital (New Building)

Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $700,000.00 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?

Swimming Pool

Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $250,000.00 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?

References

City of Edmonton: Edmonton Elections