Joseph Carey (Canadian politician)

Joseph Carey
Mayor of Victoria, British Columbia
In office
1883–1884
Preceded by Charles Redfern
Succeeded by Robert Rithet
Personal details
Occupation land surveyor

Joseph W. Carey was a Canadian politician, who served as mayor of Victoria, British Columbia in 1883 and 1884. Prior to his election to the mayoralty, Carey worked as a land surveyor.[1]

During his mayoralty, sheriff James MacMillan entered city hall in 1884, seizing city property, including petty cash and councillors' office furnishings, after Carey refused to pay an $870 legal bill owed by the city.[2] The seized furnishings and equipment were placed for public auction, which ended when Daily Colonist editor David Higgins and private citizen Joseph Spratt paid the outstanding bill.[2]

He was defeated in the next municipal election.[2] He subsequently returned to his work as a surveyor, and also owned several properties in downtown Victoria, one of which was in operation for several years as a brothel.[3]

References

  1. Patrick A. Dunae, John S. Lutz, Donald J. Lafreniere and Jason A. Gilliland, "Making the Inscrutable, Scrutable: Race and Space in Victoria’s Chinatown, 1891". BC Studies, Vol 169 (Spring 2011). pp. 51-80.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 "The little city hall that grew" Victoria Times-Colonist, July 29, 2012.
  3. Patrick A. Dunae, "Geographies of sexual commerce and the production of prostitutional space: Victoria, British Columbia, 1860–1914". Journal of the Canadian Historical Association, Vol. 19, No. 1 (2008). pp. 115-142.