Olds was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. The district was mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1909 to 1963. The district was combined with the Didsbury electoral district to form Olds-Didsbury. The district was named after the town of Olds, Alberta.
Olds history
The electoral district of Olds was created and first contested for the 1909 Alberta general election. The electoral district included much of the area of the Rosebud electoral district contested in the 1905 election. The first election was won by Liberal candidate Duncan Marshall, who would roll up a large majority in his first win. Marshall was appointed to the cabinet as Minister of Agriculture and Provincial Secretary shortly after the election.
Marshall was confirmed in a Ministerial by-election romping to an easy win over Socialist Candidate Samuel Welsh later that year.[2] He lost his portfolios as the Alexander Rutherford government fell in 1910 due to the Alberta and Great Waterways Railway scandal. Premier Sifton later re-appointed him to that post.
Marshall nearly lost his seat in the 1913 general election and won by a bigger majority in 1917. He was defeated by Nelson Smith a candidate for the United Farmers of Alberta in a hotly contested race in the 1921 general election, that saw the United Farmers form their first majority government.
Spencer was re-elected to his second term in 1926 and retired from the legislature in 1930. He was replaced by Frank Grisdale, who held the seat for the United Farmers. Grisdale was appointed Minister of Agriculture in 1934 and served in portfolio for one year. Social Credit swept to power in the 1935 general election, Grisdale would be easily defeated by Social Credit candidate Herbert Ash.
Ash would serve a single term in office. He was removed from caucus by the Aberhart controlled Social Credit Advisory Board that nominated candidates and not allowed to run under the Social Credit banner for the 1944 general election.[3] He became an Independent Social Credit candidate and ran anyways. The 1944 general election would see Ash and Grisdale both run as Independents. They were defeated by Social Credit candidate Norman Cook.
Cook held the district for three terms before dying in 1950. Social Credit would field candidate Frederick Niddrie who retained the seat for the party. He was re-elected in the 1952 and 1955 general elections before dying and vacating the seat in 1959. In the third by-election held in the riding Social Credit fielded Roderick Macleod who retained the district for his party.[4] He would be re-elected for the second time in a year in the 1959 general election and kept his seat until the district was abolished in 1963.
Election results
1909 general election
1909 by-election
November 23, 1909 by-election results[4] |
Turnout 50.96% |
Swing |
Affiliation |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
Party |
Personal |
|
Liberal |
Duncan Marshall |
733 |
86.75% |
22.12% |
|
Socialist |
Samuel Welch |
112 |
13.25% |
* |
Total |
845 |
100% |
Rejected, Spoiled and Declined |
Records not kept |
1,668 eligible electors |
|
Liberal hold |
Swing 22.12% |
Duncan Marshall having just been elected to the Legislature was appointed to the cabinet as Minister of Agriculture and Provincial Secretary by Premier Alexander Rutherford. Under election laws in force at the time, a ministerial confirmation by-election had to be called. Marshall was the only new appointment to the Rutherford cabinet after the 1909 general election.
Marshall was unanimously confirmed as the Liberal candidate for the by-election and his portfolio endorsed by the membership at a nomination meeting attended by over 100 delegates on November 3, 1909. Speakers at the meeting included federal MP Michael Clark and Senator Peter Talbot.[6]
The Conservatives decided not to oppose Duncan Marshall, but the Socialist Party led by Charles O'Brien, who had just won their first seat in the 1909 general election decided to run a candidate in Olds to oppose Marshall. O'Brien personally managed and ran the campaign of candidate Samuel Welsh.[7]
The Socialists campaigned primarily a platform of nationalizing all farms to be controlled by the state. They also promoted abolishing wages and private property. The Socialists termed their campaign and supporters as "The Red Revolutionaries".[8]
On election day, the riding saw a significant reduction in voter turnout with a light vote being polled compared to the 1909 general election. Marshall was re-elected with a landslide super majority taking almost 87% of the vote to keep his seat and ministerial post.[2]
1913 general election
1917 general election
1921 general election
1926 general election
1930 general election
1935 general election
1940 general election
1940 Alberta general election results[15] |
Turnout 76.38% |
1st Count Swing |
Affiliation |
Candidate |
1st Count |
% |
2nd Count |
% |
Party |
Personal |
|
Social Credit |
Norman Cook |
2,345 |
45.43% |
2,549 |
50.66% |
-20.65% |
* |
|
Independent |
Frank Grisdale |
2,455 |
47.56% |
2,483 |
49.34% |
* |
|
Independent Social Credit |
Herbert Ash |
362 |
7.01% |
Eliminated |
* |
-59.07% |
Total |
5,162 |
5,032 |
100% |
Exhausted Ballots |
0 |
130 |
Rejected, Spoiled and Declined |
186 |
7,002 eligible electors |
|
Social Credit pickup from Independent Social Credit |
1st Count Swing -39.86% |
1944 general election
1948 general election
1950 by-election
November 16, 1950 by-election results[4] |
Turnout 50.20% |
Swing |
Affiliation |
Candidate |
1st Count |
% |
Party |
Personal |
|
Social Credit |
Frederick Niddrie |
2,132 |
59.19% |
-16.34% |
* |
|
Liberal |
M. Winther |
1,470 |
40.81% |
25.03% |
* |
Total |
3,602 |
100% |
Rejected, Spoiled and Declined |
Unknown |
7,175 eligible electors |
|
Social Credit hold |
Swing -20.69% |
1952 general election
1955 general election
1959 by-election
February 9, 1959 by-election results[4] |
Turnout 62.89% |
Swing |
Affiliation |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
Party |
Personal |
|
Social Credit |
Roderick Macleod |
3,183 |
67.35% |
8.80% |
* |
|
Liberal |
W. Anderson |
1,543 |
32.65% |
-8.80% |
* |
Total |
4,726 |
100% |
Rejected, Spoiled and Declined |
Unknown |
7,515 eligible electors |
|
Social Credit hold |
Swing 8.80% |
1959 general election
Plebiscite results
1957 liquor plebiscite
1957 Alberta liquor plebiscite results: Olds[21] |
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 |
% |
|
No |
3,044 |
61.76% |
|
Yes |
1,164 |
38.24% |
Total Votes |
3,044 |
100% |
Rejected, Spoiled and Declined |
32 |
7,332 Eligible Electors, Turnout 41.95% |
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.[22]
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.[21]
Province wide Question A of the plebiscite passed in 33 of the 50 districts while Question B passed in all five districts. Olds voted against the proposal by a wide margin. The voter turnout in the district was well below the province wide average of 46%.[21]
Official district returns were released to the public on December 31, 1957.[21] The Social Credit government in power at the time did not considered the results binding.[23] However the results of the vote led the government to repeal all existing liquor legislation and introduce an entirely new Liquor Act.[24]
Municipal districts lying inside electoral districts that voted against the Plebiscite such as Olds 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.[25]
Historical boundaries and maps
Olds 1909 Boundaries[26] |
Bordering Districts |
North |
East |
West |
South |
Innisfail |
Stettler |
None |
Cochrane, Didsbury, Rocky Mountain |
Legal description from the Statutes of Alberta 1909, An Act respecting the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. |
riding map goes here |
map in relation to other districts in rural Alberta goes here |
Olds.—Commencing at the intersection of the Red Deer River with the northerly limit of township 34, range 21, west of the 4th meridian; thence west along the northerly limit of the 34th townships to the western boundary of the Province of Alberta; thence in a southerly direction along the said west boundary of the Province of Alberta to the northerly boundary of the 31st township; thence east along the northerly boundary of the said 31st townships to the intersection with the Red Deer River in the 6th range, west of the 5th meridian; thence following the Red Deer River down stream to the north boundary of township 32, range 5, west of the 5th meridian; thence east along the north boundary of the 32nd townships to the north-east corner of township 32, range 3m west of the 5th meridian; thence south along the east boundary of township 32, range 3, west of the 5th meridian to the north-east corner of township 31, range 3, west of the 5th meridian; thence east along the north boundary of the 31st townships to the Red Deer River in the 21st range, west of the 4th meridian; thence northerly up stream along the said Red Deer River to the point of commencement. |
Note: Boundaries came into force in 1909. |
Olds 1913 Boundaries[27] |
Bordering Districts |
North |
East |
West |
South |
Innisfail |
Hand Hills, Stettler |
Edson, Rocky Mountain |
Cochrane, Didsbury, |
Legal description from the Statutes of Alberta 1913, An Act to Amend the Act respecting the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. |
riding map goes here |
map in relation to other districts in rural Alberta goes here |
Olds.—Commencing at the intersection of the Red Deer River with the north limit of township 34, range 21, west of the 4th meridian; thence west along the north boundary of the 34th townships to the north-east corner of township 34, range 8 west of the 5th meridian; thence south along the meridian line between ranges 7 and 8, west of the 5th meridian to the north-east corner of township 31, range 8, west of the 5th meridian; thence east along the north boundary of the 31st townships to the intersection with the Red Deer River in range 6, west of the 5th meridian; thence following the Red Deer River downstream to the north boundary of township 32, range 5, west of the 5th meridian; thence east along the north boundary of the 32nd townships to the north-east corner of township 32, range 3, west of the 5th meridian; thence south along the east boundary of township 32, range 3, west of the 5th meridian to the north-east corner of township 31, range 3, west of the 5th meridian; thence east along the north boundary of the 31st townships to the Red Deer River in range 21, west of the 4th meridian; thence north up stream along said Red Deer River to the point of commencement. |
Note: Boundaries came into force in 1913 and remained unchanged until 1930. |
Olds 1930 Boundaries[28] |
Bordering Districts |
North |
East |
West |
South |
Innisfail |
Hand Hills, Stettler |
Edson, Rocky Mountain |
Cochrane, Didsbury, |
Legal description from the Statutes of Alberta 1930, An Act to Amend the Act respecting the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. |
riding map goes here |
map in relation to other districts in rural Alberta goes here |
Olds.—Commencing at the intersection of the Red Deer River with the north boundary of township 34, in range 21, west of the 4th meridian; thence west along the said north boundary of township 34, in range 31, west of the 4th meridian, to the meridian line between ranges 7 and 8, west of the 5th meridian to the north boundary of township 31; thence east along the said north boundary of townships 31 to the intersection with the Red Deer River in range 21, west of the 4th meridian; thence northerly up stream along the said Red Deer River to the point of commencement. |
Note: Boundaries came into force in 1930. |
Olds 1939 Boundaries[29] |
Bordering Districts |
North |
East |
West |
South |
Red Deer, Rocky Mountain House |
Hand Hills, Stettler |
Banff-Cochrane, Rocky Mountain House |
Didsbury, |
Legal description from the Statutes of Alberta 1939, An Act to Amend The Legislative Assembly of Alberta. |
riding map goes here |
map in relation to other districts in rural Alberta goes here |
"Electoral Division of Olds, the boundary whereof is as follows: Commencing at the north-east corner of township 34, range 9, west of the 5th meridian; thence east along the north boundary of township 34, ranges 8 to 1 inclusive, west of the 5th meridian and ranges 29 to 21 inclusive, west of the 4th meridian to the intersection with Red Deer River; thence in a generally southerly direction downstream along the Red Deer River to the intersection with the north boundary of township 31, range 21, west of the 4th meridian; thence west along the north boundary of township 31, ranges 21 to 29, west of the 4th meridian and ranges 1 to 8, inclusive, west of the 5th meridian to the north-east corner of township 31, range 9, west of the 5th meridian; thence north along the meridian between ranges 8 and 9, west of the 5th meridian, to the point of commencement. |
Note: Boundaries came into force in 1940. |
Olds 1950 Boundaries[30] |
Bordering Districts |
North |
East |
West |
South |
Red Deer, Rocky Mountain House |
Hand Hills, Stettler |
Rocky Mountain House |
Didsbury, Drumheller |
Legal description from the Statutes of Alberta 1950, An Act to amend The Legislative Assembly Act. |
riding map goes here |
map in relation to other districts in rural Alberta goes here |
"Electoral Division of Olds, the boundary whereof is as follows: Commencing at the north-east corner of township 34, range 9, west of the 5th meridian; thence southerly along the meridian between ranges 8 and 9 to the north-east corner of township 31, range 9, west of the 5th meridian; thence easterly along the north boundary of township 31, ranges 8 to 1 inclusive, west of the 5th meridian to an intersection with the left bank of the Red Deer River; thence in a generally northerly direction along the said left bank to its intersection with the north boundary of township 34, range 21, west of the 4th meridian; thence westerly along the north boundary of township 34, ranges 21 to 29 inclusive, west of the 4th meridian and ranges 1 to 8 inclusive, west of the 5th meridian to the point of commencement. |
Note: Boundaries came into force in 1952. |
Olds 1955 Boundaries[31] |
Bordering Districts |
North |
East |
West |
South |
Red Deer, Rocky Mountain House |
Hand Hills, Stettler |
Rocky Mountain House |
Didsbury, Drumheller |
Legal description from the Statutes of Alberta 1955, An Act to amend The Legislative Assembly Act. |
riding map goes here |
map in relation to other districts in rural Alberta goes here |
Note: Boundaries description remained unchanged from 1950. |
References
- ↑ "Members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta 1905-2006" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 30, 2007. Retrieved 2009-05-20.
- 1 2 "D. Marshal Swamped Welsh". 292 (The Lethbridge Daily Herald). November 24, 1909. p. 1.
- ↑ "S.C. Row in Olds riding". Vol XXXIII No. 76 (The Lethbridge Daily Herald). March 9, 1940. pp. 1, 3.
- 1 2 3 4 "Past By-Election results". Elections Alberta. Retrieved 2009-05-17.
- ↑ "Olds results 1909 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved 2009-05-17.
- ↑ "The Liberal Convention". Vol. VIII No. 45 (The Olds Gazette). November 5, 1909. p. 1.
- ↑ "Some Questions for O'Brien's Brand of Socialism to Answer". Vol VIII No. 47 (The Olds Gazette). November 19, 1909. p. 1.
- ↑ R.F. Page (November 19, 1909). "Berrydale Socialist Meeting". Vol VIII No. 47 (The Olds Gazette). p. 1.
- ↑ "Olds results 1913 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved 2009-05-17.
- ↑ "Olds results 1917 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved 2009-05-17.
- ↑ "Olds results 1921 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved 2009-05-17.
- ↑ "Olds results 1926 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved 2009-05-17.
- ↑ "Olds results 1930 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved 2009-05-17.
- ↑ "Olds results 1935 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved 2009-05-17.
- ↑ "Olds results 1940 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved 2009-05-17.
- ↑ "Olds results 1944 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved 2009-05-17.
- ↑ "Olds results 1948 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved 2009-05-17.
- ↑ "Olds results 1952 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved 2009-05-17.
- ↑ "Olds results 1955 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved 2009-05-17.
- ↑ "Olds results 1959 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved 2009-05-17.
- 1 2 3 4 Alberta Gazette 53 (December 31 ed.). Government of Alberta. 1957. pp. 2,247–2,249.
- ↑ "Albertans Vote 2 to 1 For More Liquor Outlets". Vol L No 273 (The Lethbridge Herald). October 31, 1957. pp. 1–2.
- ↑ "No Sudden Change In Alberta Drinking Habits Is Seen". Vol L No 267 (The Lethbridge Herald). October 24, 1957. p. 1.
- ↑ "Entirely New Act On Liquor". Vol LI No 72 (The Lethbridge Herald). March 5, 1968. p. 1.
- ↑ "Bill 81". Alberta Bills 12th Legislature 1st Session. Government of Alberta. 1958. p. 40.
- ↑ "2". Statutes of the Province of Alberta. Government of Alberta. 1909. pp. 29–30.
- ↑ "2". Statutes of the Province of Alberta. Government of Alberta. 1913. p. 25.
- ↑ "14". Statutes of the Province of Alberta. Government of Alberta. 1930. pp. 88–89.
- ↑ "94". Statutes of the Province of Alberta. Government of Alberta. 1939. p. 432.
- ↑ "36". Statutes of the Province of Alberta. Government of Alberta. 1950. p. 211.
- ↑ "62". Statutes of the Province of Alberta. Government of Alberta. 1955. p. 380.
External links
Coordinates: 51°47′34″N 114°06′24″W / 51.79278°N 114.10667°W / 51.79278; -114.10667