Victoria (Alberta provincial electoral district)

Victoria was one of the original 25 provincial electoral districts in Alberta, named for Fort Victoria on the North Saskatchewan River. It was mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta by the first past the post method until 1917, and by alternative vote from 1926 until it was abolished in 1940.

History

Boundary history

The riding was created in 1905 when Alberta became a province, extending northeast from Edmonton to the Saskatchewan border along the north side of the North Saskatchewan.

In 1909 the riding had a significant shift west in boundaries, moving into Sturgeon. The eastern section became the new district of Pakan, named for the town at Fort Victoria. The riding's namesake was therefore in another district.

Victoria disappeared in 1940 when the north half was split into Redwater and the south half merged with Whitford to create Willingdon.

Representation history

Victoria's first MLA was Francis A. Walker, who served as a backbencher with the Liberal government for all four terms it was in power. In 1917, he was returned to the Legislature by acclamation because the province declared all active servicemen in World War I re-elected.

However, in 1921 William Fedun, a Ukrainian immigrant, narrowly defeated Walker to capture Victoria for the upstart United Farmers of Alberta, which formed government after the election. He chose to retire after one term.

UFA candidate Rudolph Hennig again narrowly won Victoria in 1926 on the second count, despite another strong challenge from Walker. He served one term but did not win the UFA nomination in the next election.

1930 saw the closest election yet in Victoria, with UFA candidate Peter Miskew defeating his Liberal opponent by less than 100 votes. However, Miskew would almost immediately cross the floor to the Liberal opposition.

When the United Farmers were swept out of power in 1935, Social Credit candidate Samuel Calvert, another WWI veteran, easily captured Victoria for his party. After his first term, Victoria was abolished in time for the 1940 election, and Calvert chose to retire from politics.

Election results

1900s

The returning officer for the 1905 election in Victoria was Albert Ernest Archer.^[2]

In 1909, no candidates stood against Francis Walker, and he was declared acclaimed.

1910s

1913 swing is calculated from the 1905 election.

In 1917, because Walker was an active serviceman in World War I, he was automatically re-elected by acclamation for a second time.

1920s

1921 swing is calculated from the 1913 election.

For the 1926 election, the UFA government introduced alternative vote in rural constituencies. Since no candidate won a majority in the first round, second preferences were included.

Final count swing represents vote share increase from the initial count. Overall swing is calculated from the initial count.

1930s

References

External links

• Website of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta