1955 Edmonton municipal election

The 1955 municipal election was held October 19, 1955, to elect five aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and six trustees to sit on the public school board, while the mayor and four trustees for the separate school board were acclaimed. 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 (SS) 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 (SS) and Herbert Turner were elected to one-year terms. On the separate board, there were four vacancies, as James O'Hara, Adrian Crowe (SS), and John Kane were continuing.

Voter turnout

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There were 14,248 ballots cast out of 126,990 eligible voters, for a voter turnout of 11.2%.

Results

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Mayor

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Party Candidate Votes
Citizens' Committee William Hawrelak Acclaimed

Aldermen

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Party Candidate Votes Elected
Citizens' Committee Abe Miller 11,773   Green tickY
Citizens' Committee Cliffard Roy 11,539 SS Green tickY
Citizens' Committee Hu Harries 10,343 SS Green tickY
Citizens' Committee James Falconer 10,207   Green tickY
Citizens' Committee William Connelly 9,679   Green tickY
Independent Charles Simmonds 8,467 SS
Independent Tempest Aitken 5,945 SS
Independent George Solomon 3,289

Public school trustees

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Party Candidate Votes Elected
Citizens' Committee Mary Butterworth 10,639 SS Green tickY
Citizens' Committee Herbert Smith 10,240 SS Green tickY
Citizens' Committee James Hanna 9,290   Green tickY
Citizens' Committee William Henning 8,982 SS Green tickY
Citizens' Committee John Thorogood 8,907 SS Green tickY
Citizens' Committee Herbert Turner 7,352   Green tickY
Independent Louis Broten 3,713
Independent David Graham 6,562
Independent Laura Tuomi 3,167

Separate (Catholic) school trustees

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Party Candidate Votes Elected
Independent Amby Lenon Acclaimed SS Green tickY
Independent Andre Dechene Acclaimed Green tickY
Independent Orest Demco Acclaimed Green tickY
Independent Catherine McGrath Acclaimed Green tickY

Plebiscites

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  • Financial plebiscite items required a minimum two-thirds "Yes" majority to bring about action

Paving

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Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $320,000 for the City share of standard paving of arterial and residential streets?

  • Yes - 9,764
  • No - 1,072

Asphalt Surfacing I

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Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $300,000 for the City share of asphalt surfacing on gravel for existing gravelled roads?

  • Yes - 9,490
  • No - 1,136

Asphalt Surfacing II

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Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $400,000 for the City share of asphalt surfacing on gravel for new roads at various locations within the City?

  • Yes - 8,930
  • No - 1,427

Bridge

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

  • Yes - 7,884
  • No - 3,030

Zoo

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Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $400,000 for the establishment and development in Laurier Park of a Zoo including provisions for sewer, water, roads, buildings, structures, animals, and necessary equipment?

  • Yes - 8,699
  • No - 2,184

Miscellaneous Neighbourhood Improvements

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Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $250,000 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?

  • Yes - 8,724
  • No - 2,764

Library

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Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $75,000 for the establishment, improvement, extension of library facilities including construction of a new building?

  • Yes - 7,418
  • No - 2,764

Health Clinic

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Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $60,000 for the purpose of a health clinic to look after inoculations, also the supervision of babies and pre-school children and preventative dental services?

  • Yes - 9,419
  • No - 1,251

Royal Alexandra Hospital (New Building)

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Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $700,000 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?

  • Yes - 7,704
  • No - 2,851

Swimming Pool

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Shall Council pass a bylaw creating a debenture debt in the sum of $250,000 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?

  • Yes - 6,997
  • No - 3,477

References

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