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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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Cardston (provincial Electoral District)

Cardston was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada, mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1905 to 1993.

History

Members of the Legislative Assembly for Cardston
Assembly Years Member Party
1st  1905–1909     John William Woolf Liberal
2nd  1909–1912
 1912–1913 Martin Woolf
3rd  1913–1917
4th  1917–1921
5th  1921–1926     George L. Stringam United Farmers
6th  1926–1930
7th  1930–1935
8th  1935–1940     Nathan Eldon Tanner Social Credit
9th  1940–1944
10th  1944–1948
11th  1948–1952
12th  1952–1955 Edgar W. Hinman
13th  1955–1959
14th  1959–1963
15th  1963–1967
16th  1967–1971 Alvin F. Bullock
17th  1971–1975 Edgar W. Hinman
18th  1975–1979     John Thompson Progressive Conservative
19th  1979–1982
20th  1982–1986
21st  1986–1989 Jack Ady
22nd  1989–1993
See Cardston-Chief Mountain electoral district from 1993-1997

Cardston was one of the original 25 electoral districts contested in the 1905 Alberta general election upon Alberta joining Confederation in September 1905. The district was carried over from the old Cardston electoral district which returned a single member to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories from 1902 to 1905. The member for the Northwest Territories seat, John William Woolf would be elected in the 1905 Alberta general election.

The riding has always occupied the most southern portion of the province along the Canada / United States border.

The Cardston electoral district was abolished in the 1993 electoral boundary re-distribution, with the borders of the Pincher Creek-Crowsnest electoral district shifted south into Cardston, and the district was renamed Cardston-Chief Mountain.

The riding was named after the Town of Cardston and this region is considered one of the most conservative in the province.

Boundary history

Election results

1905

The 1905 election was between Liberal candidate John William Woolf and Conservative candidate John Parrish. Woolf was well known rancher and politician in the area. He had served as the district representative in the Northwest Territories Legislature from 1902 to 1905. Woolf also served briefly on the local government as a municipal councilor in the town of Cardston. Woolf won the district on election day easily defeating Parish with a landslide taking nearly 70% of the popular vote.

1905 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John William Woolf 480 69.57%
Conservative John F. Parrish 210 30.43%
Total 690
Rejected, spoiled and declined N/A
Eligible electors / turnout 690 N/A
Liberal pickup new district.
Source(s)
Source: "Cardston Official Results 1905 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1909

1909 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John William Woolf 521 57.44% -12.12%
Conservative Levi Harker 386 42.56% 12.12%
Total 907
Rejected, spoiled and declined N/A
Eligible electors / turnout N/A N/A
Liberal hold Swing -12.12%
Source(s)
Source: "Cardston Official Results 1909 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1912 by-election

Alberta provincial by-election, May 27, 1912
Upon John William Woolf's resignation
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Martin Woolf 671 55.78% -1.68%
Conservative John F. Parrish 532 44.22% 1.68%
Total 1,203
Rejected, spoiled and declined N/A
Eligible electors / turnout N/A N/A
Liberal hold Swing
Source(s)
"By-elections". elections.ab.ca. Elections Alberta. Retrieved June 24, 2020.

1913

1913 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Liberal Martin Woolf 518 51.96%
Conservative C. Jensen 479 48.04%
Total 997
Source(s)
Source: "Cardston Official Results 1913 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1917

1917 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Martin Woolf 972 56.38% 4.42%
Conservative W. G. Smith 752 43.62% -4.42%
Total 1,724
Rejected, spoiled and declined N/A
Eligible electors / turnout 2,213 77.90% 0.91%
Liberal hold Swing 4.42%
Source(s)
Source: "Cardston Official Results 1917 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1921

1921 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
United Farmers George L. Stringham 1,340 68.54%
Liberal Martin Woolf 615 31.46% -24.92%
Total 1,955
Rejected, spoiled and declined N/A
Eligible electors / turnout 2,465 79.31% 1.41%
United Farmers gain from Liberal Swing 12.16%
Source(s)
Source: "Cardston Official Results 1921 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1926

1926 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
United Farmers George L. Stringham 1,328 55.20% -13.35%
Liberal W. H. Caldwell 598 24.85% -6.60%
Conservative J. Y. Card 480 19.95%
Total 2,406
Rejected, spoiled and declined 126
Eligible electors / turnout 3,269 77.45% -1.86%
United Farmers hold Swing -3.37%
Source(s)
Source: "Cardston Official Results 1926 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1930

1930 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
United Farmers George L. Stringham 1,364 62.31% 7.12%
Liberal R. Christie 825 37.69% 12.83%
Total 2,189
Rejected, spoiled and declined 48
Eligible electors / turnout 3,420 65.41% -12.05%
United Farmers hold Swing -2.86%
Source(s)
Source: "Cardston Official Results 1930 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1935

1935 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Social Credit Nathan Eldon Tanner 2,027 66.18%
United Farmers George L. Stringham 565 18.45% -43.87%
Liberal D. O. Wight 471 15.38% -22.31%
Total 3,063
Rejected, spoiled and declined 129
Eligible electors / turnout 3,344 95.45% 30.05%
Social Credit gain from United Farmers Swing 11.55%
Source(s)
Source: "Cardston Official Results 1935 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1940

1940 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Social Credit Nathan Eldon Tanner 2,160 54.44% -11.74%
Independent S. H. Nelson 1,808 45.56%
Total 3,968
Rejected, spoiled and declined 79
Eligible electors / turnout 4,941 81.91% -13.55%
Social Credit hold Swing -19.43%
Source(s)
Source: "Cardston Official Results 1940 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1944

1944 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Social Credit Nathan Eldon Tanner 2,104 64.44% 10.01%
Independent William G. Matson 592 18.13% -27.43%
Co-operative Commonwealth Edward Leavitt 569 17.43%
Total 3,265
Rejected, spoiled and declined 20
Eligible electors / turnout 4,549 72.21% -9.69%
Social Credit hold Swing 18.72%
Source(s)
Source: "Cardston Official Results 1944 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1948

1948 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Social Credit Nathan Eldon Tanner 1,981 67.73% 3.29%
Liberal Briant W. Stringam 944 32.27%
Total 2,925
Rejected, spoiled and declined 127
Eligible electors / turnout 5,089 59.97% -12.24%
Social Credit hold Swing -5.43%
Source(s)
Source: "Cardston Official Results 1948 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1952

1952 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Social Credit Edgar W. Hinman 2,011 76.15% 8.42%
Liberal Gordon Gregson 630 23.85% -8.42%
Total 2,641
Rejected, spoiled and declined 99
Eligible electors / turnout 4,891 56.02% -3.95%
Social Credit hold Swing 8.42%
Source(s)
Source: "Cardston Official Results 1952 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1955

1955 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Social Credit Edgar W. Hinman 1,813 64.80% -11.35%
Liberal John F. Webster 985 35.20% 11.35%
Total 2,798
Rejected, spoiled and declined 81
Eligible electors / turnout 4,661 61.77% 5.75%
Social Credit hold Swing -11.35%
Source(s)
Source: "Cardston Official Results 1955 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1959

1959 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Social Credit Edgar W. Hinman 2,205 73.60% 8.80%
Progressive Conservative John A. Spencer 791 26.40%
Total 2,996
Rejected, spoiled and declined 7
Eligible electors / turnout 4,537 66.19% 4.42%
Social Credit hold Swing 8.80%
Source(s)
Source: "Cardston Official Results 1959 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1963

1963 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Social Credit Edgar W. Hinman 2,527 68.08% -5.52%
Liberal John F. Webster 1,035 27.88%
New Democratic Colin H. Holt 150 4.04%
Total 3,712
Rejected, spoiled and declined 4
Eligible electors / turnout 6,623 56.11% -10.08%
Social Credit hold Swing -3.50%
Source(s)
Source: "Cardston Official Results 1963 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1967

1967 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Social Credit Alvin F. Bullock 2,120 47.23% -20.85%
Progressive Conservative Larry L. Lang 1,692 37.69%
Independent Robert D. Burt 573 12.76%
New Democratic Leslie N. Howard 104 2.32% -1.72%
Total 4,489
Rejected, spoiled and declined 11
Eligible electors / turnout 7,251 62.06% 5.95%
Social Credit hold Swing -15.33%
Source(s)
Source: "Cardston Official Results 1967 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1971

1971 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Social Credit Edgar W. Hinman 2,831 54.20% 6.98%
Progressive Conservative Larry L. Lang 2,392 45.80% 8.11%
Total 5,223
Rejected, spoiled and declined 63
Eligible electors / turnout 8,975 58.90% -3.16%
Social Credit hold Swing -0.56%
Source(s)
Source: "Cardston Official Results 1971 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1975

1975 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative John Thompson 2,899 59.90% 14.10%
Social Credit Roy Sprackman 1,826 37.73% -16.48%
New Democratic Kelty Paul 115 2.38%
Total 4,840
Rejected, spoiled and declined 10
Eligible electors / turnout 8,538 56.80% -2.09%
Progressive Conservative gain from Social Credit Swing 6.88%
Source(s)
Source: "Cardston Official Results 1975 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1979

1979 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative John Thompson 2,832 53.99% -5.90%
Social Credit Broyce G. Jacobs 2,196 41.87% 4.14%
Liberal Paul Shaw 115 2.19%
New Democratic Rosemarie M. Buchanan 102 1.94% -0.43%
Total 5,245
Rejected, spoiled and declined 10
Eligible electors / turnout 8,944 58.75% 1.95%
Progressive Conservative hold Swing -5.02%
Source(s)
Source: "Cardston Official Results 1979 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1982

1982 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative John Thompson 3,738 59.36% 5.37%
Western Canada Concept Steve Pinchak 2,309 36.67%
New Democratic Leslie Howard 250 3.97% 2.03%
Total 6,297
Rejected, spoiled and declined 24
Eligible electors / turnout 9,761 64.76% 6.00%
Progressive Conservative hold Swing 5.28%
Source(s)
Source: "Cardston Official Results 1982 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1986

1986 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Jack Ady 2,679 60.28% 0.92%
Independent Steve Pinchak 1,376 30.96%
New Democratic Cynthia Cunningham 389 8.75% 4.78%
Total 4,444
Rejected, spoiled and declined 15
Eligible electors / turnout 9,641 46.25% -18.51%
Progressive Conservative hold Swing 3.31%
Source(s)
Source: "Cardston Official Results 1986 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1989

1989 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Jack Ady 3,483 74.63% 14.35%
Liberal Beth Wendorff 667 14.29%
New Democratic Don Ferguson 517 11.08% 2.32%
Total 4,667
Rejected, spoiled and declined 13
Eligible electors / turnout 8,105 57.74% 11.49%
Progressive Conservative hold Swing 15.51%
Source(s)
Source: "Cardston Official Results 1989 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

Plebiscite results

1948 electrification plebiscite

District results from the first province wide plebiscite on electricity regulation.

Option A Option B
Are you in favour of the generation and distribution of electricity being continued by the Power Companies? Are you in favour of the generation and distribution of electricity being made a publicly owned utility administered by the Alberta Government Power Commission?
1,268 votes (46.00%) 1,488 votes (54.00%)
Province wide result: Option A passed.

1957 liquor plebiscite

1957 Alberta liquor plebiscite results: Cardston
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 1,786 79.06%
Yes 473 20.94%
Total votes 2,259 100%
Rejected, spoiled and declined 13
4,296 eligible electors, turnout 52.89%%

On October 30, 1957 a stand-alone plebiscite was held province wide in all 50 of the 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.

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.

Province wide Question A of the plebiscite passed in 33 of the 50 districts while Question B passed in all five districts. Cardston recorded the strongest vote in the province against expanded sale of liquor, this was likely due to the strong Mormon communities in the district, which had made Cardston a dry city since 1904. The district also recorded a strong voter turnout. It was well above the province wide average of 46 percent.

Official district returns were released to the public on December 31, 1957. At first the Social Credit government said it did not consider the results binding, but soon the government repealed the existing liquor legislation and introduced an entirely new Liquor Act.

A majority in Cardston were opposed and prohibition was in effect in the town until 2023. Municipal districts lying inside electoral districts that voted against expanded liquor sales such as Cardston 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.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Election results for Cardston". abheritage.ca. Wayback Machine: Heritage Community Foundation. Archived from the original on December 8, 2010. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  2. ^ "North-West Territories: Council and Legislative Assembly, 1876-1905" (PDF). Saskatchewan Archives. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2007. Retrieved September 30, 2007.
  3. ^ "Chapter 3: An Act to establish and provide for the government of the Province of Alberta". Statutes of Canada. Government of Canada. July 20, 1905. p. 84.
  4. ^ "History of the Northwest Territories Legislature 1876-1905" (PDF). Saskatchewan Archives. p. 22. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 11, 2008. Retrieved August 10, 2008.
  5. ^ Shaw, Keith. Chief mountain country : a history of Cardston and district. Cardston and District Historical Society. p. 86.
  6. ^ "Cardston Official Results 1905 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Foundation. Archived from the original on June 12, 2011. Retrieved August 10, 2008.
  7. ^ Alberta Gazette. Vol. 53 (December 31 ed.). Government of Alberta. 1957. pp. 2, 247–2, 249.
  8. ^ "Albertans Vote 2 to 1 For More Liquor Outlets". Vol L No 273. The Lethbridge Herald. October 31, 1957. pp. 1–2.
  9. ^ Edmonton Bulletin, Jan. 26, 1907
  10. ^ "No Sudden Change In Alberta Drinking Habits Is Seen". Vol L No 267. The Lethbridge Herald. October 24, 1957. p. 1.
  11. ^ "Entirely New Act On Liquor". Vol LI No 72. The Lethbridge Herald. March 5, 1968. p. 1.
  12. ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/cardston-plebiscite-liquor-sales-1.6813460
  13. ^ https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/cardston-alberta-ends-alcohol-prohibition
  14. ^ "Bill 81". Alberta Bills 12th Legislature 1st Session. Government of Alberta. 1958. p. 40.

Further reading

49°12′N 113°18′W / 49.2°N 113.3°W / 49.2; -113.3