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
There were 14,248 ballots cast out of 126,990 eligible voters, for a voter turnout of 11.2%.
Results
- bold or
- italics indicate incumbent
- "SS", where data is available, indicates representative for Edmonton's South Side, with a minimum South Side representation instituted after the city of Strathcona, south of the North Saskatchewan River, amalgamated into Edmonton on February 1, 1912.
Mayor
| Party | Candidate | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citizens' Committee | William Hawrelak | Acclaimed | |
Aldermen
| Party | Candidate | Votes | Elected | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citizens' Committee | Abe Miller | 11,773 | | ||
| Citizens' Committee | Cliffard Roy | 11,539 | SS | | |
| Citizens' Committee | Hu Harries | 10,343 | SS | | |
| Citizens' Committee | James Falconer | 10,207 | | ||
| Citizens' Committee | William Connelly | 9,679 | | ||
| Independent | Charles Simmonds | 8,467 | SS | ||
| Independent | Tempest Aitken | 5,945 | SS | ||
| Independent | George Solomon | 3,289 | |||
Public school trustees
| Party | Candidate | Votes | Elected | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citizens' Committee | Mary Butterworth | 10,639 | SS | | |
| Citizens' Committee | Herbert Smith | 10,240 | SS | | |
| Citizens' Committee | James Hanna | 9,290 | | ||
| Citizens' Committee | William Henning | 8,982 | SS | | |
| Citizens' Committee | John Thorogood | 8,907 | SS | | |
| Citizens' Committee | Herbert Turner | 7,352 | | ||
| Independent | Louis Broten | 3,713 | |||
| Independent | David Graham | 6,562 | |||
| Independent | Laura Tuomi | 3,167 | |||
Separate (Catholic) school trustees
| Party | Candidate | Votes | Elected | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Amby Lenon | Acclaimed | SS | | |
| Independent | Andre Dechene | Acclaimed | | ||
| Independent | Orest Demco | Acclaimed | | ||
| Independent | Catherine McGrath | Acclaimed | | ||
Plebiscites
- Financial plebiscite items required a minimum two-thirds "Yes" majority to bring about action
Paving
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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)
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
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