Beaver River (provincial electoral district)

Beaver River is a former Alberta provincial electoral district centred on the town of Lac La Biche, mandated to elect a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. It was created in 1913 from the western half of Pakan, and abolished in 1952 when it and the northern parts of Athabasca were replaced by Lac La Biche.

Representation history

Beaver River's first MLA was Liberal Wilfrid Gariépy, a Quebec-born settler whose residency would be the subject of controversy toward the end of his second term. He did not run for a third, choosing instead to return to Trois-Rivières. Liberal Joseph Dechêne won the riding in 1921, but would go on to defeat in 1926. He later became MLA for neighbouring St. Paul.

John Delisle picked Beaver River up for the United Farmers of Alberta, serving only one term. In the 1930 election, a judicial recount declared him narrowly defeated by Liberal Henry Dakin, who would also serve only one term.

In the 1935 Social Credit sweep, Lucien Maynard won Beaver River by a landslide. He easily won re-election twice more, retiring for the 1948 election.

Social Credit kept the riding, with Harry Lobay narrowly beating his Liberal challenger and serving out the riding's last term. It was replaced in 1952, but Lobay would go on to serve another term as MLA for the new riding of Lac La Biche.

Election results

1910s

Following contemporary convention, when Gariépy was appointed to cabinet as Minister of Municipal Affairs, he stood in a by-election. Since no candidates chose to oppose him, however, he was acclaimed.

1920s

1930s

Totals and swing for 1930 are based on the initial count; a judicial recount sided in favour of Dakin.

1940s

Overall swing is based on first count. Second-round swing reflects increase in vote share from the first count.

References

External links

• The Legislative Assembly of Alberta