George Wilbert Smith
| George Wilbert Smith | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Mayor of Red Deer | |
|
In office 1916–1918 | |
| Preceded by | John Carswell |
| Succeeded by | William Lord |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta | |
|
In office July 18, 1921 – August 1, 1931 | |
| Preceded by | John Gaetz |
| Succeeded by | William Payne |
| Constituency | Red Deer |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
April 24, 1855 Maitland, Nova Scotia |
| Died |
August 1, 1931 (aged 76) Red Deer, Alberta |
| Political party | United Farmers |
| Occupation | teacher politician |
George Wilbert Smith (April 24, 1855 – August 1, 1931)[1] was a teacher, businessman and politician on the municipal and provincial levels of government in Alberta, Canada. He served various posts on the Red Deer City Council and as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1921 until his death in 1931 sitting with the United Farmers caucus in government.
Early life
George Wilbert Smith was born in 1855 in the town of Maitland, Nova Scotia.[2] He moved west to the Northwest Territories settling in the Red Deer area in 1883. Smith became the first school teacher in central Alberta.[2]
Smith was also a business man. He founded and served as a director on the Smith Lead Company Ltd. and also served on the board of directors for the Western General Electric Company.[2]
Political career
Municipal
Smith served as an Alderman on Red Deer City Council for several years before becoming the mayor in 1916. He held the mayoralty until 1918.[2]
Provincial
Smith ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature in the 1921 Alberta general election as a candidate under the United Farmers banner. He defeated incumbent John Gaetz in a two way race with a landslide majority to pick up the Red Deer electoral district for his party.[3]
Smith ran for a second term in the 1926 Alberta general election. He ran against Gaetz for the second time and Conservative candidate William Payne in a hotly contested three way race. Smith defeated Payne on the second vote count to hold his seat.[4]
Smith ran for a third term in office in the 1930 Alberta general election. He faced Payne for the second time in a two way race. The race was very close with Payne finishing 88 votes behind.[5]
Smith's health started to decline, he was hospitalized in Red Deer, Alberta in July 1931 due to ailing kidney's. He died on August 1, 1931 of a heart seizure shortly before he was to have surgery for his condition.[2]
References
- ↑ Normandin, P.G.; Normandin, A.L. (1922). Guide Parlementaire Canadien. Gale Canada. ISSN 0315-6168. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Member For Red Deer George W. Smith Succumbs". Vol XXIV No 197. The Lethbridge Herald. August 1, 1931. p. 1.
- ↑ "Red Deer Official Results 1921 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved March 4, 2010.
- ↑ "Red Deer Official Results 1926 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved March 4, 2010.
- ↑ "Red Deer Official Results 1930 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved March 4, 2010.