Banff (provincial electoral district)

Banff was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada, mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta using the first past the post method of voting from 1905 to 1909, and again from 1975 to 1979.[1]

Banff
Alberta electoral district
Defunct provincial electoral district
LegislatureLegislative Assembly of Alberta
District created1905
District abolished1909
District re-created1975
District re-abolished1979
First contested1905
Last contested1975

History

The Banff electoral district has existed twice, both time for a single election period. Banff 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 Banff electoral district which returned a single member to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories from 1891 to 1905.[2]

The riding disappeared only one election later when it was merged into the newly formed Rocky Mountain Riding. The second incarnation was when Banff-Cochrane was renamed Banff during the 1975 re-distribution, it was changed back to Banff-Cochrane prior to the 1979 election.[3]

The riding was named after the town of Banff, Alberta and Banff National Park.

Banff representation history
Members of the Legislative Assembly for Banff[4]
Assembly Years Member Party
See Banff (N.W.T.) 1891-1905
1st 1905–1909 Charles W. Fisher Liberal
See Rocky Mountain, Okotoks and Cochrane 1909-1940
See Banff-Cochrane 1940-1979
18th 1975–1979 Frederick Kidd PC
See Banff-Cochrane 1979-2019

Election results

1905 general election

The first incarnation of the Banff electoral district in Alberta was created in 1905 when Alberta was created into a province separate from the Northwest Territories. The electoral district replaced the old Banff territorial electoral district that had previously been represented in the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories from 1891 to 1905.[5] Banff during that era was defining itself as a destination for tourists due to its natural environment. The electoral district also saw growth as mining camps were springing up forming a fertile pocket for the socialist movement. Howard Douglas would serve as Returning Officer.

The electoral district was hotly contested and the race was closely watched around the province. The electoral district had two well known candidates and political veterans. Charles Wellington Fisher the provincial Liberal candidate had been serving as a Northwest Territories MLA supporting the Haultain government for the old Banff electoral district since winning a by-election on February 4, 1903. He was opposed by Conservative candidate Robert George Brett who had also been a Northwest Territories MLA starting in 1888 and represented the Banff electoral district from its creation in 1891 to 1899.[5]

Brett was a pioneer medical doctor who was heavily involved in the early history of the town of Banff having moved to the site in 1883 and founding a sanitarium.[6]

On election night the results came back; Fisher had defeated Brett by winning a slim 58 majority of the 784 votes cast. The Conservative party was disappointed with the result as the district had been one of their best hopes to pick up.

1905 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%
LiberalCharles W. Fisher42153.70%
ConservativeRobert George Brett36346.30%
Total 784–
Rejected, spoiled and declined N/A–
Eligible electors / turnout N/A–
Liberal pickup new district.
Source(s)
Source: "Banff Official Results 1905 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1975 general election
1975 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%
Progressive ConservativeFred Kidd5,22169.24%
Social CreditMerlyn Kirk1,12914.97%
New DemocraticWayne Getty7379.77%
LiberalMorna Schechtel4536.01%
Total 7,540–
Rejected, spoiled and declined 35–
Eligible electors / turnout 12,18662.16%
Source(s)
Source: "Banff Official Results 1975 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

See also

References
  1. "Election results for Banff". abheritage.ca. Wayback Machine: Heritage Community Foundation. Archived from the original on December 8, 2010. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  2. "North-West Territories: Council and Legislative Assembly, 1876-1905" (PDF). Saskatchewan Archives. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-09-30.
  3. "Election results for Banff. Year: 1905 - 2001". abheritage.ca. Heritage Community Foundation. Archived from the original on 8 December 2010. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  4. "Members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta 1905-2006" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 30, 2007. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
  5. "History of the Northwest Territories Legislature 1876-1905" (PDF). Saskatchewan Archives. p. 22. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-04-11. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
  6. "The Honourale Dr. Robert G. Brett". Alberta Heritage Foundation. Retrieved 2008-10-08.

Further reading

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