Edmonton-Centre

Edmonton-Centre formerly styled Edmonton Centre from 1959 to 1971 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 1959 to 2019.[1]

Edmonton-Centre
Alberta electoral district
2010 boundaries
Defunct provincial electoral district
LegislatureLegislative Assembly of Alberta
District created1957
District abolished2019
First contested1959
Last contested2015

History

The electoral district of Edmonton-Centre was created in the 1957 boundary redistribution that saw the ridings of Edmonton and Calgary broken up into single member electoral districts when the province reintroduced first past the post.

The 2010 electoral boundary re-distribution kept the riding mostly the same as 2003 except for a realignment on the eastern boundary where it was pushed back to 104 Street instead of completely running along 97 Street like it did before the change.[2]

Boundary history

Electoral history

Members of the Legislative Assembly for
Edmonton-Centre
Assembly Years Member Party
See Edmonton 1921-1959
14th 1959–1963 Ambrose Holowach Social Credit
15th 1963–1967
16th 1967–1971
17th 1971–1975 Gordon Miniely Progressive
Conservative
18th 1975–1979
19th 1979–1982 Mary LeMessurier
20th 1982–1986
21st 1986–1989 William Roberts New Democrat
22nd 1989–1993
23rd 1993–1997 Michael Henry Liberal
24th 1997–2001 Laurie Blakeman
25th 2001–2004
26th 2004–2008
27th 2008–2012
28th 2012–2015
29th 2015–2019 David Shepherd New Democrat
See Edmonton-City Centre after 2019

The electoral district of Edmonton-Centre is currently the oldest continuous active provincial electoral district in the city of Edmonton. It has a long history going back to 1959 when the single transferable vote super districts of Edmonton and Calgary were abolished in favor of single member districts.

Over the years, candidates from four different parties have been elected in the district without being able to return after being defeated. From 1959 to 1986 the riding returned MLA's sitting with governing parties in Alberta while the later years past 1986 MLA's have been returned from the official opposition.

The first elected MLA was Social Credit candidate Ambrose Holowach who had previously served as a Member of Parliament sitting with the federal wing of Social Credit from 1953-1958. Holowach was re-elected twice more and served a ministerial portfolio as Provincial Secretary in the governments of Ernest Manning and Harry Strom from 1962 to 1971.

The 1971 election would bring great change to the province and to Edmonton-Centre. Holowach did not run for re-election and the riding was won by Progressive Conservative candidate Gordon Miniely. His party would form government for the first time that year and Miniely would serve in the Peter Lougheed cabinet until he retired from office after his second term in 1979.

Mary LeMessurier would be the third elected representative of the riding. First elected in 1979 she would also be appointed to cabinet like her two predecessors before her. She served as Minister of Culture in the Lougheed government and kept her portfolio briefly after Don Getty became Premier in 1985. She would run for re-election in 1986 but face a stunning defeat by NDP candidate William Roberts.

The NDP party would form the official opposition after electing a record size caucus in 1986. Roberts held his office for two terms before retiring in 1993. That election saw the NDP vote collapse in the district and across the province with NDP candidate Kay Hurtig finishing third place.

After the NDP defeat from opposition in 1993 and the surge of the Liberal party under Laurence Decore the district became a Liberal stronghold, with Michael Henry becoming the first MLA for his party. Henry did not run a second term in office in the 1997 election. The new Liberal candidate was Laurie Blakeman who held the district with a reduced majority.

In the 2015 Alberta General Election NDP Candidate David Shepherd was elected with 54% of the vote.

Legislature results

1959 general election

1959 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Social CreditAmbrose Holowach3,91246.74%
Progressive ConservativeGerard Amerongen2,18526.11%
LiberalLaurette Douglas1,68420.12%
Co-operative CommonwealthRobert Atkin5897.04%
Total 8,370
Rejected, spoiled and declined 38
Eligible electors / turnout 15,35754.75%
Social Credit pickup new district.
Source(s)
Source: "Edmonton-Centre Official Results 1959 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1963 general election

1963 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Social CreditAmbrose Holowach3,37847.70%0.96%
Progressive ConservativeGerard Amerongen1,49221.07%-5.04%
LiberalJoesph A. Tannous1,21917.21%-2.91%
New DemocraticAlex Szchechina99314.02%6.98%
Total 7,082
Rejected, spoiled and declined 21
Eligible electors / turnout 15,21146.70%-8.05%
Social Credit hold Swing 3.00%
Source(s)
Source: "Edmonton-Centre Official Results 1963 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1967 general election

1967 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Social CreditAmbrose Holowach3,14639.53%-8.17%
Progressive ConservativeHarold W. Veale2,55832.14%11.08%
New DemocraticHenry Tomaschuk1,31316.50%2.48%
LiberalJoseph A. Tannous7479.39%-7.83%
IndependentG.A. (Pat) O'Hara1942.44%
Total 7,958
Rejected, spoiled and declined 83
Eligible electors / turnout 15,90450.56%3.86%
Social Credit hold Swing -9.62%
Source(s)
Source: "Edmonton-Centre Official Results 1967 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1971 general election

1971 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeGordon Miniely5,28158.48%26.33%
Social CreditGerry Mulhall2,62229.03%-10.50%
New DemocraticLinda Gaboury93110.31%-6.19%
LiberalLeonard Stahl1972.18%-7.21%
Total 9,031
Rejected, spoiled and declined 38
Eligible electors / turnout 13,00869.72%19.16%
Progressive Conservative gain from Social Credit Swing 11.03%
Source(s)
Source: "Edmonton-Centre Official Results 1971 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1975 general election

1975 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeGordon Miniely3,99662.08%3.60%
New DemocraticBarry Roberts1,12517.48%7.17%
LiberalEd Molstad93014.45%12.27%
Social CreditGerry Beck3866.00%-23.04%
Total 6,437
Rejected, spoiled and declined 30
Eligible electors / turnout 13,64547.39%-22.32%
Progressive Conservative hold Swing 7.58%
Source(s)
Source: "Edmonton-Centre Official Results 1975 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1979 general election

1979 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeMary LeMessurier4,55054.39%-7.69%
New DemocraticHarry Cassidy Midgley2,27327.17%9.70%
Social CreditRobert J. (Bob) Dunseith83810.02%4.02%
LiberalLeonard Stahl7048.42%-6.03%
Total 8,365
Rejected, spoiled and declined 32
Eligible electors / turnout 17,66547.53%0.14%
Progressive Conservative hold Swing -8.69%
Source(s)
Source: "Edmonton-Centre Official Results 1979 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1982 general election

1982 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeMary LeMessurier5,41449.90%-4.49%
New DemocraticIain Taylor3,57832.98%5.80%
LiberalBrian McKercher8497.82%-0.59%
Western Canada ConceptLarry McIlroy8127.48%
Social CreditLawlor J. McKenna1971.82%-8.20%
Total 10,850
Rejected, Spoiled and Declined 39
Eligible electors / Turnout 17,70161.52%13.98%
Progressive Conservative hold Swing -5.15%
Source(s)
Source: "Edmonton-Centre Official Results 1982 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1986 general election

1986 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
New DemocraticWilliam Roberts3,97642.03%9.05%
Progressive ConservativeMary LeMessurier3,81640.33%-9.56%
LiberalDouglas Haydock1,38414.63%6.80%
Western Canada ConceptFred Marshall1821.92%-5.56%
IndependentLeonard Stahl1031.09%
Total 9,461
Rejected, Spoiled and Declined 30
Eligible electors / Turnout 20,14447.12%-14.40%
New Democratic gain from Progressive Conservative Swing -7.62%
Source(s)
Source: "Edmonton-Centre Official Results 1986 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1989 general election

1989 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
New DemocraticWilliam Roberts4,44041.88%-0.14%
Progressive ConservativeDon Clarke3,21730.35%-9.99%
LiberalMary Molloy2,82126.61%11.98%
IndependentCarol Pylypow720.68%-0.41%
IndependentLeonard Stahl510.48%-0.61%
Total 10,601
Rejected, Spoiled and Declined 21
Eligible electors / Turnout 20,34452.21%5.10%
New Democratic hold Swing 4.92%
Source(s)
Source: "Edmonton-Centre Official Results 1989 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1993 general election

1993 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalMichael Henry5,65647.59%20.98%
Progressive ConservativeJohn Wheelwright3,41828.76%-1.59%
New DemocraticKay Hurtig2,34319.71%-22.17%
Social CreditWes Warren2021.70%
Natural LawRic Johnsen950.80%
IndependentClayton Leigh Van Horne830.70%
IndependentJohn R. Lakusta480.40%
IndependentCarol Lena Pylypow400.34%
Total 11,885
Rejected, Spoiled and Declined 41
Eligible electors / Turnout 22,30853.46%1.25%
Liberal gain from New Democratic Swing 3.65%
Source(s)
Source: "Edmonton-Centre Official Results 1993 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1997 general election

1997 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalLaurie Blakeman4,76943.96%-3.63%
Progressive ConservativeDon Weideman3,63433.50%4.74%
New DemocraticJenn Smith1,84517.01%-2.71%
Social CreditAlan Cruikshank4203.87%2.17%
ForumEmil van der Poorten980.90%
Natural LawRichard Johnsen830.77%-0.03%
Total 10,849
Rejected, Spoiled and Declined 43
Eligible electors / Turnout 20,90752.10%-1.36%
Liberal hold Swing -4.18%
Source(s)
Source: "Edmonton-Centre Official Results 1997 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

2001 general election

2001 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalLaurie Blakeman5,09544.01%0.06%
Progressive ConservativeDon J. Weideman4,44638.41%4.91%
New DemocraticDavid Eggen1,95916.92%-0.08%
CommunistNaomi Rankin760.66%
Total 11,576
Rejected, Spoiled and Declined 74
Eligible electors / Turnout 22,64851.44%-0.66%
Liberal hold Swing -2.43%
Source(s)
Source: "Edmonton-Centre Official Results 2001 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

2004 general election

2004 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalLaurie Blakeman6,20357.07%13.06%
Progressive ConservativeDon Weideman2,62224.12%-14.28%
New DemocraticMary Elizabeth Archer1,31912.14%-4.79%
GreensDavid J. Parker3333.06%
Alberta AllianceTony Caterina2802.58%
Social CreditLinda Clements1121.03%
Total 10,869
Rejected, Spoiled and Declined 81
Eligible electors / Turnout 22,36248.97%-2.47%
Liberal hold Swing 13.67%
Source(s)
Source: "Edmonton-Centre Official Results 2004 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

2008 general election

2008 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalLaurie Blakeman5,04244.98%-12.09%
Progressive ConservativeBill Donahue3,29129.36%5.23%
New DemocraticDeron Bilous2,16319.30%7.16%
GreenDavid J. Parker4724.21%
Wildrose AllianceJames Iverson2001.78%
Alberta PartyMargaret Saunter420.37%
Total 11,210
Rejected, Spoiled and Declined 78
Eligible electors / Turnout 30,33537.21%-11.76%
Liberal hold Swing -8.66%
Source(s)

2012 general election

2012 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalLaurie Blakeman5,62640.37%-4.61%
Progressive ConservativeAkash Khokhar4,29630.82%1.47%
New DemocraticNadine Bailey2,25716.19%-3.10%
WildroseBarb de Groot1,75812.61%10.83%
Total 13,937
Rejected, Spoiled and Declined 102
Eligible electors / Turnout 28,35849.51%12.30%
Liberal hold Swing -3.04%
Source(s)

2015 general election

2015 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
New DemocraticDavid Shepherd8,98354.39%38.19%
LiberalLaurie Blakeman4,19925.42%-14.95%
Progressive ConservativeCatherine Keill2,22813.49%-17.34%
WildroseJoe Byram7724.67%-7.94%
IndependentGreg Keating2951.79%
IndependentRory Joe Koopmans400.24%
Total 16,517
Rejected, Spoiled and Declined 64
Eligible electors / Turnout 34,97647.41%-2.10%
New Democratic gain from Liberal Swing 9.71%
Source(s)

Senate nominee results

2004 Senate nominee election district results

2004 Senate nominee election results: Edmonton-Centre[4] Turnout 48.64%
Affiliation Candidate Votes % Votes % Ballots Rank
Progressive ConservativeBetty Unger3,32515.69%44.45%2
  Independent Link Byfield 3,211 15.15% 42.92% 4
  Independent Tom Sindlinger 2,520 11.89% 33.69% 9
Progressive ConservativeBert Brown2,30410.87%30.80%1
Progressive ConservativeCliff Breitkreuz2,0049.46%26.79%3
Alberta Alliance Michael Roth 1,759 8.30% 23.51% 7
Progressive ConservativeDavid Usherwood1,6467.77%22.00%6
Alberta Alliance Vance Gough 1,515 7.15% 20.25% 8
Alberta Alliance Gary Horan 1,502 7.09% 20.08% 10
Progressive ConservativeJim Silye1,4066.63%18.79%5
Total Votes 21,192 100%
Total Ballots 7,481 2.83 Votes Per Ballot
Rejected, Spoiled and Declined 3,395

Voters had the option of selecting 4 Candidates on the Ballot

Student Vote results

2004 election

Participating Schools[5]
Centre High School
Oliver School
Victoria School of Performing and Visual Arts

On November 19, 2004 a Student Vote was conducted at participating Alberta schools to parallel the 2004 Alberta general election results. The vote was designed to educate students and simulate the electoral process for persons who have not yet reached the legal majority. The vote was conducted in 80 of the 83 provincial electoral districts with students voting for actual election candidates. Schools with a large student body that reside in another electoral district had the option to vote for candidates outside of the electoral district then where they were physically located.

2004 Alberta Student Vote results[6]
Affiliation Candidate Votes %
  NDP Mary Elizabeth Archer 218 37.65%
  Liberal Laurie Blakeman 152 26.25%
Green David Parker 103 17.79%
Progressive ConservativeDon Weideman6611.40%
Alberta AllianceTony Caterina223.80%
Social CreditLinda Clements183.11%
Total 579 100%
Rejected, Spoiled and Declined 10

2012 election

2012 Alberta Student Vote results
Affiliation Candidate Votes %
Progressive ConservativeAkash Khokhar%
WildroseBarb de Groot
  Liberal Laurie Blakeman %
  NDP Nadine Bailey %
Total 100%

See also

References

  1. "Election results for Edmonton-Centre". abheritage.ca. Heritage Community Foundation. Archived from the original on 8 December 2010. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  2. Alberta Electoral Boundaries Commission (June 2010). "Proposed Electoral Division Areas, Boundaries, and Names for Alberta. Final Report to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  3. Electoral Divisions Act, S.A. 2003, c. E-4.1
  4. "Senate Nominee Election 2004 Tabulation of Official Results" (PDF). Elections Alberta. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 4, 2009. Retrieved February 28, 2010.
  5. "School by School results". Student Vote Canada. Archived from the original on October 5, 2007. Retrieved 2008-04-18.
  6. "Riding by Riding Results - the Candidates". Student Vote Canada. Archived from the original on October 6, 2007. Retrieved 2008-04-19.

Further reading

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