.gif)
Charles Gibbs (Alberta politician)
Encyclopedia
Charles Lionel Gibbs was a politician in Alberta
, Canada
. He served as a municipal councillor in Edmonton
from 1924 until his death and, concurrently, a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
from 1926 until his death.
, Monmouthshire
, Wales
and was educated at Surrey
and Oxford
, training as an architect. He immigrated to Canada in 1907, and established an architecture firm in Edmonton, Barnes and Gibbs, that same year. He also taught at the Edmonton Technical High School, and chaired the city's Parks Commission in 1912.
, when he ran for alderman on the Edmonton City Council
. He finished ninth of eleven candidates, and was not elected (the top five were). After this, he did not seek election again until 1914
, when he was elected as a school trustee. He served his two year term in this position, but did not seek re-election at its conclusion.
In the 1924 election
, Gibbs was elected as an alderman running on the Labour
slate, finishing fourth of eleven candidates. He finished first of twelve candidates in his 1926 re-election attempt
, and was similarly re-elected in the 1928
(first of fourteen candidates), 1930
(second of twelve), and 1932
(first of fifteen) re-election attempts. While on city council, he participated in Labour's first de facto
majority on Council (while Labour only had five aldermen - Gibbs, L.S.C. Dineen, James East
, Alfred Farmilo, and James Findlay - a sixth, Rice Sheppard
had been elected as independent labour candidate as was sympathetic to Labour's views). He was still in office at the time of his death.
in the riding of Edmonton
during the 1926 provincial election
. At the time, the riding had five seats, elected using a single transferable vote
electoral system. On the first count, he finished ninth of eighteen candidates; however, on subsequent counts the redistribution of votes from defeated candidates made him the third of five candidates elected. He was re-elected in the 1930 election
, when he finished third of seventeen candidates on the first count as was also the third of six candidates elected. He was still an MLA at the time of his death in 1934.
, Ontario
, while on a tour of eastern Canada.
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He served as a municipal councillor in Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
from 1924 until his death and, concurrently, a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
Legislative Assembly of Alberta
The Legislative Assembly of Alberta is one of two components of the Legislature of Alberta, the other being the Queen, represented by the Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta. The Alberta legislature meets in the Alberta Legislature Building in the provincial capital, Edmonton...
from 1926 until his death.
Early life
Gibbs was born November 11, 1877, in NewportNewport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
, Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire (historic)
Monmouthshire , also known as the County of Monmouth , is one of thirteen ancient counties of Wales and a former administrative county....
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and was educated at Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
and Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, training as an architect. He immigrated to Canada in 1907, and established an architecture firm in Edmonton, Barnes and Gibbs, that same year. He also taught at the Edmonton Technical High School, and chaired the city's Parks Commission in 1912.
Edmonton municipal politics
Gibbs first sought elected office in the 1910 electionEdmonton municipal election, 1910
The 1910 municipal election was held December 12, 1910 for the purpose of electing a mayor and five aldermen to sit on the Edmonton City Council, as well as three public school trustees and five separate school trustees...
, when he ran for alderman on the Edmonton City Council
Edmonton City Council
The Edmonton City Council is the governing body of the City of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.Members represent wards throughout the city, and are known as councillors. Until 2010, Edmonton was divided in six wards with two councillors representing citizens in each ward...
. He finished ninth of eleven candidates, and was not elected (the top five were). After this, he did not seek election again until 1914
Edmonton municipal election, 1914
The 1914 municipal election was held December 14, 1914 to elect a mayor and six aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and three trustees to sit on each of the public and separate school boards....
, when he was elected as a school trustee. He served his two year term in this position, but did not seek re-election at its conclusion.
In the 1924 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1924
The 1924 municipal election was held December 8, 1924 to elect a mayor and five aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and three trustees to sit on each of the public and separate school boards....
, Gibbs was elected as an alderman running on the Labour
Labour candidates and parties in Canada
There have been various groups in Canada that have nominated candidates under the label Labour Party or Independent Labour Party or other variations from the 1870s until the 1960s...
slate, finishing fourth of eleven candidates. He finished first of twelve candidates in his 1926 re-election attempt
Edmonton municipal election, 1926
The 1926 municipal election was held December 13, 1926 to elect a mayor and six aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and three trustees to sit on the public school board...
, and was similarly re-elected in the 1928
Edmonton municipal election, 1928
The 1928 municipal election was held December 10, 1928 to elect a mayor and six aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and three trustees to sit on the public school board...
(first of fourteen candidates), 1930
Edmonton municipal election, 1930
The 1930 municipal election was held November 12, 1930 to elect a mayor and five aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and four trustees to sit on the public school board ....
(second of twelve), and 1932
Edmonton municipal election, 1932
The 1932 municipal election was held November 9, 1932 to elect a mayor and five aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and three trustees to sit on the public school board ....
(first of fifteen) re-election attempts. While on city council, he participated in Labour's first de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
majority on Council (while Labour only had five aldermen - Gibbs, L.S.C. Dineen, James East
James East
James East was a politician and labour activist in Alberta, Canada. He was for a time and the longest-serving alderman in Edmonton's history, and was a defeated candidate at the provincial and federal levels. He was also an ardent monetary reformer.-Early life:East was born in Bolton, Ontario on...
, Alfred Farmilo, and James Findlay - a sixth, Rice Sheppard
Rice Sheppard
Rice Sheppard was a politician and farmers' activist in Alberta, Canada. He served on Edmonton City Council for many years, ran for mayoral, provincial, and federal office, and was an executive member of the United Farmers of Alberta.-Early life:Sheppard was born April 2, 1861 in Lambourn,...
had been elected as independent labour candidate as was sympathetic to Labour's views). He was still in office at the time of his death.
Provincial politics
Gibbs sought provincial office as a member of the Labour PartyLabour candidates and parties in Canada
There have been various groups in Canada that have nominated candidates under the label Labour Party or Independent Labour Party or other variations from the 1870s until the 1960s...
in the riding of Edmonton
Edmonton (provincial electoral district)
Edmonton provincial electoral district existed in two incarnations from 1905 - 1909 and again from 1921 - 1955. The district was created when Alberta first became a province....
during the 1926 provincial election
Alberta general election, 1926
The Alberta general election of 1926 was the sixth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 28, 1926 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. The writs of election were issued on May 10, 1926 allowing for an election period of 40 days.After Herbert...
. At the time, the riding had five seats, elected using a single transferable vote
Single transferable vote
The single transferable vote is a voting system designed to achieve proportional representation through preferential voting. Under STV, an elector's vote is initially allocated to his or her most preferred candidate, and then, after candidates have been either elected or eliminated, any surplus or...
electoral system. On the first count, he finished ninth of eighteen candidates; however, on subsequent counts the redistribution of votes from defeated candidates made him the third of five candidates elected. He was re-elected in the 1930 election
Alberta general election, 1930
The Alberta general election of 1930 was the seventh general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 19, 1930 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
, when he finished third of seventeen candidates on the first count as was also the third of six candidates elected. He was still an MLA at the time of his death in 1934.
Death
Charles Gibbs died September 5, 1934, in Sault Ste. MarieSault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Sault Ste. Marie is a city on the St. Marys River in Algoma District, Ontario, Canada. It is the third largest city in Northern Ontario, after Sudbury and Thunder Bay, with a population of 74,948. The community was founded as a French religious mission: Sault either means "jump" or "rapids" in...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, while on a tour of eastern Canada.