George Dinsdale
Encyclopedia
George Dinsdale was a politician in Manitoba
, Canada
. He served as a Conservative
representative in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
from 1932 until his death.
Dinsdale was educated at Rise
, a village about three miles south-east of Leven, and came to Canada in 1904. He served six years as an alderman
in Brandon, Manitoba
, and served as the city's mayor
in 1920 and 1921. Dinsdale was also the owner of Dinsdale Cartage, and was a member of the Salvation Army
.
In Brandon's 1919 mayoralty campaign, Dinsdale presented himself as a "labour man", though noting he had opposed the recent general strike
in the city. Albert E. Smith, a prominent labour organizer and later a Member of the Legislative Assembly
, contended that Dinsdale was actually a candidate of the city's conservative interests. With support from pro-development groups, he defeated incumbent mayor Harry Cater.
As mayor, Dinsdale presided over sharp tax increases and a burgeoning bank overdraft. He was re-elected as mayor in 1920, but lost to Harry Cater in 1921. Cater again defeated Dinsdale in 1922, despite Dinsdale's popularity among the city's ethnic communities.
Dinsdale was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1932 provincial election
, defeating three other opponents in the constituency of Brandon. In the 1936 election
, he was re-elected over Liberal-Progressive
candidate H.O. McDiarmid by 770 votes. The Conservatives were Manitoba's primary opposition party in this period, and Dinsdale sat with his party on the opposition benches.
In 1940, the Conservatives entered into a coalition government
which included the governing Liberal-Progressives and two smaller parties. Dinsdale was re-elected in the 1941 election
as a pro-coalition Conservative, defeating McDiarmid a second time by a reduced margin.
Dinsdale died in 1943. His son, Walter Dinsdale
, was later a federal cabinet minister in the government of John Diefenbaker
. Both father and son used the campaign slogan, "Has Served, is Serving and Will Serve".
Annie Fairhurst published a work entitled From Pig-Pen to Parliament: George Dinsdale, O.F. in 1949.
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, 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 Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba is the only right wing political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is also the official opposition party in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.-Origins and early years:...
representative in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba and the lieutenant governor form the Legislature of Manitoba, the legislature of the Canadian province of Manitoba. Fifty-seven members are elected to this assembly in provincial general elections, all in single-member constituencies with first-past-the-post...
from 1932 until his death.
Dinsdale was educated at Rise
Rise, East Riding of Yorkshire
Rise is a village and civil parish in Holderness, the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately east of the town of Beverley and south west of Hornsea. It lies to the east of the B1243 road....
, a village about three miles south-east of Leven, and came to Canada in 1904. He served six years as an alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
in Brandon, Manitoba
Brandon, Manitoba
Brandon is the second largest city in Manitoba, Canada, and is located in the southwestern area of the province. Brandon is the largest city in the Westman region of Manitoba. The city is located along the Assiniboine River. Spruce Woods Provincial Park and CFB Shilo are a relatively short distance...
, and served as the city's mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
in 1920 and 1921. Dinsdale was also the owner of Dinsdale Cartage, and was a member of the Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
.
In Brandon's 1919 mayoralty campaign, Dinsdale presented himself as a "labour man", though noting he had opposed the recent general strike
General strike
A general strike is a strike action by a critical mass of the labour force in a city, region, or country. While a general strike can be for political goals, economic goals, or both, it tends to gain its momentum from the ideological or class sympathies of the participants...
in the city. Albert E. Smith, a prominent labour organizer and later a Member of the Legislative Assembly
Member of the Legislative Assembly
A Member of the Legislative Assembly or a Member of the Legislature , is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national jurisdiction....
, contended that Dinsdale was actually a candidate of the city's conservative interests. With support from pro-development groups, he defeated incumbent mayor Harry Cater.
As mayor, Dinsdale presided over sharp tax increases and a burgeoning bank overdraft. He was re-elected as mayor in 1920, but lost to Harry Cater in 1921. Cater again defeated Dinsdale in 1922, despite Dinsdale's popularity among the city's ethnic communities.
Dinsdale was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1932 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1932
Manitoba's general election of June 16, 1932 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This was the second election in Manitoba where the single transferable ballot was used in all electoral divisions...
, defeating three other opponents in the constituency of Brandon. In the 1936 election
Manitoba general election, 1936
Manitoba's general election of July 27, 1936 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.The was the second election in Manitoba after the formation of a Liberal-Progressive alliance in 1932...
, he was re-elected over Liberal-Progressive
Manitoba Liberal Party
The Manitoba Liberal Party is a political party in Manitoba, Canada. Its roots can be traced to the late nineteenth-century, following the province's creation in 1870.-Origins and early development :...
candidate H.O. McDiarmid by 770 votes. The Conservatives were Manitoba's primary opposition party in this period, and Dinsdale sat with his party on the opposition benches.
In 1940, the Conservatives entered into a coalition government
Coalition government
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
which included the governing Liberal-Progressives and two smaller parties. Dinsdale was re-elected in the 1941 election
Manitoba general election, 1941
Manitoba's general election of April 22, 1941 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This election was held shortly after the formation of a coalition government in December 1940...
as a pro-coalition Conservative, defeating McDiarmid a second time by a reduced margin.
Dinsdale died in 1943. His son, Walter Dinsdale
Walter Dinsdale
Walter Gilbert Dinsdale, PC, DFC was a Canadian politician.Born in Brandon, Manitoba, he graduated from Brandon College and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1937 from McMaster University...
, was later a federal cabinet minister in the government of John Diefenbaker
John Diefenbaker
John George Diefenbaker, PC, CH, QC was the 13th Prime Minister of Canada, serving from June 21, 1957, to April 22, 1963...
. Both father and son used the campaign slogan, "Has Served, is Serving and Will Serve".
Annie Fairhurst published a work entitled From Pig-Pen to Parliament: George Dinsdale, O.F. in 1949.