Harold E. Tanner
Encyclopedia
Harold E. Tanner was a service man, teacher and Canadian politician. He served as an elected representative on both the civic and provincial levels of government in the province of Alberta
. He served as an Alderman on Edmonton City Council
from 1946 to 1955. He later served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
from 1952 to 1959 sitting with the Liberal caucus in opposition.
, Ontario
in 1893. He served overseas with the 49th Battalion in World War I
. After the war Tanner moved to Alberta
and became a teacher and later a school principal. He worked at schools in Wetaskiwin and Stettler
. He moved to Edmonton
in 1928 and began working with the public school board until he retired in 1958. Tanner was also President of the Royal Canadian Legion
.
in the 1946 Edmonton municipal election
. He won the third place seat out of the six available in the field of thirteen candidate. Tanner first term would only be a year on council instead of the regular two year term due to a previous Alderman vacating his seat.
Tanner ran for a second term in office in the 1947 Edmonton municipal election
. He was very close to finishing in first place in the field of thirteen candidates just 89 votes behind the leader Armour Ford. He won a full two year term.
Tanner ran for a third term in the 1949 Edmonton municipal election
. This time Tanner surpassed Ford in popular vote to head the poles in the nine candidate race.
Tanner ran for a fourth term in office in the 1951 Edmonton municipal election
. For the second time, Tanner headed the polls finish first with a commanding plurality over the field of thirteen candidates.
After one year into his fourth term, Tanner won a seat to the Alberta Legislature in 1952. He decided to keep his municipal seat. Tanner ran for re-election to his fifth term in the 1953 Edmonton municipal election
. He once again finished in first place easily winning re-election.
Tanner did not re-offer for election leaving city council in 1957.
as a Liberal candidate in the electoral district of Edmonton. He won the seventh place seat on the final vote count to earn his first term in provincial office.
Tanner ran for a second term in office in the 1955 Alberta general election
. He placed significantly better, this time making the vote threshold and winning the fourth place seat.
Tanner retired from provincial politics at dissolution of the Assembly in 1959.
, British Columbia
in 1966 and lived the rest of his life there. He died on June 28, 1982. The streets of Tanner Link and Tanner Wynd in the community of Terwillegar Towne
Edmonton were named in his honor.
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...
. He served as an Alderman on 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...
from 1946 to 1955. He later served as 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 1952 to 1959 sitting with the Liberal caucus in opposition.
Early life
Harold E. Tanner was born in TillsonburgTillsonburg, Ontario
Tillsonburg is a town in Oxford County, Ontario, Canada.Tillsonburg is a town of 14,822 located about 50 kilometres southeast of London, on Highway 3 at the junction of Highway 19 the closest route to Highway 401 at Ingersoll, Ontario...
, 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....
in 1893. He served overseas with the 49th Battalion in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. After the war Tanner moved to Alberta
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...
and became a teacher and later a school principal. He worked at schools in Wetaskiwin and Stettler
Stettler, Alberta
Stettler is a town in Alberta, Canada. It is located east of Red Deer at the junction of Highway 12 and Highway 56. The town is located in the eastern region of central Alberta and nicknamed "The Heart of Alberta."- History :...
. He moved to 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...
in 1928 and began working with the public school board until he retired in 1958. Tanner was also President of the Royal Canadian Legion
Royal Canadian Legion
The Royal Canadian Legion is a non-profit Canadian ex-service organization founded in 1925, with more than 400,000 members worldwide. Membership includes people who have served as current and former military, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, provincial and municipal police, direct relatives of...
.
Municipal
Tanner ran for a seat to Edmonton City CouncilEdmonton 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...
in the 1946 Edmonton municipal election
Edmonton municipal election, 1946
The 1946 municipal election was held November 6, 1946 to elect a mayor and six aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council, four trustees to sit on the public school board, and three trustees to sit on the separate school board....
. He won the third place seat out of the six available in the field of thirteen candidate. Tanner first term would only be a year on council instead of the regular two year term due to a previous Alderman vacating his seat.
Tanner ran for a second term in office in the 1947 Edmonton municipal election
Edmonton municipal election, 1947
The 1947 municipal election was held November 5, 1947 to elect a mayor and five aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and four trustees to sit on the public school board . Voters also voted on two plebiscites, one of which approved two year mayoral terms...
. He was very close to finishing in first place in the field of thirteen candidates just 89 votes behind the leader Armour Ford. He won a full two year term.
Tanner ran for a third term in the 1949 Edmonton municipal election
Edmonton municipal election, 1949
The 1949 municipal election was held November 2, 1949 to elect a mayor and six aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council. The electorate also decided eight plebiscite questions...
. This time Tanner surpassed Ford in popular vote to head the poles in the nine candidate race.
Tanner ran for a fourth term in office in the 1951 Edmonton municipal election
Edmonton municipal election, 1951
The 1951 municipal election was held November 7, 1951 to elect a mayor and five aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and four trustees to sit on the separate school board...
. For the second time, Tanner headed the polls finish first with a commanding plurality over the field of thirteen candidates.
After one year into his fourth term, Tanner won a seat to the Alberta Legislature in 1952. He decided to keep his municipal seat. Tanner ran for re-election to his fifth term in the 1953 Edmonton municipal election
Edmonton municipal election, 1953
The 1953 municipal election was held October 14, 1953 to elect six aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and four trustees to sit on the separate school board...
. He once again finished in first place easily winning re-election.
Tanner did not re-offer for election leaving city council in 1957.
Provincial
Tanner ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature while still a municipal councilor in the 1952 Alberta general electionAlberta general election, 1952
The Alberta general election of 1952 was the twelfth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on August 5, 1952 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.Ernest C...
as a Liberal candidate in the electoral district of Edmonton. He won the seventh place seat on the final vote count to earn his first term in provincial office.
Tanner ran for a second term in office in the 1955 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1955
The Alberta general election of 1955 was the thirteenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 29, 1955 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. He placed significantly better, this time making the vote threshold and winning the fourth place seat.
Tanner retired from provincial politics at dissolution of the Assembly in 1959.
Late life
Tanner moved to VictoriaVictoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
in 1966 and lived the rest of his life there. He died on June 28, 1982. The streets of Tanner Link and Tanner Wynd in the community of Terwillegar Towne
Terwillegar Towne, Edmonton
Terwillegar Towne is a neighbourhood located in south west Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It is a newer neighbourhood with all residential construction occurring after 1995....
Edmonton were named in his honor.