Peter Dawson (politician)
Encyclopedia
Peter Dawson was a Canadian minister, politician and member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
.
Dawson was born in 1892 in Scotland. After attending schools and briefly working as a labourer and an apprentice to a butcher in Maybole
, Dawson immigrated to Canada at the age of 18 with his brother, James Dawson. Shortly after arriving, he took up residence in Ontario where he worked in the automobile profession for 7 years until moving west to Alberta in 1918.
Following his decision to settle in Calgary
, he found employment as a butcher and interest in missionary work. His residence in Calgary, however, didn't last long, as 5 years later, he moved to the nearby capital city of Edmonton
, where he attended Prebysterian schooling. Ordained as a minister of the United Church in 1927, he soon was called in 1928 to Sedgewick
, where he remained for two years, before getting called to Champion
. Although not intending to have a career in politics, a group of citizens persuaded him to run in the 1935 election
, in which he defeated United Farmers MLA Oran McPherson by 66% of the vote.
In 1937, Dawson was appointed Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. During his 26 year tenure, from 1937 until his death in 1963, he witnessed and presided over many events, such as the first instance of crossing the floor
in Alberta and naming
a fellow MLA for remarks made at a provincial official. He also witnessed 2 royal visits to Alberta from two different monarchs, King George IV in 1939, and Queen Elizabeth II 20 years later, in which he presided over the installation of a fountain in the Legislature's rotunda. After dying in office in 1963, Dawson was honoured with a state funeral, attended by many prominent citizens of Alberta.
, Ayrshire
, Scotland
, on April 11, 1892 to John and Jane Dawson (née McMurray). Along with a twin sister who died at the age of 5 months, Peter Dawson had 8 other siblings. John Dawson died in 1900, when Peter was only 8 years old. Prior to his death, he had worked as a police constable and blacksmith.
Peter Dawson attended public schools and attended the Carrick Academy
in Maybole
. After finishing school, he then worked as farm labourer and a butcher's apprentice back in Scotland, shortly before coming to Canada. In 1911, Dawson and his brother, James sailed on the SS Ionian deporting from Glasgow
and arriving in Halifax 9 days later. After his arrival, Dawson settled in Ontario
and worked at an automobile manufacturer, Tudhope-Anderson in Simcoe County. 7 years later, in 1918, he moved to Calgary, Alberta, where he found work for "several years" as a butcher.
After 5 years in Calgary, he decided to relocate to Edmonton
, where he enrolled in a Prebysterian seminary, Robertson College
. He then studied arts and theology at the United Theological College, which would later become the St. Stephen's College, on the University of Alberta
campus, where he was the first president of the student council, as well as, in 1927, one of the first graduates. He was ordained as a United Church Minister later in the year at Knox United Church in Calgary.
candidate for the riding of Little Bow
, at the request and pressure of a citizens' group. He would go onto handily win the seat, defeating United Farmers of Alberta
candidate and former speaker Oran McPherson
by 66% of the vote. Dawson would continue to get re-elected seven consecutive times in that riding, which he held for over 30 years.
, which he compiled from various information from the government departments, which was later read by the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta
to open each session.
Dawson's time as speaker saw many firsts in Alberta legislative history, such as, in 1937, when Social Credit MLAs and former cabinet ministers William N. Chant and John Hugill
joined the oppositions at independents; the first instance of crossing the floor
in Alberta legislative history. In June 1939, Dawson played a major role in ceremonies at the Legislature during royal visits of King George VI and Princess (later Queen) Elizabeth. He, along with his wife, acted as their hosts during their respective visits.
He was re-nominated as Speaker by Premier William Aberhart
in 1941 and subsequently in 1945, 1949, 1953, 1955, and 1960, these times at the nomination of premier Ernest Manning
. The 1945 nomination was seconded by Leader of the Opposition
J. Percy Page, making this the first instance that a nomination had been supported by the Official Opposition. In a 1949 session, Dawson ruled comments of Alberta Liberal Leader James Harper Prowse
, made during a debate on child welfare, unparliamentary
. Prowse had remarked: "Members of the Government, not content with hiding behind the skirts of unfortunate women, now cloak themselves behind the diapers of more unfortunate babies." Dawson had also deemed other terms, such as "trickery" and "deaf" unparliamentary during his time as speaker.
He was chosen to chair a committee set up in 1951 to revise the rules of the Assembly. During a session on March 21, 1952, Dawson was pushed to name
MLA for Banff-Cochrane
Arthur Wray
after Wray made remarks towards a provincial official at a committee meeting. Ehen asked by Dawson to take back the remarks, Wray refused, prompting Dawson to name him and order his removal from the chamber. A unanimous motion was later passed to have Wray suspended for two sitting days, or until he was ready to withdraw his remarks and issue an apology to the chamber. Wray returned on 4 days later, issuing an apology and revoking his remarks.
On February 9, 1956, at the opening of the Second Session of the 13th Legislature, Dawson accepted a new Mace from the Civil Service Association of Alberta on the occasion of the province's 50th anniversary. On the occasion of another royal visit in 1959, this time of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth, Dawson had a permanent fountain in the rotunda of the Legislature installed. Upon Dawson's 25th anniversary as Speaker, John Wingblade
, MLA from Wetaskiwin presented him with a silver-banded gavel
on behalf of all members. Dawson and his wife moved to Vulcan, Alberta
in 1960, purchasing their first house every during their marriage. He continued to serve in the position of Speaker until his unexpected death in 1963, right before the 1963 election
. He had served for 26 years in total as Speaker preceding his death, the longest one has ever served in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.
, where he remained for two years before being called to the United Church in Champion on October 10, 1930, mostly conducting services in schoolhouses. Later, in 1954, he came to Carmangay, Alberta in 1954 to serve as a resident minister. He conducted services in various places in Alberta during his 30 years as a minister, ranging from schoolhouses to churches. In some services, he also participated in duets and sometimes made solo performances, with a strong baritone
voice. On top of his duties as Speaker and MLA, Dawson continued his service as a minister. He retired as an active minister in 1960, after 33 years of service.
area. He later became a foreman for the Canadian Pacific Railway
. Peter and Hilde had two sons, Earland "Earl" McMurray (born 1928) and David Gilmour (born 1933). Both went on to be successful professional engineer
s in Ontario
.
In his spare time, Dawson enjoyed a wide range of recreational activities, including golf
, curling
, badminton
and tending the gardens at his home in Vulcan. He was a vital part in the planning and establishment of Little Bow Provincial Park, near Champion
. Also an active member of the Grand Lodge of Alberta, a fraternal association, he served in the office of "Worshipful Master" of Champion Lodge in 1947, grand chaplain of the Grand Lodge in 1949 and 1950, and finally, Grand Master in 1954 and 1955. Additionally, Dawson also was active in Shrine and Scottish Rite Lodges.
Dawson received many honours during his time as Speaker, including a life membership in the Alberta Legislative Press Gallery Association, in which he had served as an honourary president. One year after his death, in 1964, the Vulcan Senior Citizens Centre was named "Peter Dawson Lodge" in his memory, after receiving many entries in a contest to name the facility.
, to the Masons at Lodge Perfection, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, titled "We know not the hour!", Dawson suffered a heart attack in the Speaker's Suite in the Legislature Building. Attended by health minister Joseph Donovan Ross
, he was rushed to the University of Alberta Hospital
, when he died on the way, becoming the only Speaker in the history of the Alberta Legislative Assembly that a speaker had died while still in session. His death was announced the next day by Clerk Raymond A. A. Crevolin. After paying tribute to Dawson, the session was quickly adjourned.
In the morning of March 28, his body lay in state in the chamber, the first lying-in-state of a Speaker ever held. Several hundred people gathered in the chamber to pay their last respects. After lying in state, his body was taken to Robertson United Church for the state funeral, with several church, judiciary, and government officials from across the province in the general attendance of about 300, with Premier Manning acted as an officiating clergy, delivering the eulogy. Notably in attendance, along with Premier Manning, were Lieutenant Governor J. Percy Page and Edmonton mayor Elmer Roper. His body was later transported by train to Vulcan, where, after a second service, he was interred in the Vulcan Cemetery. Soon after his death, Hilde Dawson moved to Lethbridge
. Upon her death on June 15, 1987, she was interred beside her husband.
compared sitting in the Assembly under Dawson "like attending the school of a strict but well-qualified and kindly teacher."
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...
.
Dawson was born in 1892 in Scotland. After attending schools and briefly working as a labourer and an apprentice to a butcher in Maybole
Maybole
Maybole is a burgh of barony and police burgh of South Ayrshire, Scotland. Pop. 4,552. It is situated south of Ayr and southwest of Glasgow by the Glasgow and South Western Railway. ...
, Dawson immigrated to Canada at the age of 18 with his brother, James Dawson. Shortly after arriving, he took up residence in Ontario where he worked in the automobile profession for 7 years until moving west to Alberta in 1918.
Following his decision to settle in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, he found employment as a butcher and interest in missionary work. His residence in Calgary, however, didn't last long, as 5 years later, he moved to the nearby capital city of 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...
, where he attended Prebysterian schooling. Ordained as a minister of the United Church in 1927, he soon was called in 1928 to Sedgewick
Sedgewick, Alberta
Sedgewick is a town in central Alberta, Canada. It is located east of Camrose at the junction of Highway 13 and Highway 869. The Canadian Pacific Railway runs through the town.-Demographics:...
, where he remained for two years, before getting called to Champion
Champion, Alberta
Champion is a village in southern Alberta, Canada within Vulcan County. It is located on Highway 23, approximately north of Lethbridge and south of Calgary, Alberta.- Demographics :...
. Although not intending to have a career in politics, a group of citizens persuaded him to run in the 1935 election
Alberta general election, 1935
The Alberta general election of 1935 was the eighth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on August 22, 1935 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
, in which he defeated United Farmers MLA Oran McPherson by 66% of the vote.
In 1937, Dawson was appointed Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. During his 26 year tenure, from 1937 until his death in 1963, he witnessed and presided over many events, such as the first instance of crossing the floor
Crossing the floor
In politics, crossing the floor has two meanings referring to a change of allegiance in a Westminster system parliament.The term originates from the British House of Commons, which is configured with the Government and Opposition facing each other on rows of benches...
in Alberta and naming
Naming (parliamentary procedure)
Naming is a procedure in the British House of Commons whereby the Speaker or one of his deputies proposes a vote on the suspension of a member of the House whom he believes has broken the rules of conduct of the House....
a fellow MLA for remarks made at a provincial official. He also witnessed 2 royal visits to Alberta from two different monarchs, King George IV in 1939, and Queen Elizabeth II 20 years later, in which he presided over the installation of a fountain in the Legislature's rotunda. After dying in office in 1963, Dawson was honoured with a state funeral, attended by many prominent citizens of Alberta.
Early life and career
Dawson was born in SlatefordSlateford
Slateford is a suburb of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. It is east of the Water of Leith.The former village of Slateford lies on the Lanark Road where it crosses the Water of Leith 1/4 of a mile south west of Slateford Station. The name "Slateford" comes from local rock found in the area and...
, Ayrshire
Ayrshire
Ayrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. The town of Troon on the coast has hosted the British Open Golf Championship twice in the...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, on April 11, 1892 to John and Jane Dawson (née McMurray). Along with a twin sister who died at the age of 5 months, Peter Dawson had 8 other siblings. John Dawson died in 1900, when Peter was only 8 years old. Prior to his death, he had worked as a police constable and blacksmith.
Peter Dawson attended public schools and attended the Carrick Academy
Carrick Academy
Carrick Academy is a state-run secondary school, administered by South Ayrshire Council and situated in Maybole, South Ayrshire. It serves about 550 pupils, from the towns of Maybole, Dalrymple, Crosshill, Kirkmichael, Straiton, Minishant, Dunure, Dailly, Kirkoswald, Maidens, and surrounding farms...
in Maybole
Maybole
Maybole is a burgh of barony and police burgh of South Ayrshire, Scotland. Pop. 4,552. It is situated south of Ayr and southwest of Glasgow by the Glasgow and South Western Railway. ...
. After finishing school, he then worked as farm labourer and a butcher's apprentice back in Scotland, shortly before coming to Canada. In 1911, Dawson and his brother, James sailed on the SS Ionian deporting from Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and arriving in Halifax 9 days later. After his arrival, Dawson settled 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....
and worked at an automobile manufacturer, Tudhope-Anderson in Simcoe County. 7 years later, in 1918, he moved to Calgary, Alberta, where he found work for "several years" as a butcher.
After 5 years in Calgary, he decided to relocate 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...
, where he enrolled in a Prebysterian seminary, Robertson College
Robertson College
Robertson College’s vision began in 1911 after founder M.I. Robertson decided to emigrate from Scotland to live with her sister and brother-in-law in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. In Edinburgh, Scotland, Mrs. Robertson worked in the city hall. It was thought that Mrs. Robertson was married and had a...
. He then studied arts and theology at the United Theological College, which would later become the St. Stephen's College, on the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
campus, where he was the first president of the student council, as well as, in 1927, one of the first graduates. He was ordained as a United Church Minister later in the year at Knox United Church in Calgary.
Politics
Dawson, initially having no interest in politics, ran in the 1935 election as a Social CreditSocial Credit Party of Alberta
The Alberta Social Credit Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada, that was founded on the social credit monetary policy and conservative Christian social values....
candidate for the riding of Little Bow
Little Bow (electoral district)
Little Bow is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada.The district, named after the Little Bow River, was created in 1913 from the north-west corner of Lethbridge District and the eastern portions of Okotoks, High River, Nanton and Claresholm...
, at the request and pressure of a citizens' group. He would go onto handily win the seat, defeating United Farmers of Alberta
United Farmers of Alberta
The United Farmers of Alberta is an association of Alberta farmers that has served many different roles throughout its history as a lobby group, a political party, and as a farm-supply retail chain. Since 1934 it has primarily been an agricultural supply cooperative headquartered in Calgary...
candidate and former speaker Oran McPherson
Oran McPherson
Oran Leo "Tony" McPherson was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Little Bow from 1921 to 1935 as a member of the United Farmers of Alberta.-Early life:...
by 66% of the vote. Dawson would continue to get re-elected seven consecutive times in that riding, which he held for over 30 years.
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
Dawson was elected as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly in 1937. In February of the same year, as Speaker-Designate, Dawson arranged the Opening Session of the Legislature to be broadcast over CJCA radio, given the large number of public wanting to attend the session. Dawson and his family frequently took up residence at the Speaker's suite during the time while the Legislature was in session, therefore creating him readily accessible as speaker. He was also responsible for many other things, amongst those, though not a part of his official duties, writing the Speech from the ThroneSpeech from the Throne
A speech from the throne is an event in certain monarchies in which the reigning sovereign reads a prepared speech to a complete session of parliament, outlining the government's agenda for the coming session...
, which he compiled from various information from the government departments, which was later read by the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta
Lieutenant Governor of Alberta
The Lieutenant Governor of Alberta is the viceregal representative in Alberta of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the nine other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her oldest realm, the United...
to open each session.
Dawson's time as speaker saw many firsts in Alberta legislative history, such as, in 1937, when Social Credit MLAs and former cabinet ministers William N. Chant and John Hugill
John Hugill
John William Hugill was a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as Attorney General of the province of Alberta from 1935 until 1937. Born in England, he came to Canada and studied law before setting up a practice in Calgary. He became a prominent resident of that city, and served two years...
joined the oppositions at independents; the first instance of crossing the floor
Crossing the floor
In politics, crossing the floor has two meanings referring to a change of allegiance in a Westminster system parliament.The term originates from the British House of Commons, which is configured with the Government and Opposition facing each other on rows of benches...
in Alberta legislative history. In June 1939, Dawson played a major role in ceremonies at the Legislature during royal visits of King George VI and Princess (later Queen) Elizabeth. He, along with his wife, acted as their hosts during their respective visits.
He was re-nominated as Speaker by Premier William Aberhart
William Aberhart
William Aberhart , also known as Bible Bill for his outspoken Baptist views, was a Canadian politician and the seventh Premier of Alberta between 1935 and 1943. The Social Credit party believed the reason for the depression was that people did not have enough money to spend, so the government...
in 1941 and subsequently in 1945, 1949, 1953, 1955, and 1960, these times at the nomination of premier Ernest Manning
Ernest Manning
Ernest Charles Manning, , a Canadian politician, was the eighth Premier of Alberta between 1943 and 1968 for the Social Credit Party of Alberta. He served longer than any premier in the province's history, and was the second longest serving provincial premier in Canadian history...
. The 1945 nomination was seconded by Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Opposition
The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest party not in government in a Westminster System of parliamentary government...
J. Percy Page, making this the first instance that a nomination had been supported by the Official Opposition. In a 1949 session, Dawson ruled comments of Alberta Liberal Leader James Harper Prowse
James Harper Prowse
James Harper Prowse Jr. , was a serviceman, provincial and federal politician, barrister and solicitor from Canada. Prowse served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1945 to 1959 sitting as an Independent and a Liberal in opposition...
, made during a debate on child welfare, unparliamentary
Unparliamentary language
In a Westminster system, unparliamentary language is words or phrases that are deemed to be inappropriate for use in the House whilst it is in session. This includes, but is not limited to the suggestion of dishonesty or profanity. The most prohibited case is any suggestion that another member is...
. Prowse had remarked: "Members of the Government, not content with hiding behind the skirts of unfortunate women, now cloak themselves behind the diapers of more unfortunate babies." Dawson had also deemed other terms, such as "trickery" and "deaf" unparliamentary during his time as speaker.
He was chosen to chair a committee set up in 1951 to revise the rules of the Assembly. During a session on March 21, 1952, Dawson was pushed to name
Naming (parliamentary procedure)
Naming is a procedure in the British House of Commons whereby the Speaker or one of his deputies proposes a vote on the suspension of a member of the House whom he believes has broken the rules of conduct of the House....
MLA for Banff-Cochrane
Banff-Cochrane
Banff-Cochrane is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada. This riding is home to the popular tourist destination Banff National Park, environmental issues tend to dominate here....
Arthur Wray
Arthur Wray
Arthur Henry Wray was a provincial level politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1944 to 1952...
after Wray made remarks towards a provincial official at a committee meeting. Ehen asked by Dawson to take back the remarks, Wray refused, prompting Dawson to name him and order his removal from the chamber. A unanimous motion was later passed to have Wray suspended for two sitting days, or until he was ready to withdraw his remarks and issue an apology to the chamber. Wray returned on 4 days later, issuing an apology and revoking his remarks.
On February 9, 1956, at the opening of the Second Session of the 13th Legislature, Dawson accepted a new Mace from the Civil Service Association of Alberta on the occasion of the province's 50th anniversary. On the occasion of another royal visit in 1959, this time of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth, Dawson had a permanent fountain in the rotunda of the Legislature installed. Upon Dawson's 25th anniversary as Speaker, John Wingblade
John Wingblade
John Alfred Wingblade was a provincial politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1935 to 1963 sitting with the Social Credit caucus in government.-Political career:...
, MLA from Wetaskiwin presented him with a silver-banded gavel
Gavel
A gavel is a small ceremonial mallet commonly made of hardwood, typically fashioned with a handle and often struck against a sound block to enhance its sounding qualities. It is a symbol of the authority and right to act officially in the capacity of a chair or presiding officer. It is used to call...
on behalf of all members. Dawson and his wife moved to Vulcan, Alberta
Vulcan, Alberta
Vulcan is a town located midway between the cities of Calgary and Lethbridge on Highway 23, in the prairies of southern Alberta, Canada. The population of the town was 1,940 in 2006, and the population of the county, which is also named Vulcan, was 3,718. The town's economy is mainly tourism and...
in 1960, purchasing their first house every during their marriage. He continued to serve in the position of Speaker until his unexpected death in 1963, right before the 1963 election
Alberta general election, 1963
The Alberta general election of 1963 was the fifteenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 17, 1963 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.The Social Credit Party, led by Ernest C...
. He had served for 26 years in total as Speaker preceding his death, the longest one has ever served in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.
Church career
During his time in Calgary, Dawson became interested in missionary work. After being ordained as a minister in 1927, his first call, in 1928, was to Sedgewick, AlbertaSedgewick, Alberta
Sedgewick is a town in central Alberta, Canada. It is located east of Camrose at the junction of Highway 13 and Highway 869. The Canadian Pacific Railway runs through the town.-Demographics:...
, where he remained for two years before being called to the United Church in Champion on October 10, 1930, mostly conducting services in schoolhouses. Later, in 1954, he came to Carmangay, Alberta in 1954 to serve as a resident minister. He conducted services in various places in Alberta during his 30 years as a minister, ranging from schoolhouses to churches. In some services, he also participated in duets and sometimes made solo performances, with a strong baritone
Baritone
Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
voice. On top of his duties as Speaker and MLA, Dawson continued his service as a minister. He retired as an active minister in 1960, after 33 years of service.
Personal life
In Calgary, on December 26, 1923, Dawson married Hildegarde "Hilde" Christina Hallonquist, whom he had met while serving as a missionary during the summer of that same year. Hilde was the daughter of Swedish immigrants Johannes and Hanna Hallonquist. Her father, Johannes, or John, as he was more commonly known, worked as helping new Swedish families who had just immigrated to Canada settle in the ManitobaManitoba
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...
area. He later became a foreman for the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
. Peter and Hilde had two sons, Earland "Earl" McMurray (born 1928) and David Gilmour (born 1933). Both went on to be successful professional engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
s 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....
.
In his spare time, Dawson enjoyed a wide range of recreational activities, including golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
, curling
Curling
Curling is a sport in which players slide stones across a sheet of ice towards a target area. It is related to bowls, boule and shuffleboard. Two teams, each of four players, take turns sliding heavy, polished granite stones, also called "rocks", across the ice curling sheet towards the house, a...
, badminton
Badminton
Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...
and tending the gardens at his home in Vulcan. He was a vital part in the planning and establishment of Little Bow Provincial Park, near Champion
Champion, Alberta
Champion is a village in southern Alberta, Canada within Vulcan County. It is located on Highway 23, approximately north of Lethbridge and south of Calgary, Alberta.- Demographics :...
. Also an active member of the Grand Lodge of Alberta, a fraternal association, he served in the office of "Worshipful Master" of Champion Lodge in 1947, grand chaplain of the Grand Lodge in 1949 and 1950, and finally, Grand Master in 1954 and 1955. Additionally, Dawson also was active in Shrine and Scottish Rite Lodges.
Dawson received many honours during his time as Speaker, including a life membership in the Alberta Legislative Press Gallery Association, in which he had served as an honourary president. One year after his death, in 1964, the Vulcan Senior Citizens Centre was named "Peter Dawson Lodge" in his memory, after receiving many entries in a contest to name the facility.
Death and funeral
On March 24, 1963, after a speaking engagement in Red DeerRed Deer, Alberta
Red Deer is a city in Central Alberta, Canada. It is located near the midpoint of the Calgary-Edmonton Corridor and is surrounded by Red Deer County. It is Alberta's third-most-populous city – after Calgary and Edmonton. The city is located in aspen parkland, a region of rolling hills...
, to the Masons at Lodge Perfection, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, titled "We know not the hour!", Dawson suffered a heart attack in the Speaker's Suite in the Legislature Building. Attended by health minister Joseph Donovan Ross
Joseph Donovan Ross
Joseph Donovan Ross was a medical doctor and a former provincial level politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1952 to 1971. He also served as Minister of Health in the Alberta provincial government.-Political career:Ross first ran for...
, he was rushed to the University of Alberta Hospital
University of Alberta Hospital
The University of Alberta Hospital is a research and teaching hospital in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The hospital is affiliated with the University of Alberta and run by Alberta Health Services, formerly Capital Health, the health authority for Alberta...
, when he died on the way, becoming the only Speaker in the history of the Alberta Legislative Assembly that a speaker had died while still in session. His death was announced the next day by Clerk Raymond A. A. Crevolin. After paying tribute to Dawson, the session was quickly adjourned.
In the morning of March 28, his body lay in state in the chamber, the first lying-in-state of a Speaker ever held. Several hundred people gathered in the chamber to pay their last respects. After lying in state, his body was taken to Robertson United Church for the state funeral, with several church, judiciary, and government officials from across the province in the general attendance of about 300, with Premier Manning acted as an officiating clergy, delivering the eulogy. Notably in attendance, along with Premier Manning, were Lieutenant Governor J. Percy Page and Edmonton mayor Elmer Roper. His body was later transported by train to Vulcan, where, after a second service, he was interred in the Vulcan Cemetery. Soon after his death, Hilde Dawson moved to Lethbridge
Lethbridge
Lethbridge is a city in the province of Alberta, Canada, and the largest city in southern Alberta. It is Alberta's fourth-largest city by population after Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer, and the third-largest by area after Calgary and Edmonton. The nearby Canadian Rockies contribute to the city's...
. Upon her death on June 15, 1987, she was interred beside her husband.
Legacy
Upon his death, Premier Manning stated on Dawson: "In his passing not only Alberta, but all of Canada has lost one of its outstanding figures. The reputation he built with his fair judgments and honest ability won him the confidence and respect of all members of the Assembly and extended beyond the borders of Alberta." Former Mayor of Edmonton and MLA Elmer E. Roper said: "I doubt if there has ever been anyone who occupied the Speaker's chair in Canada who was more fair and efficient in chairmanship over an assembly then the late speaker" Dawson's son, David recalled his father's personableness in that he "talked easily with complete strangers" and his ability to start up a conversation with anyone he met, regardless of where. Future Lieutenant Governor and MLA for Calgary Grant MacEwanGrant MacEwan
John Walter Grant MacEwan, best known as Grant MacEwan was a farmer, Professor at the University of Saskatchewan, Dean of Agriculture at the University of Manitoba, the 28th Mayor of Calgary and both a Member of the Legislative Assembly and the ninth Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, Canada...
compared sitting in the Assembly under Dawson "like attending the school of a strict but well-qualified and kindly teacher."