Taras Ferley
Encyclopedia
Taras Demeter Ferley was a publisher and politician in Manitoba
, Canada
. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
from 1915 to 1920 as a supporter of the Liberal Party
, and is notable as the first Ukrainian Canadian
to be elected to Manitoba's legislature.
Ferley was born in Austro-Hungarian
controlled Ukraine
, and educated at the Kolomyja Gymnasium and Lemberg University. In Ukraine, he was a member of the Radical Party. He moved to California
in 1902, and took part in a communal living experiment which ended in failure after a few months. He arrived Canada in 1903 and worked as a publisher and real estate broker. He became the director of the Ukrainian Publishing Company of Canada, and also taught at the Ruthenian Training School at Brandon
for a period beginning in 1907.
He first ran for the Manitoba legislature in the 1914 provincial election
, contesting the constituency of Gimli as an Independent-Liberal. He lost, finishing third against Conservative
Sveinn Thorvaldson
and official Liberal candidate Einar Jonasson
.
Ferley ran again as an Independent-Liberal in the 1915 provincial election
, and became the constituency's de facto Liberal candidate after Jonasson withdrew from the race. Ferley defeated Thorvaldson by 610 votes, and supported Tobias C. Norris's Liberal administration for the next five years. In his parliamentary biography, Ferley emphasized his loyalty to Canada and to the British Empire
.
As the sole Ukrainian member of the legislature, Ferley protested against the federal government's treatment of Ukrainian-Canadians during World War I
. Unlike others in the Liberal Party, he also defended Manitoba's bilingual education system of state funding for Anglophone and Francophone schools.
He was defeated in the 1920 provincial election
, losing to Farmer candidate Gudmundur Fjelsted
by 117 votes.
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 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 1915 to 1920 as a supporter of the Liberal Party
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 :...
, and is notable as the first Ukrainian Canadian
Ukrainian Canadian
A Ukrainian Canadian is a person of Ukrainian descent or origin who was born in or immigrated to Canada. In 2006, there were an estimated 1,209,085 persons residing in Canada of Ukrainian origin, making them Canada's ninth largest ethnic group; and giving Canada the world's third-largest...
to be elected to Manitoba's legislature.
Ferley was born in Austro-Hungarian
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
controlled Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, and educated at the Kolomyja Gymnasium and Lemberg University. In Ukraine, he was a member of the Radical Party. He moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1902, and took part in a communal living experiment which ended in failure after a few months. He arrived Canada in 1903 and worked as a publisher and real estate broker. He became the director of the Ukrainian Publishing Company of Canada, and also taught at the Ruthenian Training School at Brandon
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...
for a period beginning in 1907.
He first ran for the Manitoba legislature in the 1914 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1914
Manitoba's general election of July 10, 1914 was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.The result was a fifth consecutive majority government for the Conservative Party, led by premier Rodmond P. Roblin...
, contesting the constituency of Gimli as an Independent-Liberal. He lost, finishing third against 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:...
Sveinn Thorvaldson
Sveinn Thorvaldson
Sveinn Thorvaldson was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1914 to 1915, as a member of the Conservative Party....
and official Liberal candidate Einar Jonasson
Einar Jonasson
Einar Sigurjon Jonasson was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1932 to 1935, as a member of the Liberal-Progressive Party....
.
Ferley ran again as an Independent-Liberal in the 1915 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1915
Manitoba's general election of August 6, 1915 was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This election was held only one year after the previous general election of 1914. In that election, the governing Conservatives of premier Rodmond P. Roblin were...
, and became the constituency's de facto Liberal candidate after Jonasson withdrew from the race. Ferley defeated Thorvaldson by 610 votes, and supported Tobias C. Norris's Liberal administration for the next five years. In his parliamentary biography, Ferley emphasized his loyalty to Canada and to the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
.
As the sole Ukrainian member of the legislature, Ferley protested against the federal government's treatment of Ukrainian-Canadians during 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...
. Unlike others in the Liberal Party, he also defended Manitoba's bilingual education system of state funding for Anglophone and Francophone schools.
He was defeated in the 1920 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1920
Manitoba's general election of 29 June 1920 was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.-Background:...
, losing to Farmer candidate Gudmundur Fjelsted
Gudmundur Fjelsted
Gudmundur Fjelsted was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1920 to 1922.Fjelsted was a farmer in Gimli, Manitoba. In the 1920 provincial election, he was elected to the legislature as a Farmer candidate, defeating Liberal incumbent Taras Ferley...
by 117 votes.