William Gilliland
Encyclopedia
William Floyd Gilliland (1891-September 5, 1961) was a farmer and a provincial politician from Alberta
, Canada
. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
from 1944 until his death in 1961. During his time in office he sat with the governing Social Credit caucus.
. He was nominated as the Social Credit candidate in a hotly contested three way race on the second count at a convention held in Grimshaw
, Alberta
on March 2, 1944. He ran against three other candidates in the 1944 Alberta general election
. Gilliland would take over 50% of the vote to win on the first count defeating Independent incumbent Eld Martin
who finished a distant third place to pick up the seat for Social Credit.
Gilliland ran for a second term in the 1948 Alberta general election
. He won his second term with almost a landslide majority defeating two other candidates with over 60% of the popular vote. Of the 11 MLA's that represented Peace River until 1948 He became the first incumbent to hold Peace River for a second term in office.
Gilliland ran for a third term in the 1952 Alberta general election
. Despite losing some of his popular vote from the 1948 election he rolled up a very large majority defeating two other candidates. He ran for a fourth term in the 1955 general election
. For the second election in a row, he lost popularity. He still won over 50% of the popular vote to hold the district.
Gilliland ran for his final term in the 1959 general election
. He reclaimed his vote share from the previous elections defeating two other candidates and taking over 60% of the popular vote.
Gilliland suffered a heart attack at the 1961 Social Credit national convention in Ottawa
. He died later that year on September 5, 1961 while hospitalized in Edmonton
.
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 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 1944 until his death in 1961. During his time in office he sat with the governing Social Credit caucus.
Early life
Gilliland was a farmer in the Peace River district, he had farmed for 30 years before running for public office.Political career
Gilliland ran for a seat to the Albert Legislature for the first time in the 1944 Alberta general electionAlberta general election, 1944
The Alberta general election of 1944 was the tenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. The Assembly was dissolved on July 8, 1944 and the vote for was held on August 8, 1944 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. He was nominated as the Social Credit candidate in a hotly contested three way race on the second count at a convention held in Grimshaw
Grimshaw, Alberta
Grimshaw is a town in northern Alberta located west of the Town of Peace River at the junction of Highway 35, Highway 2, and bypass Highway 2A, and the Mackenzie Northern Railway...
, 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...
on March 2, 1944. He ran against three other candidates in the 1944 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1944
The Alberta general election of 1944 was the tenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. The Assembly was dissolved on July 8, 1944 and the vote for was held on August 8, 1944 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. Gilliland would take over 50% of the vote to win on the first count defeating Independent incumbent Eld Martin
Eld Martin
Eld James Martin was a provincial level politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1940 to 1944 sitting as an Independent.-Political career:...
who finished a distant third place to pick up the seat for Social Credit.
Gilliland ran for a second term in the 1948 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1948
The Alberta general election of 1948 was the eleventh general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on August 17, 1948 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. He won his second term with almost a landslide majority defeating two other candidates with over 60% of the popular vote. Of the 11 MLA's that represented Peace River until 1948 He became the first incumbent to hold Peace River for a second term in office.
Gilliland ran for a third term in the 1952 Alberta general election
Alberta 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...
. Despite losing some of his popular vote from the 1948 election he rolled up a very large majority defeating two other candidates. He ran for a fourth term in the 1955 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....
. For the second election in a row, he lost popularity. He still won over 50% of the popular vote to hold the district.
Gilliland ran for his final term in the 1959 general election
Alberta general election, 1959
The Alberta general election of 1959 was the fourteenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 18, 1959 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.Ernest C...
. He reclaimed his vote share from the previous elections defeating two other candidates and taking over 60% of the popular vote.
Gilliland suffered a heart attack at the 1961 Social Credit national convention in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
. He died later that year on September 5, 1961 while hospitalized 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...
.