William Sexsmith
Encyclopedia
William Raymond Sexsmith (August 23, 1885 — 1943) was a politician in Manitoba
, Canada
. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
as a Conservative
representative from 1933 until his death.
Sexsmith was born in Napanee, Ontario
. He moved to Manitoba at a young age, and was educated in Portage La Prairie
. He worked as a barrister, and also served as president of the Canadian Hockey Association
and the Manitoba Hockey Association
, as well as president of the Portage la Prairie Rink Co. Ltd.
Sexsmith was secretary-treasurer of the Conservative association in the Portage la Prairie constituency for twenty-five years prior to his election.
He was first elected to the legislature in a by-election
held on November 27, 1933, defeating independent candidate E.A. Gilroy by 236 votes. He again defeated Gilroy, who was by this time a Liberal-Progressive
candidate, in the 1936 provincial election
. The Conservatives were the primary opposition party in Manitoba during this period, and Sexsmith sat with his party on the opposition benches.
In 1940, the Conservatives joined with the Liberal-Progressives in a coalition government
. Sexsmith became a backbench supporter of John Bracken
's government, and was re-elected by acclamation in the 1941 provincial election
. He died in 1943.
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...
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 from 1933 until his death.
Sexsmith was born in Napanee, 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....
. He moved to Manitoba at a young age, and was educated in Portage La Prairie
Portage la Prairie, Manitoba
-Transportation:Portage la Prairie railway station is served by Via Rail with both The Canadian and Winnipeg – Churchill trains calling at the station....
. He worked as a barrister, and also served as president of the Canadian Hockey Association
Canadian Hockey Association
Canadian Hockey Association can refer to:* Canadian Hockey Association , a men's professional ice hockey league* Hockey Canada, formally known as the Canadian Hockey Association, the governing body for ice hockey in Canada...
and the Manitoba Hockey Association
Manitoba Hockey Association
The Manitoba Hockey Association was an early men's senior ice hockey league playing around 1900 in Manitoba, Canada. The league started as an elite amateur league in 1892, became professional in 1905, had a professional and an amateur league in 1908–09 and only an amateur league from 1909 until...
, as well as president of the Portage la Prairie Rink Co. Ltd.
Sexsmith was secretary-treasurer of the Conservative association in the Portage la Prairie constituency for twenty-five years prior to his election.
He was first elected to the legislature in a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
held on November 27, 1933, defeating independent candidate E.A. Gilroy by 236 votes. He again defeated Gilroy, who was by this time a 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, in the 1936 provincial 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...
. The Conservatives were the primary opposition party in Manitoba during this period, and Sexsmith sat with his party on the opposition benches.
In 1940, the Conservatives joined with the Liberal-Progressives in 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...
. Sexsmith became a backbench supporter of John Bracken
John Bracken
John Bracken, PC was an agronomist, the 11th Premier of Manitoba and leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada ....
's government, and was re-elected by acclamation in the 1941 provincial 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...
. He died in 1943.