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William Short (Alberta politician)
Encyclopedia
William Short was a politician in Alberta
, Canada
and a two time mayor of Edmonton
.
and studied law at the University of Toronto
before coming to Alberta in 1889. He articled to James Alexander Lougheed
from 1891 until 1894, when he was called to the provincial bar. That year, he moved to Edmonton and opened a law practice before partnering with Charles Cross in 1900 to form Short & Cross (which still exists today under the name Duncan & Craig LLP). He married Henrietta McMaster on February 7, 1900; the pair would have one son and one daughter.
In 1899
, Short was elected to sit as a public school trustee, which he did until he was acclaimed as mayor during the 1901 election
. He faced no opposition to his re-election bid in 1902
, and defeated his former school board colleague H. C. Taylor in the 1903 election
to retain the title. This allowed him to be mayor when Edmonton's status changed from town to city in 1904, and to author the city charter. He did not seek re-election in the 1904 election
. During this first stint as mayor, Short oversaw the extension of the railroad to the north side of the North Saskatchewan River
in 1902 (an event which occasioned the proclamation of a civic holiday by Mayor Short).
He returned to the mayoralty in December
by defeating two candidates, including future mayor Joseph Clarke
. His re-election bid in 1913
was foiled by William McNamara, making him the first mayor in Edmonton's history to lose a re-election bid. After this defeat, Short did not return to politics.
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William Short was active with the Masons
, the Edmonton Board of Trade, and the Conservative Party of Alberta. He was also an enthusiastic motorist and owned one of Edmonton's first automobiles. He died January 27, 1926.
William Short Road in Edmonton in his named in his honour.
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...
and a two time mayor 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...
.
Biography
Short was born July 11, 1866 near Elora, OntarioElora, Ontario
Elora is a community in the township of Centre Wellington, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada. It is well known for its 19th-century limestone architecture, its artistic community and the geographically significant Elora Gorge.-History:...
and studied law at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
before coming to Alberta in 1889. He articled to James Alexander Lougheed
James Alexander Lougheed
Sir James Alexander Lougheed, KCMG, PC, QC was a businessman and politician from Alberta, Canada.-Early Life:Lougheed was born in Brampton, Canada West, to Irish Protestant parents. The family moved to Weston, Canada West , when Lougheed was a child, and he attended King Street Public School Sir...
from 1891 until 1894, when he was called to the provincial bar. That year, he moved to Edmonton and opened a law practice before partnering with Charles Cross in 1900 to form Short & Cross (which still exists today under the name Duncan & Craig LLP). He married Henrietta McMaster on February 7, 1900; the pair would have one son and one daughter.
In 1899
Edmonton municipal election, 1899
The 1899 municipal election was held December 11, 1899. It was the first municipal election in which only a portion of the aldermen were to be elected; in 1898, three of the six aldermen elected were elected to two year terms in preparation for a system in which only half of the aldermen would be...
, Short was elected to sit as a public school trustee, which he did until he was acclaimed as mayor during the 1901 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1901
The 1901 municipal election was held December 9, 1901 for the purpose of electing a mayor and four aldermen to sit on the Edmonton Town Council, as well as five public school trustees and five separate school trustees....
. He faced no opposition to his re-election bid in 1902
Edmonton municipal election, 1902
The 1902 municipal election was held December 8, 1902 for the purpose of electing a mayor and three aldermen to sit on the Edmonton Town Council, as well as five public school trustees and five separate school trustees...
, and defeated his former school board colleague H. C. Taylor in the 1903 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1903
The 1903 municipal election was held December 14, 1903 for the purpose of electing a mayor and three aldermen to sit on the Edmonton Town Council, as well as five public school trustees and five separate school trustees...
to retain the title. This allowed him to be mayor when Edmonton's status changed from town to city in 1904, and to author the city charter. He did not seek re-election in the 1904 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1904
The 1904 municipal election was held December 12, 1904 for the purpose of electing a mayor and eight aldermen to sit on the Edmonton City Council, as well as five public school trustees and five separate school trustees. It was Edmonton's first election as a city, and the first in which there were...
. During this first stint as mayor, Short oversaw the extension of the railroad to the north side of the North Saskatchewan River
North Saskatchewan River
The North Saskatchewan River is a glacier-fed river that flows east from the Canadian Rockies to central Saskatchewan. It is one of two major rivers that join to make up the Saskatchewan River....
in 1902 (an event which occasioned the proclamation of a civic holiday by Mayor Short).
He returned to the mayoralty in December
Edmonton municipal election, December 1912
The second of two 1912 municipal elections was held December 9, 1912 to elect a mayor and five aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and three trustees to sit on each of the public and separate school boards....
by defeating two candidates, including future mayor Joseph Clarke
Joseph Clarke
Joseph Andrew Clarke was a Canadian politician and lawyer. He served twice as mayor of Edmonton, Alberta, was a candidate for election to the Canadian House of Commons and the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, and was a member of the Yukon Territorial Council .-Early life:Clarke was born in...
. His re-election bid in 1913
Edmonton municipal election, 1913
The 1913 municipal election was held December 8, 1913 to elect a mayor and five aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council, trustees to sit on the public school board, and four trustees to sit on the separate school board....
was foiled by William McNamara, making him the first mayor in Edmonton's history to lose a re-election bid. After this defeat, Short did not return to politics.
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
, the Edmonton Board of Trade, and the Conservative Party of Alberta. He was also an enthusiastic motorist and owned one of Edmonton's first automobiles. He died January 27, 1926.
William Short Road in Edmonton in his named in his honour.