Edmonton-Centre formerly styled Edmonton Centre from 1959 to 1971 was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada, mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta using the first past the post method of voting from 1959 to 2019.[1]

Edmonton-Centre
Alberta electoral district
2010 boundaries
Defunct provincial electoral district
LegislatureLegislative Assembly of Alberta
District created1957
District abolished2019
First contested1959
Last contested2015

History

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The electoral district of Edmonton-Centre was created in the 1957 boundary redistribution that saw the ridings of Edmonton and Calgary broken up into single member electoral districts when the province reintroduced first past the post.

The 2010 electoral boundary re-distribution kept the riding mostly the same as 2003 except for a realignment on the eastern boundary where it was pushed back to 104 Street instead of completely running along 97 Street like it did before the change.[2]

Boundary history

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Electoral history

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Members of the Legislative Assembly for
Edmonton-Centre
Assembly Years Member Party
See Edmonton 1921-1959
14th 1959–1963 Ambrose Holowach Social Credit
15th 1963–1967
16th 1967–1971
17th 1971–1975 Gordon Miniely Progressive
Conservative
18th 1975–1979
19th 1979–1982 Mary LeMessurier
20th 1982–1986
21st 1986–1989 William Roberts New Democrat
22nd 1989–1993
23rd 1993–1997 Michael Henry Liberal
24th 1997–2001 Laurie Blakeman
25th 2001–2004
26th 2004–2008
27th 2008–2012
28th 2012–2015
29th 2015–2019 David Shepherd New Democrat
See Edmonton-City Centre after 2019

The electoral district of Edmonton-Centre is currently the oldest continuous active provincial electoral district in the city of Edmonton. It has a long history going back to 1959 when the single transferable vote super districts of Edmonton and Calgary were abolished in favor of single member districts.

Over the years, candidates from four different parties have been elected in the district without being able to return after being defeated. From 1959 to 1986 the riding returned MLA's sitting with governing parties in Alberta while the later years past 1986 MLA's have been returned from the official opposition.

The first elected MLA was Social Credit candidate Ambrose Holowach who had previously served as a Member of Parliament sitting with the federal wing of Social Credit from 1953 to 1958. Holowach was re-elected twice more and served a ministerial portfolio as Provincial Secretary in the governments of Ernest Manning and Harry Strom from 1962 to 1971.

The 1971 election would bring great change to the province and to Edmonton-Centre. Holowach did not run for re-election and the riding was won by Progressive Conservative candidate Gordon Miniely. His party would form government for the first time that year and Miniely would serve in the Peter Lougheed cabinet until he retired from office after his second term in 1979.

Mary LeMessurier would be the third elected representative of the riding. First elected in 1979 she would also be appointed to cabinet like her two predecessors before her. She served as Minister of Culture in the Lougheed government and kept her portfolio briefly after Don Getty became Premier in 1985. She would run for re-election in 1986 but face a stunning defeat by NDP candidate William Roberts.

The NDP party would form the official opposition after electing a record size caucus in 1986. Roberts held his office for two terms before retiring in 1993. That election saw the NDP vote collapse in the district and across the province with NDP candidate Kay Hurtig finishing third place.

After the NDP defeat from opposition in 1993 and the surge of the Liberal party under Laurence Decore the district became a Liberal stronghold, with Michael Henry becoming the first MLA for his party. Henry did not run a second term in office in the 1997 election. The new Liberal candidate was Laurie Blakeman who held the district with a reduced majority.

In the 2015 Alberta General Election NDP Candidate David Shepherd was elected with 54% of the vote.

Legislative election results

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1959

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1959 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Social Credit Ambrose Holowach 3,912 46.74%
Progressive Conservative Gerard Amerongen 2,185 26.11%
Liberal Laurette Douglas 1,684 20.12%
Co-operative Commonwealth Robert Atkin 589 7.04%
Total 8,370
Rejected, spoiled and declined 38
Eligible electors / turnout 15,357 54.75%
Social Credit pickup new district.
Source(s)
Source: "Edmonton-Centre Official Results 1959 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1963

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1963 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Social Credit Ambrose Holowach 3,378 47.70% 0.96%
Progressive Conservative Gerard Amerongen 1,492 21.07% -5.04%
Liberal Joseph A. Tannous 1,219 17.21% -2.91%
New Democratic Alex Szchechina 993 14.02% 6.98%
Total 7,082
Rejected, spoiled and declined 21
Eligible electors / turnout 15,211 46.70% -8.05%
Social Credit hold Swing 3.00%
Source(s)
Source: "Edmonton-Centre Official Results 1963 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1967

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1967 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Social Credit Ambrose Holowach 3,146 39.53% -8.17%
Progressive Conservative Harold W. Veale 2,558 32.14% 11.08%
New Democratic Henry Tomaschuk 1,313 16.50% 2.48%
Liberal Joseph A. Tannous 747 9.39% -7.83%
Independent G.A. (Pat) O'Hara 194 2.44%
Total 7,958
Rejected, spoiled and declined 83
Eligible electors / turnout 15,904 50.56% 3.86%
Social Credit hold Swing -9.62%
Source(s)
Source: "Edmonton-Centre Official Results 1967 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1971

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1971 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Gordon Miniely 5,281 58.48% 26.33%
Social Credit Gerry Mulhall 2,622 29.03% -10.50%
New Democratic Linda Gaboury 931 10.31% -6.19%
Liberal Leonard Stahl 197 2.18% -7.21%
Total 9,031
Rejected, spoiled and declined 38
Eligible electors / turnout 13,008 69.72% 19.16%
Progressive Conservative gain from Social Credit Swing 11.03%
Source(s)
Source: "Edmonton-Centre Official Results 1971 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1975

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1975 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Gordon Miniely 3,996 62.08% 3.60%
New Democratic Barry Roberts 1,125 17.48% 7.17%
Liberal Ed Molstad 930 14.45% 12.27%
Social Credit Gerry Beck 386 6.00% -23.04%
Total 6,437
Rejected, spoiled and declined 30
Eligible electors / turnout 13,645 47.39% -22.32%
Progressive Conservative hold Swing 7.58%
Source(s)
Source: "Edmonton-Centre Official Results 1975 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1979

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1979 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Mary LeMessurier 4,550 54.39% -7.69%
New Democratic Harry Cassidy Midgley 2,273 27.17% 9.70%
Social Credit Robert J. (Bob) Dunseith 838 10.02% 4.02%
Liberal Leonard Stahl 704 8.42% -6.03%
Total 8,365
Rejected, spoiled and declined 32
Eligible electors / turnout 17,665 47.53% 0.14%
Progressive Conservative hold Swing -8.69%
Source(s)
Source: "Edmonton-Centre Official Results 1979 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1982

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1982 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Mary LeMessurier 5,414 49.90% -4.49%
New Democratic Iain Taylor 3,578 32.98% 5.80%
Liberal Brian McKercher 849 7.82% -0.59%
Western Canada Concept Larry McIlroy 812 7.48%
Social Credit Lawlor J. McKenna 197 1.82% -8.20%
Total 10,850
Rejected, spoiled and declined 39
Eligible electors / turnout 17,701 61.52% 13.98%
Progressive Conservative hold Swing -5.15%
Source(s)
Source: "Edmonton-Centre Official Results 1982 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1986

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1986 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic William Roberts 3,976 42.03% 9.05%
Progressive Conservative Mary LeMessurier 3,816 40.33% -9.56%
Liberal Douglas Haydock 1,384 14.63% 6.80%
Western Canada Concept Fred Marshall 182 1.92% -5.56%
Independent Leonard Stahl 103 1.09%
Total 9,461
Rejected, spoiled and declined 30
Eligible electors / turnout 20,144 47.12% -14.40%
New Democratic gain from Progressive Conservative Swing -7.62%
Source(s)
Source: "Edmonton-Centre Official Results 1986 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1989

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1989 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic William Roberts 4,440 41.88% -0.14%
Progressive Conservative Don Clarke 3,217 30.35% -9.99%
Liberal Mary Molloy 2,821 26.61% 11.98%
Independent Carol Pylypow 72 0.68% -0.41%
Independent Leonard Stahl 51 0.48% -0.61%
Total 10,601
Rejected, spoiled and declined 21
Eligible electors / turnout 20,344 52.21% 5.10%
New Democratic hold Swing 4.92%
Source(s)
Source: "Edmonton-Centre Official Results 1989 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1993

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1993 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Michael Henry 5,656 47.59% 20.98%
Progressive Conservative John Wheelwright 3,418 28.76% -1.59%
New Democratic Kay Hurtig 2,343 19.71% -22.17%
Social Credit Wes Warren 202 1.70%
Natural Law Ric Johnsen 95 0.80%
Independent Clayton Leigh Van Horne 83 0.70%
Independent John R. Lakusta 48 0.40%
Independent Carol Lena Pylypow 40 0.34%
Total 11,885
Rejected, spoiled, and declined 41
Eligible electors / turnout 22,308 53.46% 1.25%
Liberal gain from New Democratic Swing 3.65%
Source(s)
Source: "Edmonton-Centre Official Results 1993 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1997

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1997 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Laurie Blakeman 4,769 43.96% -3.63%
Progressive Conservative Don Weideman 3,634 33.50% 4.74%
New Democratic Jenn Smith 1,845 17.01% -2.71%
Social Credit Alan Cruikshank 420 3.87% 2.17%
Forum Emil van der Poorten 98 0.90%
Natural Law Richard Johnsen 83 0.77% -0.03%
Total 10,849
Rejected, spoiled and declined 43
Eligible electors / turnout 20,907 52.10% -1.36%
Liberal hold Swing -4.18%
Source(s)
Source: "Edmonton-Centre Official Results 1997 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

2001

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2001 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Laurie Blakeman 5,095 44.01% 0.06%
Progressive Conservative Don J. Weideman 4,446 38.41% 4.91%
New Democratic David Eggen 1,959 16.92% -0.08%
Communist Naomi Rankin 76 0.66%
Total 11,576
Rejected, spoiled, and declined 74
Eligible electors / turnout 22,648 51.44% -0.66%
Liberal hold Swing -2.43%
Source(s)
Source: "Edmonton-Centre Official Results 2001 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

2004

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2004 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Laurie Blakeman 6,203 57.07% 13.06%
Progressive Conservative Don Weideman 2,622 24.12% -14.28%
New Democratic Mary Elizabeth Archer 1,319 12.14% -4.79%
Greens David J. Parker 333 3.06%
Alberta Alliance Tony Caterina 280 2.58%
Social Credit Linda Clements 112 1.03%
Total 10,869
Rejected, spoiled and declined 81
Eligible electors / turnout 22,362 48.97% -2.47%
Liberal hold Swing 13.67%
Source(s)
Source: "Edmonton-Centre Official Results 2004 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

2008

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2008 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Laurie Blakeman 5,042 44.98% -12.09%
Progressive Conservative Bill Donahue 3,291 29.36% 5.23%
New Democratic Deron Bilous 2,163 19.30% 7.16%
Green David J. Parker 472 4.21%
Wildrose Alliance James Iverson 200 1.78%
Alberta Party Margaret Saunter 42 0.37%
Total 11,210
Rejected, spoiled and declined 78
Eligible electors / turnout 30,335 37.21% -11.76%
Liberal hold Swing -8.66%
Source(s)

2012

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2012 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Laurie Blakeman 5,626 40.37% -4.61%
Progressive Conservative Akash Khokhar 4,296 30.82% 1.47%
New Democratic Nadine Bailey 2,257 16.19% -3.10%
Wildrose Barb de Groot 1,758 12.61% 10.83%
Total 13,937
Rejected, spoiled and declined 102
Eligible electors / turnout 28,358 49.51% 12.30%
Liberal hold Swing -3.04%
Source(s)

2015

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2015 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic David Shepherd 8,983 54.39% 38.19%
Liberal Laurie Blakeman 4,199 25.42% -14.95%
Progressive Conservative Catherine Keill 2,228 13.49% -17.34%
Wildrose Joe Byram 772 4.67% -7.94%
Independent Greg Keating 295 1.79%
Independent Rory Joe Koopmans 40 0.24%
Total 16,517
Rejected, spoiled and declined 64
Eligible electors / turnout 34,976 47.41% -2.10%
New Democratic gain from Liberal Swing 9.71%
Source(s)

Senate nominee election results

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2004

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2004 Senate nominee election results: Edmonton-Centre[4] Turnout 48.64%
Affiliation Candidate Votes % votes % ballots Rank
Progressive Conservative Betty Unger 3,325 15.69% 44.45% 2
  Independent Link Byfield 3,211 15.15% 42.92% 4
  Independent Tom Sindlinger 2,520 11.89% 33.69% 9
Progressive Conservative Bert Brown 2,304 10.87% 30.80% 1
Progressive Conservative Cliff Breitkreuz 2,004 9.46% 26.79% 3
Alberta Alliance Michael Roth 1,759 8.30% 23.51% 7
Progressive Conservative David Usherwood 1,646 7.77% 22.00% 6
Alberta Alliance Vance Gough 1,515 7.15% 20.25% 8
Alberta Alliance Gary Horan 1,502 7.09% 20.08% 10
Progressive Conservative Jim Silye 1,406 6.63% 18.79% 5
Total votes 21,192 100%
Total ballots 7,481 2.83 votes per ballot
Rejected, spoiled and declined 3,395

Voters had the option of selecting four candidates on the ballot

2012

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Student vote results

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2004

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Participating schools[5]
Centre High School
Oliver School
Victoria School of Performing and Visual Arts

On November 19, 2004, a student vote was conducted at participating Alberta schools to parallel the 2004 Alberta general election results. The vote was designed to educate students and simulate the electoral process for persons who have not yet reached the legal majority. The vote was conducted in 80 of the 83 provincial electoral districts with students voting for actual election candidates. Schools with a large student body that reside in another electoral district had the option to vote for candidates outside of the electoral district then where they were physically located.

2004 Alberta student vote results[6]
Affiliation Candidate Votes %
  NDP Mary Elizabeth Archer 218 37.65%
  Liberal Laurie Blakeman 152 26.25%
Green David Parker 103 17.79%
Progressive Conservative Don Weideman 66 11.40%
Alberta Alliance Tony Caterina 22 3.80%
Social Credit Linda Clements 18 3.11%
Total 579 100%
Rejected, spoiled and declined 10

2012

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2012 Alberta student vote results
Affiliation Candidate Votes %
Progressive Conservative Akash Khokhar %
Wildrose Barb de Groot
  Liberal Laurie Blakeman %
  NDP Nadine Bailey %
Total 100%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Election results for Edmonton-Centre". abheritage.ca. Heritage Community Foundation. Archived from the original on December 8, 2010. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  2. ^ Alberta Electoral Boundaries Commission (June 2010). "Proposed Electoral Division Areas, Boundaries, and Names for Alberta. Final Report to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  3. ^ Electoral Divisions Act, S.A. 2003, c. E-4.1
  4. ^ "Senate Nominee Election 2004 Tabulation of Official Results" (PDF). Elections Alberta. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 4, 2009. Retrieved February 28, 2010.
  5. ^ "School by School results". Student Vote Canada. Archived from the original on October 5, 2007. Retrieved April 18, 2008.
  6. ^ "Riding by Riding Results - the Candidates". Student Vote Canada. Archived from the original on October 6, 2007. Retrieved April 19, 2008.

Further reading

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53°32′N 113°34′W / 53.54°N 113.56°W / 53.54; -113.56