Calgary (N.W.T. electoral district)
# Calgary (N.W.T. electoral district)

Coordinates: 51°02′42″N 114°03′26″W﻿ / ﻿51.04500°N 114.05722°W﻿ / 51.04500; -114.05722

Calgary was a territorial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Northwest Territories, Canada.

The riding was created by royal proclamation in 1884, and split into East Calgary, West Calgary and High River in 1894.

Calgary 1884 Boundaries :

| Bordering districts ||||
| - | - | - | - |
| North | East | West | South |
| Legal description from Ordinances of the North-West Territories 1884 ||||
| Namely: West of Fourth Principal Meridian: Range XXVIII, Townships numbered 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23; Range XXIX, Township numbered 18 and Fractional Townships numbered 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25; Range XXX, Fractional Township numbered 18. West of Fifth Principal Meridian: Range I, Townships numbered 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25; Range II, Townships numbered 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24 and 26; Range III, Township numbered 25. ||||
| Note: ||||

## Calgary Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs)

Members of the Territorial Council / Legislative Assembly for Calgary :

| Assembly | Years | Seat 1 | Seat 1 | Seat 1 | Seat 2 | Seat 2 | Seat 2 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Assembly | Years | Member | Member | Party | Member | Member | Party |
| 1st Council | 1884-1886 | | James Geddes | Independent | — | — | — |
| 1st Council | 1886-1888 | | John Lauder | Independent | | Hugh Cayley | Independent |
| 1st | 1888-1891 | | John Lineham | Independent | | Hugh Cayley | Independent |
| 2nd | 1891-1894 | | John Lineham | Independent | | Hugh Cayley | Independent |
| See East Calgary, West Calgary and High River 1894-1905 ||||||||

## History of the Calgary district

When the Calgary district was created in 1884, it elected accountant and rancher James Geddes as its representative in the 1st Council of the North-West Territories. Although most of the represented parts of the Territories held elections in 1885, Geddes' term was extended. He resigned the following year.

In 1886 the Calgary district was made a double-member district, with candidates elected by the plurality at-large voting method. Four candidates contested the by-election, with North-West Rebellion veteran John Lauder and Calgary Herald publisher Hugh Cayley becoming Members of the Territorial Council. Lauder retired after two years.

When the Council was dissolved and the Territories' first general election was held in 1888, two challengers ran in Calgary. Cayley was re-elected alongside newcomer John Lineham, who won the most votes of the three men.

In the second general election, there were no challengers, and both men were re-elected by acclamation.

The Calgary district was split into East Calgary, West Calgary and High River in 1894. Cayley retired from politics, while Lineham won re-election in High River.

## Election results

### 1891 election

1891 Northwest Territories general election :

| Name | Vote | % |
| - | - | - |
| John Lineham | Acclaimed | Acclaimed |
| Hugh Cayley | Acclaimed | Acclaimed |

### 1888 election

Each voter could cast two votes.

1888 Northwest Territories general election :

| | Name | Vote | % | Elected |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | John Lineham | 809 | 43.80% | X |
| | Hugh Cayley | 634 | 34.44% | X |
| | James A. Reilly | 404 | 21.76% | 21.76% |
| Total Votes | Total Votes | 1,847 | 100% | 100% |

### 1886 by-election

Each voter could cast two votes.

July 14, 1886 by-election :

| | Name | Vote | % | Elected |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | John D. Lauder | 232 | 33.62% | X |
| | Hugh Cayley | 195 | 28.25% | X |
| | Augustus Carney | 164 | 23.77% | 23.77% |
| | Simon Jackson Hogg | 99 | 14.36% | 14.36% |
| Total Votes | Total Votes | 690 | 100% | 100% |

### 1884 election

June 28, 1884 by-election :

| | Name | Vote | % |
| - | - | - | - |
| | James Davidson Geddes | 100 | 53.19% |
| | James Kidd Oswald | 88 | 46.81% |
| Total Votes | Total Votes | 188 | 100% |
